COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF DEVELOPMENT PLAN MEETING

Wednesday, January 27, 2021

MOTION NO. 84

MOTION: Councillor Alan Edge

That the Development Plan addresses the need to ensure the sustainability of rural communities in terms of planning and provides more flexibility.

REPORT:

The National Planning Framework sets out a number of policy objectives relating to the sustainability of rural communities. In particular NPO18b sets out to Develop a programme for ‘new homes in small towns and villages’ with local authorities, public infrastructure agencies such as Irish Water and local communities to provide serviced sites with appropriate infrastructure to attract people to build their own homes and live-in small towns and villages. Furthermore NPO 20 requires the Draft Plan to project the need for single housing in the countryside through the local authorities overall Housing Need Demand Assessment (HNDA) tool and County development Core Strategies.

Notwithstanding, Development Plans are required to adopt national policy which responds to the difference between rural areas under urban influence and those rural areas which are not influenced by urban housing demand.  In other ways, the draft Plan will review economic policy in rural areas with a view to facilitating appropriate economic opportunities which has due cognisance of the wider environment including infrastructure. 

It is considered that the intent of this motion is provided for in line with the above provisions and the CE Strategic Recommendations on page 26:

 ‘Ensure the sustainability of rural communities in terms of planning where appropriate and where it accords with national and regional policy.’

Recommendation:   It is recommended that this motion is adopted with amendment to recognise that this type of policy provision or objective can be considered as part of the draft plan preparation on foot of the strategic direction provided under the CE Recommendation  (See Part 3) page 26:

 ‘Ensure the sustainability of rural communities in terms of planning where appropriate and where it accords with national and regional policy.’