COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF DEVELOPMENT PLAN MEETING
Thursday, June 17, 2021
MOTION NO. 152
MOTION: Councillor G. O'Connell, Councillor P. Gogarty, Councillor L. O'Toole
Insert Policy NCBH 22 SLO: To secure the preservation and enhancement of the Palmerstown Lower (Mill Complex) ACA, to actively promote the restoration of industrial heritage including the former mills, mill races and other buildings on Mill Lane and surrounds and to explore their use for residential, tourism/outdoor recreation and/or commercial purposes related to public enjoyment of this amenity.
REPORT:
The ACA designation gives the Palmerstown Lower (Mill Complex) statutory protection. Many of the buildings within the complex are also protected structures which adds a further layer of protection.
There is an existing policy in the Draft Plan to preserve and enhance ACAs:
Policy NCBH 20 – ‘Preserve and enhance the historic character and visual setting of Architectural Conservation Areas and carefully consider any proposals for development that would affect the special value of such areas’.
There are a range of further policies and objectives within the Draft Plan to conserve, enhance and promote heritage in general, and industrial heritage in particular, within the County, such as:
Policy NCBH 16 – ‘Promote the County’s Industrial Heritage’.
NCBH 16 Objective 1 - ‘To promote and encourage the sensitive and adaptive reuse of industrial heritage structures where appropriate, ensuring that any change does not seriously impact on the intrinsic character of the structure and that all works are carried out in accordance with best practice conservation, consistent with RPO 9.27 of the RSES’.
Policy NCBH 26 – ‘Secure the identification, protection and conservation of historic items and features of interest throughout the County including street furniture, surface finishes, roadside installations, items of industrial heritage and other stand-alone features of interest’.
NCBH 25 Objective 1 – ‘To retain existing buildings that, while not listed as Protected Structures, are considered to contribute to historic character, local character, visual setting, rural amenity or streetscape value within the County’.
It is considered that the policies and objectives outlined above capture the overall aim of the motion. It is therefore considered that the Motion can be adopted with amendment to reflect the fact that the intent of the motion is expressed in existing policies/objectives including Policy NCBH 16 and NCBH 16 Objective 1; Policy NCBH 20; Policy NCBH 25 Objective 1; and Policy NCBH 26.
Recommendation: It is recommended that the motion be adopted with amendment to recognise that the intent of the motion is already reflected in policies and objectives within the Draft Plan including Policy NCBH 16 and NCBH 16 Objective 1; Policy NCBH 20; Policy NCBH 25 Objective 1; and Policy NCBH 26.