COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF DEVELOPMENT PLAN MEETING
Thursday, June 17, 2021
MOTION NO. 49
MOTION: Councillor F. Timmons
That the Draft South Dublin County Development Plan 2023 -2029 will provide for the rezoning of the lands at Rathcreedan, Rathcoole, Co. Dublin outlined in red on the attached map from their current Objective 'RU' use (to protect and improve rural amenity and to provide for the development of agriculture) to Objective 'RES-N' (to provide for new residential communities in accordance with approved area plans) and will extend the boundary of the Newcastle Local Area Plan to the east to encompass this 10.5 Ha site and the Newcastle cemetery. In addition, the lands shall be subject to a Site Specific Local Objective to provide a minimum of 3.2 Ha of the site for the development of recreational and leisure facilities. The land and the facilities must be provided before any development can take place on the remainder of the site.
REPORT:
The Core Strategy and Settlement Strategy in Chapter 2 sets out population and housing figures which must be consistent with National and Regional Planning policy as required under the Planning and Development Act. South Dublin County is anticipated to grow by 46,518 persons and a need for over 17,817 households has been identified up to 2028. Chapter 2 also confirms that the County has enough land for a further 10,470 units (79%) above the net household need and therefore there is no need to re-zone additional lands.
The subject lands are currently zoned rural, located at the eastern edge of the Newcastle settlement boundary. The core principle of the NPF is provide for compact urban growth in order to utilise the existing public transport and maximise social infrastructure, through consolidation within the exiting-built footprint settlements. The current Newcastle Local Area Plan is a carefully planned strategic document. Significant lands within the LAP remain undeveloped, land which is sequentially preferred for the compact development of Newcastle when compared with the identified lands.
A recent SHD application (SHD3ABP-305343-19), currently under construction, included a range of amenities in close proximity to the main street which included a new public park measuring 2 hectares with the following amenities: Mixed-Use Games Area, picnic area, natural play area, kickabout area, teen play zone with shelter and play area and 1no. playing pitch.
While the further provision of community services is welcomed, linking it to further residential development which further sprawls the settlement boundary of Newcastle is contrary to the analysis carried out in Chapter 2 having regard to the projected population growth for the Newcastle and parameters under of NSO 1, NPO 7 and 9. There is
no requirement to re-zone additional land for residential purposes to meet the needs of the population increase and thus household need up to 2028 and the proposed motion should not be adopted.
SEA Comments: The lands of the proposed amendment are zoned ‘Objective RU To protect and improve rural amenity and to provide for the development of agriculture’. The amendment would not constitute proper and sustainable planning or development and lead to potential negative environmental impacts through:
- potential erosion of rural amenity and landscape character; and
- loss of agricultural land.
Recommendation
It is recommended that this motion is not adopted.