COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF DEVELOPMENT PLAN MEETING

Thursday, June 17, 2021

MOTION NO. 169

MOTION: Councillor G. O'Connell, Councillor P. Gogarty, Councillor L. O'Toole

Insert NCBH 5 Objective 3: To ensure that in the interests of protecting biodiversity and sequestering carbon in line with stated climate mitigation and carbon neutrality objectives, no established or developing native woodlands in residential, REGEN or EE areas shall be removed for the purposes of building housing, industrial units or other structures.

REPORT:

This motion is proposing the insertion of a new objective into the Draft Plan which states:

“To ensure that in the interests of protecting biodiversity and sequestering carbon in line with stated climate mitigation and carbon neutrality objectives, no established or developing native woodlands in residential, REGEN or EE areas shall be removed for the purposes of building housing, industrial units or other structures”.

The wording of this proposed objective would severely impede any development proposals on lands zoned Residential, REGEN or EE. The restrictive wording of such an objective is too extreme as it could prevent minor developments such as residential extensions or sheds in addition to more significant development required to deliver the County’s housing and employment targets.

The draft plan includes a number of policies that provide significant protection for biodiversity and climate positive actions. Decisions on planning applications would be informed by such policy and by all necessary assessments and surveys on a site-by-site basis.

On this basis the motion is considered not acceptable.

Recommendation

It is recommended that this motion is not adopted.