COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF DEVELOPMENT PLAN MEETING

Thursday, June 17, 2021

MOTION NO. 172

MOTION: Councillor R. McMahon

Section 3.3.4 - NCBH 8 Objective 4 To include the words "working mills" under 1st bullet point to read ....or to its use for agriculture, working mills or recreational purposes.

REPORT:

This motion proposes to amend the wording of existing NCBH 8 Objective 4, from:

“Within areas designated ‘High Amenity – Dodder Valley’, non-residential development will only be permitted where it;

• relates to the area’s amenity potential or to its use for agriculture or recreational purposes, including recreational buildings; or
• comprises the redevelopment of or extensions to existing commercial or

civic uses or development of new commercial or civic uses within an existing established area of commercial or civic activity; and

• preserves the amenity value of the river valley including its landscape value, views or vistas of the river valley and its biodiversity value.

To:

Within areas designated ‘High Amenity – Dodder Valley’, non-residential development will only be permitted where it;

• relates to the area’s amenity potential or to its use for agriculture, working mills or recreational purposes, including recreational buildings; or
• comprises the redevelopment of or extensions to existing commercial or

civic uses or development of new commercial or civic uses within an existing established area of commercial or civic activity; and

• preserves the amenity value of the river valley including its landscape value, views or vistas of the river valley and its biodiversity value.

It is considered that a mill would be provided for under the term ‘agriculture’ and that the potential for the sensitive re-use of an old mill that would be a Protected structure is welcomed, encouraged and supported by several objectives within the Draft Plan. 

The term ‘working mill’ presents ambiguity insofar as a working mill may insinuate a new working mill which can be significant in size and may include the possibility of large dominant associated grain stores and such development would be against the spirit of the existing objective.

On this basis it is considered that this motion is not acceptable.

Recommendation

It is recommended that this motion is not adopted.