COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF DEVELOPMENT PLAN MEETING

Thursday, June 17, 2021

MOTION NO.

MOTION: Councillor Shane Moynihan

To amend the Development Plan to include a new objective in Chapter 5 - QDP 6 Objective 9 "to ensure that all Public Realm works planned or undertaken consider an Anti-Social behaviour Audit (understanding current patterns of anti-social behaviour and how this will be impacted by proposed works) before work commences and that the results of that audit are included in the planning of said works"

REPORT:

The motion as proposed is to include an objective under Chapter 5, Section 5.2.5 Public Realm as follows:

Note section 5.2.5 includes QDP 6 objectives 1-4 and any proposed new objective would be referenced as QDP 6 objective 5 as follows:

QDP 6 Objective 5:

To ensure that all Public Realm works planned or undertaken consider an Anti-Social behaviour Audit (understanding current patterns of anti-social behaviour and how this will be impacted by proposed works) before work commences and that the results of that audit are included in the planning of said works.

In respect to the motion as proposed, the following guidance and principles relating to safety in the public realm are considered to be particularly relevant as set out Chapter 5 section 5.2.5.  

As a minimum, safe and secure public spaces should be:

• Welcoming and Inviting: Public spaces should be designed and constructed with all members of the community in mind. Public spaces that are attractive, feel safe and are easy to access encourages people from different ages and backgrounds to be more physically active in outdoor spaces.
• Well-lit: Particular consideration should be given to how spaces are experienced at night and how the design can improve this experience. As well as boosting safety, lighting can influence the flow of movement, as pedestrians will favour following a path of light over risking the darker pathways.
• Well Designed: Public spaces should be attractive, with a distinct sense of place and high-quality public realm. Good-quality local greenery such as tree and shrub planting, urban and pocket parks, playgrounds, and urban meadows, improve the look, feel and ambience of a space.
• Well Connected: Public spaces which form part of the wider network of safe and appealing routes for walking and cycling can ensure day and nighttime use with people traversing  the space regularly to walk or cycle to local shops, schools and workplaces, or to access public transport links.
• Well-maintained: Public spaces should always have a well-maintained appearance. The full lifetime costs of materials, including maintenance and replacement, needs to be properly identified at design and selection stage and resourced in practice.

The aim of the proposed motion is noted and it considered that the motion can be adopted subject to amendment whereby existing objective QDP6 Objective 3 would be amended to read as follows:

From:

QDP6 Objective 3:

To promote and implement environmental and public realm improvements in existing town, village, district and local centres to a high standard and finish to address environmental quality, urban design, safety, identity, and image.

To:

QDP6 Objective 3:

To promote and implement environmental and public realm improvements in existing town, village, district and local centres to a high standard and finish to ensure that the design addresses environmental quality, urban design, safety including the potential for anti-social behaviour, identity, and image.

Recommendation

It is recommended that this motion is adopted with amendment as follows:

QDP6 Objective 3:

To promote and implement environmental and public realm improvements in existing town, village, district and local centres to a high standard and finish to ensure that the design addresses environmental quality, urban design, safety including the potential for anti-social behaviour, identity, and image.