COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF DEVELOPMENT PLAN MEETING
Thursday, June 17, 2021
MOTION NO.
MOTION: Councillor F. Timmons
South Dublin County Development Plan 2016 - 2022 CS6 SLO 3: To support Brittas as a sustainable community and rural village of outstanding natural beauty and to prepare a planning study and study boundary for Brittas Village, in consultation with local residents, landowners and local representatives, having regard to the implications of the proposed Natural Heritage Area designations, the future protection and enhancement of the village, the development of tourism potential in the area with a view to the long term viability of the local community. The planning study to commence within 6 months of the adoption of this County Development Plan in May 2016 and to include an analysis of population and housing data. That the current Specific Local Objective CS6 SLO3 pertaining to Brittas Village be expanded to include a further Specific Objective: 'to facilitate the development of a tourist & leisure facility to include accommodation, associated services and activities at Brittas Ponds and surrounding lands thereby guaranteeing the conservation, upkeep and enhancement the area's amenity potential. This will enhance the tourism potential in the area with a view to sustain the long term viability of the local community and will include permissive access routes and heritage trails under the present HCL16 Objective 2 along with access to historic sites in the county under the present HCL16 Objective 4' This tourist based project submission will be supported by a master plan and a biodiversity study of the ponds and immediate area.
REPORT:
The motion seeks to add wording to CS6 SLO3 from the current Local Area Plan as follows:
From:
CS6 SLO 3: To support Brittas as a sustainable community and rural village of outstanding natural beauty and to prepare a planning study and study boundary for Brittas Village, in consultation with local residents, landowners and local representatives, having regard to the implications of the proposed Natural Heritage Area designations, the future protection and enhancement of the village, the development of tourism potential in the area with a view to the long-term viability of the local community. The planning study to commence within 6 months of the adoption of this County Development Plan and to include an analysis of population and housing data.
To:
To support Brittas as a sustainable community and rural village of outstanding natural beauty and to prepare a planning study and study boundary for Brittas Village, in consultation with local residents, landowners and local representatives, having regard to the implications of the proposed Natural Heritage Area designations, the future protection and enhancement of the village, the development of tourism potential in the area, and to facilitate the development of a tourist & leisure facility to include accommodation, associated services and activities at Brittas Ponds and surrounding lands thereby guaranteeing the conservation, upkeep and enhancement the area's amenity potential, with a view to the long-term viability of the local community. The planning study to commence within 6 months of the adoption of this County Development Plan and to include an analysis of population and housing data.
The contents of the motion are noted alongside the Specific Local Objective from the 2016 County Development Plan. This SLO is not in the CE draft Plan.
Brittas is located in the Dublin Mountains, on the southwestern fringes and close to the border with County Wicklow and is the largest rural village in the County. The village settlement of Brittas is zoned High Amenity – Dublin Mountains (Objective HA-DM) and is strategically located on the N81 national secondary route and continues to experience development pressure; particularly one-off rural housing within the surrounding rural area. It is acknowledged that the location of the village at the foothills of the Dublin Mountains presents opportunities for tourism development which could support the local economy.
In this regard the plan under EDE Policy 20 objective 2 seeks;
To support the development of local tourist and heritage trails at suitable locations
including across the Dublin Mountains, and between and within Brittas-Saggart-Rathcoole; Clondalkin; Lucan; Newcastle-Lyons; Rathfarnham; and Tallaght and seek to make such trails interactive through the use of sensitive signage and the further development of application software.
Having regard to the above objective, recognising the potential for the village to be developed as a tourism asset within the County and in order to maintain and enhance the vitality of this rural village it is considered reasonable to accept the aim of the proposed motion and include new wording and a specific local objective within Chapter 5 under section 5.3 Sustainable Rural Neighbourhoods. It would be premature t this time to incorporate within this SLO specific locations for tourism or leisure development and particular use types prior to a study which take account of any environmental constraints as part of the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.
It is therefore considered that the motion be accepted with amendment to insert a new sub-heading for Brittas into the Plan and a new SLO as follows:
New Wording in Section 5.3 of Chapter 5:
Brittas
As the largest rural village in the County, Brittas is located in the foothills of the Dublin Mountains, on the southwestern fringes and close to the border with County Wicklow. The village settlement of Brittas is zoned High Amenity – Dublin Mountains (Objective HA-DM).
Brittas is strategically located on the N81 national secondary route and continues to experience development pressure; particularly one-off rural housing within the surrounding rural area. Its location at the Dublin Mountains presents opportunities for tourism development which could support the local economy.
To maintain and enhance the vitality of this rural village it is an aim of this plan to prepare a planning study for Brittas Village, in consultation with local residents, landowners and local representatives, having regard to the implications of the proposed Natural Heritage Area designations, the future protection and enhancement of the village, the development of tourism potential in the area with a view to the long-term viability of the local community.
And a new objective to be inserted:
QDP 12 Objective 6: To support Brittas as a sustainable community and rural village of outstanding natural beauty and to prepare a planning study and study boundary for Brittas Village, in consultation with local residents, landowners and local representatives, having regard to the implications of the proposed Natural Heritage Area designations, the future protection and enhancement of the village, the development of tourism and leisure potential in the area with a view to maintaining and protecting existing assets and the long-term viability of the local community. The planning and tourism study shall be prepared within the lifetime of this County Development Plan and shall include an analysis of population and housing data.
Recommendation
It is recommended that the motion be adopted with amendment to read as follows:
New Section under section 5.3 Sustainable Rural Neighbourhoods:
Brittas
As the largest rural village in the County, Brittas is located in the is located in the foothills of the Dublin Mountains, on the southwestern fringes and close to the border with County Wicklow. The village settlement of Brittas is zoned High Amenity – Dublin Mountains (Objective HA-DM).
Brittas is strategically located on the N81 national secondary route and continues to experience development pressure; particularly one-off rural housing within the surrounding rural area. Its location at the Dublin Mountains presents opportunities for tourism development which could support the local economy.
To maintain and enhance the vitality of this rural village it is an aim of this plan to prepare a planning study for Brittas Village, in consultation with local residents, landowners and local representatives, having regard to the implications of the proposed Natural Heritage Area designations, the future protection and enhancement of the village, the development of tourism potential in the area with a view to the long-term viability of the local community.
And to insert a new objective as follows:
QDP 12 Objective 6: To support Brittas as a sustainable community and rural village of outstanding natural beauty and to prepare a planning study and study boundary for Brittas Village, in consultation with local residents, landowners and local representatives, having regard to the implications of the proposed Natural Heritage Area designations, the future protection and enhancement of the village, the development of tourism and leisure potential in the area with a view to maintaining and protecting existing assets and the long-term viability of the local community. The planning and tourism study shall be prepared within the lifetime of this County Development Plan and shall include an analysis of population and housing data.