COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF DEVELOPMENT PLAN MEETING

Tuesday, March 01, 2022

MOTION NO.55

MOTION: Councillor William Joseph Carey, Councillor Derren Ó Brádaigh

SD-C195-181 - ESB Chapter 7,  Page 588 - Chapter Sustainable Movement and Climate Action Insert new objective; 'All parking spaces and homes in the Clonburris and Adamstown SDZ and all future developments to accommodate charging points that include and meet the EV requirements for residents of apartment units with off street and underground carparking'. Submitted By: Cllr Derren Ó Brádaigh & Cllr William Carey

REPORT:

The motion seeks to insert a new objective in the plan that ‘All parking spaces and homes in the Clonburris and Adamstown SDZ and all future developments to accommodate charging points that include and meet the EV requirements for residents of apartment units with off street and underground carparking'. 

Both Adamstown and Clonburris SDZs have approved planning schemes. The SDZs form part of the Development Plan for the County. Any contrary provisions in the Development would be superseded by the content of the Planning Scheme. 

 In this case, the SDZs are silent on EVs. While the Development Plan does not override SDZs, there is relevant county wide policy including in Chapter 10 ‘Energy’ where Policy E4 seeks to ‘Promote the delivery of EV charging facilities in accordance with relevant regulations and national and regional policy and guidance’. 

This is further supplemented by Policy SM7 Objective 5 which seeks ‘To support the expansion of the EV charging network by increasing the provision of designated charging facilities for Electric Vehicles on public and private land in partnership with the ESB and other relevant stakeholders; and to support the Dublin Regional EV Parking Strategy’. 

Chapter 13, Implementation and Monitoring contains standards to be applied where Section 13.8.3 Car Parking/Charging for Electric Vehicles (EVs) requires:

 EV charging shall be provided in all residential, mixed use and commercial development and shall comprise 15% - 20% of the total parking spaces provided,

with higher provision within this range required in urban areas.

The remainder of the parking spaces should be constructed to be capable of accommodating future charging points, as required.

In residential and mixed-use schemes EV charging should be provided in blocks or pods unless it can be satisfactorily demonstrated that it can be provided in a more satisfactory and efficient manner.

It should be designed and located in such a way as to ensure passive surveillance and avoid anti-social behaviour.

The applicant should indicate the mechanism for EV charging and payment (e.g. fob/credit card or other means) and should ensure that it is available to residents and visitors.

EV charging facilities should not impinge on shared parking allocation.

EV charging facilities should not obstruct or impinge on walking or cycling paths.

Charge points should avoid areas which are already restricted by existing street furniture e.g., bollards, road signs, benches, bike racks.

Charge points should not impede lower carbon forms of passenger transport.

Charge points should not be located at the back of the footpath (i.e. side furthest from the road) to avoid cables becoming a trip hazard.

For residential multi-unit buildings, the necessary ducting for all car parking spaces should be installed, allowing provision for additional electrical infrastructure.

For new dwellings with in-curtilage parking, appropriate infrastructure should be provided to allow for installation of a charging point at a later date.

In addition, following response to Submission number SD-C195-181 on the Public Consultation to the Draft Development Plan, it has been recommended that the minimum percentage for EV charging provision throughout the County be increased in line with Statutory Instruments No. 393/2021 European Union (Energy Performance of Buildings) Regulations 2021, so that the first bullet point of Section 18.8.3 of Chapter 13 will change from ‘15% - 20%’ to ‘20%’ reading as such:

‘EV charging shall be provided in all residential, mixed use and commercial development and shall comprise 20% of the total parking spaces provided, with higher provision within this range required in urban areas.’

Given that there is no conflict between the SDZ schemes and the policy in the Draft Plan, the policy in the Plan can be applied to planning applications coming forward in Adamstown and Clonburris. In line with the Draft Plan policy and objectives, this would mean that all residential, mixed use and commercial development will have to provide EV charging in 20% of the total parking spaces and furthermore that the remainder of the parking spaces in the development will have to be constructed to be capable of accommodating future charging points. The 20% provision accords with the most up to date building regulations.  There is no requirement for a separate objective for specific areas.  

It is considered that above provisions adequately address the provisions of the motion and therefore the Motion can be adopted with amendment to reflect that the existing provisions of the Plan as set out in Chapter 10 Energy Policy E4, Chapter 7 Policy SM7 Objective 5 and Chapter 13 Section 13.8.3 are sufficient to provide for the intent of the motion.

CE Recommendation: It is recommended that this motion is adopted with amendment to reflect that the existing provisions of the Plan as set out in Chapter 10 Energy Policy E4 and Chapter 7 Policy SM7 Objective 5 and Chapter 13 Section 13.8.3  are sufficient to provide for the intent of the motion.