COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF DEVELOPMENT PLAN MEETING

Tuesday, March 01, 2022

MOTION NO.64

MOTION: Councillor F. Timmons

Ref SD-C195-248 Four Districts Woodland Habitat Group Chapter 7: Sustainable Movement Introduction Sustainable Road Network Page 701 To amend the Chief Executives recommendation Description - New road from the N7 to the N4 with a potential extension to the N81. Function: New Road to link between the N7 and the N4 Leixlip Interchange with a route by-pass function around Rathcoole and Saggart and the potential for a further extension of this route from the N7 to the N81. The function of this route would be to provide resilience to the M50 in particular between the N7 and N4 and further connections and possible alternative routes will be determined through the review of the NTA's GDA Strategy and in consultation with TII and relevant local authorities. In any such route a primary objective of South Dublin County Council shall be to protect environmentally sensitive areas including the scenic Liffey Valley parklands, and amenities at Lucan Demesne and St Catherine's Park and Lucan Village and no proposals to continue a road over these lands will be considered. To: Description-New Road from the N7 to the N4 with a potential extension to the N81. Function: New Road to link between the N7 and the N4 Leixlip Interchange with a route by-pass function around Rathcoole and Saggart and the potential for a further extension of this route from the N7 to the N81. The function of this route would be to provide resilience to the M50 in particular between the N7 and N4 and further connections and possible alternative routes will be determined through the review of the NTA's GDA Strategy and in consultation with TII and relevant local authorities. In any such route a primary objective of South Dublin County Council shall be to protect environmentally sensitive areas including the scenic Liffey Valley parklands, and amenities at Lucan Demesne and St Catherine's Park and Lucan Village and Woodlands at Rathcoole, and no proposals to continue a road over these lands will be considered. The Council are asked to amend the Chief Executives recommendation as outlined above and any other such related amendment to the item with wording as suggested in red text for the protection of Rathcoole Woodlands should an extension to the N81 be initiated which is currently routed through the tip of the southern edge of woodland, Priority Annex Alluvial Woodland 91EO, and also routed in very close proximity to said Woodland, see map of route in Development Plan or should any other routing arise that is close or through Woodlands at Rathcoole.

REPORT:

The motion seeks that the following wording be added to Table 7.5 and the description of the Western Dublin Orbital Route under Function - ‘and Woodlands at Rathcoole’ such that the description of this road would read as follows:

‘New Road to link between the N7 and the N4 Leixlip Interchange with a route by-pass function around Rathcoole and Saggart and the potential for a further extension of this route from the N7 to the N81. The function of this route would be to provide resilience to the M50 in particular between the N7 and N4 and further connections and possible alternative routes will be determined through the review of the NTA's GDA Strategy and in consultation with TII and relevant local authorities. In any such route a primary objective of South Dublin County Council shall be to protect environmentally sensitive areas including the scenic Liffey Valley parklands, and amenities at Lucan Demesne and St Catherine's Park and Lucan Village and Woodlands at Rathcoole, and no proposals to continue a road over these lands will be considered.’

The requests for the description and function of this road proposal to be amended were submitted to the Draft Plan through the public consultation period under submissions SD-C195-270, SD-C195-248, SD-C195-255 and under the National Transport Authority under submission SD-C195-245 and the Chief Executive responded under section 2.3 and Chapter 7: Road Network pgs. 699-701 recommending that the Description and Function be amended to read as follows: 

Description - New road from the N7 to the N4 with a potential extension to the N81.

Function - New Road to link between the N7 and the N4 Leixlip Interchange with a route by-pass function around Rathcoole and Saggart and the potential for a further extension of this route from the N7 to the N81. The function of this route would be to provide resilience to the M50 in particular between the N7 and N4 and further connections and possible alternative routes will be determined through the review of the NTA’s GDA Strategy and in consultation with TII and relevant local authorities.

In any such route a primary objective of South Dublin County Council shall be to protect environmentally sensitive areas including the scenic Liffey Valley parklands, and amenities at Lucan Demesne and St Catherine’s Park and Lucan Village and no proposals to continue a road over these lands will be considered. 

In response to this motion, as set out in the CE report, the need for this route, further connections and possible alternative routes will be determined through the review of the NTA’s GDA Strategy and in consultation with Transport Infrastructure Ireland and relevant local authorities. 

Secondly and while the objective makes specific reference to Lucan Demesne and St. Catherine’s Park the specific wording of the function of this route has been crafted to ensure that it is a primary objective of the Plan and South Dublin County Council to protect ‘all environmentally sensitive areas’ and no proposals to continue a road over such lands will be considered. 

Such measures are further strengthened by the provisions set out in Chapter 3 in particular: 

NCBH2 Objective 3: To protect and conserve the natural heritage of the County, and to conserve and manage EU and nationally designated sites and non-designated locally important areas which act as ‘stepping stones’ for the purposes of green infrastructure and Article 10 of the Habitats Directive.

Rathcoole Woodlands is identified as a stepping stone in the Green Infrastructure chapter of the Draft Plan. The CE Report has also recommended an SLO on the lands proposed for RU zoning and containing the woodlands as follows:

To ensure the protection and augmentation of the identified alluvial woodlands within the zoning RU, and in recognising their value as green infrastructure and the potential linkages to Lugg Woods and Slade Valley and other amenity areas, provide for sensitive passive amenity uses which have regard to their Annex 1 status

Policy NCBH5: Protection of Habitats and Species Outside of Protected Areas is directly relevant to the Annex 1 woodlands and states:

Protect and promote the conservation of biodiversity outside of designatedareas and ensure that species and habitats that are protected under the Wildlife

Acts 1976 to 2018, the Birds Directive 1979 and the Habitats Directive 1992, theFlora (Protection) Order 2015, and wildlife corridors are adequately protected.

Taking the wording of the function and description of this route into consideration as proposed to be amended by the CE Report alongside the existing provisions of the plan as set out in Chapter 3 which places a significant emphasis on the conservation and protection of designated and non-designated environmentally sensitive areas the further identification of specific areas as proposed in the motion is not strictly necessary. 

However, for the avoidance of any doubt, it is considered that the motion can be accepted subject to a slight rewording to include in the description ‘alluvial woodlands at Rathcoole’.

It is recommended that this motion is adopted with amendment such that Table 7.5 and the description of the Western Dublin Orbital Route under Function reads as follows:

‘New Road to link between the N7 and the N4 Leixlip Interchange with a route by-pass function around Rathcoole and Saggart and the potential for a further extension of this route from the N7 to the N81. The function of this route would be to provide resilience to the M50 in particular between the N7 and N4 and further connections and possible alternative routes will be determined through the review of the NTA's GDA Strategy and in consultation with TII and relevant local authorities. In any such route a primary objective of South Dublin County Council shall be to protect environmentally sensitive areas including the alluvial woodlands at Rathcoole, the scenic Liffey Valley parklands and amenities at Lucan Demesne and St Catherine's Park, and Lucan Village and no proposals to continue a road over these lands will be considered.’

CE Recommendation: It is recommended that this motion is adopted with amendment such that Table 7.5 and the description of the Western Dublin Orbital Route under Function reads as follows:

‘New Road to link between the N7 and the N4 Leixlip Interchange with a route by-pass function around Rathcoole and Saggart and the potential for a further extension of this route from the N7 to the N81. The function of this route would be to provide resilience to the M50 in particular between the N7 and N4 and further connections and possible alternative routes will be determined through the review of the NTA's GDA Strategy and in consultation with TII and relevant local authorities. In any such route a primary objective of South Dublin County Council shall be to protect environmentally sensitive areas including the alluvial woodlands at Rathcoole, the scenic Liffey Valley parklands and amenities at Lucan Demesne and St Catherine's Park, and Lucan Village and no proposals to continue a road over these lands will be considered.’

The motion seeks that the following wording be added to Table 7.5 and the description of the Western Dublin Orbital Route under Function - ‘and Woodlands at Rathcoole’ such that the description of this road would read as follows:

‘New Road to link between the N7 and the N4 Leixlip Interchange with a route by-pass function around Rathcoole and Saggart and the potential for a further extension of this route from the N7 to the N81. The function of this route would be to provide resilience to the M50 in particular between the N7 and N4 and further connections and possible alternative routes will be determined through the review of the NTA's GDA Strategy and in consultation with TII and relevant local authorities. In any such route a primary objective of South Dublin County Council shall be to protect environmentally sensitive areas including the scenic Liffey Valley parklands, and amenities at Lucan Demesne and St Catherine's Park and Lucan Village and Woodlands at Rathcoole, and no proposals to continue a road over these lands will be considered.’

 The requests for the description and function of this road proposal to be amended were submitted to the Draft Plan through the public consultation period under submissions SD-C195-270, SD-C195-248, SD-C195-255 and under the National Transport Authority under submission SD-C195-245 and the Chief Executive responded under section 2.3 and Chapter 7: Road Network pgs. 699-701 recommending that the Description and Function be amended to read as follows: 

Description - New road from the N7 to the N4 with a potential extension to the N81.

Function - New Road to link between the N7 and the N4 Leixlip Interchange with a route by-pass function around Rathcoole and Saggart and the potential for a further extension of this route from the N7 to the N81. The function of this route would be to provide resilience to the M50 in particular between the N7 and N4 and further connections and possible alternative routes will be determined through the review of the NTA’s GDA Strategy and in consultation with TII and relevant local authorities.

In any such route a primary objective of South Dublin County Council shall be to protect environmentally sensitive areas including the scenic Liffey Valley parklands, and amenities at Lucan Demesne and St Catherine’s Park and Lucan Village and no proposals to continue a road over these lands will be considered. 

In response to this motion, as set out in the CE report, the need for this route, further connections and possible alternative routes will be determined through the review of the NTA’s GDA Strategy and in consultation with Transport Infrastructure Ireland and relevant local authorities. 

Secondly and while the objective makes specific reference to Lucan Demesne and St. Catherine’s Park the specific wording of the function of this route has been crafted to ensure that it is a primary objective of the Plan and South Dublin County Council to protect ‘all environmentally sensitive areas’ and no proposals to continue a road over such lands will be considered. 

Such measures are further strengthened by the provisions set out in Chapter 3 in particular: 

NCBH2 Objective 3: To protect and conserve the natural heritage of the County, and to conserve and manage EU and nationally designated sites and non-designated locally important areas which act as ‘stepping stones’ for the purposes of green infrastructure and Article 10 of the Habitats Directive.

Rathcoole Woodlands is identified as a stepping stone in the Green Infrastructure chapter of the Draft Plan. The CE Report has also recommended an SLO on the lands proposed for RU zoning and containing the woodlands as follows:

To ensure the protection and augmentation of the identified alluvial woodlands within the zoning RU, and in recognising their value as green infrastructure and the potential linkages to Lugg Woods and Slade Valley and other amenity areas, provide for sensitive passive amenity uses which have regard to their Annex 1 status

Policy NCBH5: Protection of Habitats and Species Outside of Protected Areas is directly relevant to the Annex 1 woodlands and states:

Protect and promote the conservation of biodiversity outside of designatedareas and ensure that species and habitats that are protected under the Wildlife

Acts 1976 to 2018, the Birds Directive 1979 and the Habitats Directive 1992, theFlora (Protection) Order 2015, and wildlife corridors are adequately protected.

Taking the wording of the function and description of this route into consideration as proposed to be amended by the CE Report alongside the existing provisions of the plan as set out in Chapter 3 which places a significant emphasis on the conservation and protection of designated and non-designated environmentally sensitive areas the further identification of specific areas as proposed in the motion is not strictly necessary. 

However, for the avoidance of any doubt, it is considered that the motion can be accepted subject to a slight rewording to include in the description ‘alluvial woodlands at Rathcoole’.

It is recommended that this motion is adopted with amendment such that Table 7.5 and the description of the Western Dublin Orbital Route under Function reads as follows:

‘New Road to link between the N7 and the N4 Leixlip Interchange with a route by-pass function around Rathcoole and Saggart and the potential for a further extension of this route from the N7 to the N81. The function of this route would be to provide resilience to the M50 in particular between the N7 and N4 and further connections and possible alternative routes will be determined through the review of the NTA's GDA Strategy and in consultation with TII and relevant local authorities. In any such route a primary objective of South Dublin County Council shall be to protect environmentally sensitive areas including the alluvial woodlands at Rathcoole, the scenic Liffey Valley parklands and amenities at Lucan Demesne and St Catherine's Park, and Lucan Village and no proposals to continue a road over these lands will be considered.’

CE Recommendation: It is recommended that this motion is adopted with amendment such that Table 7.5 and the description of the Western Dublin Orbital Route under Function reads as follows:

‘New Road to link between the N7 and the N4 Leixlip Interchange with a route by-pass function around Rathcoole and Saggart and the potential for a further extension of this route from the N7 to the N81. The function of this route would be to provide resilience to the M50 in particular between the N7 and N4 and further connections and possible alternative routes will be determined through the review of the NTA's GDA Strategy and in consultation with TII and relevant local authorities. In any such route a primary objective of South Dublin County Council shall be to protect environmentally sensitive areas including the alluvial woodlands at Rathcoole, the scenic Liffey Valley parklands and amenities at Lucan Demesne and St Catherine's Park, and Lucan Village and no proposals to continue a road over these lands will be considered.’