COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF LUCAN / PALMERSTOWN / NORTH CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, November 22, 2022

MOTION NO. 27

MOTION: Councillor P. Gogarty

That the Chief Executive provides an update on the total number of car parking spaces provided in the Adamstown SDZ to date as a proportion of housing units built and specifically for a detailed examination to be carried out regarding the number of spaces available to residents in the vicinity of Adamstown Way from the junction with Adamstown Park to Adamstown Boulevard, as residents have reported huge problems along this stretch, with no safe alternatives apparently available.

REPORT:

Adamstown Planning Scheme – Car Parking
The Adamstown Planning Scheme (2014)(as amended) sets car parking standards for proposed developments, 1 space for 1 bedroom dwellings, 1.5 spaces for 2 bedroom dwellings and 2 spaces for 3+ bedroom dwellings. It does not make a specific separate provision for apartments. These are a maximum car parking provision and should not be considered a target. This infers that proposals can be less depending on justifications set out in planning applications. The Planning Scheme states that the minimum residential car parking standard is an average of 1 space per dwelling.
The Planning Scheme also states that where it can be demonstrated that car parking can be shared between complementary land uses, parking standards may be altered accordingly, and revised downwards. Therefore it is likely that the number of permitted spaces is less than 1.5 spaces per dwelling, and in some instances less than 1 space per dwelling.

Planning applications are assessed on a case by case basis by a multi disciplinary team, and against the latest and most up to date policy guidance.

Apartment Guidelines (2020)
The Apartment Guidelines (2020) look to ensure that apartment living is an increasingly attractive and desirable housing option for a range of household types and tenures, building on and learning from experience to date, and that the economic and regulatory conditions are such that apartment development attracts both the investment and the seeking out of this crucial form of housing by households, that will then result in greater delivery of apartments in Ireland’s cities and towns and other appropriate locations. The guidelines rank areas and attribute approaches for car parking to certain suitable locations.

Central and/or Accessible urban locations:
In larger scale and higher density developments, comprising wholly of apartments in more central locations that are well served by public transport, the default policy is for car parking provision to be minimised, substantially reduced or wholly eliminated in certain circumstances. The policies above would be particularly applicable in highly accessible areas such as in or adjoining city cores or at a confluence of public transport systems such rail and bus stations located in close proximity.

These locations are most likely to be in cities, especially in or adjacent to (i.e. within 15 minutes walking distance of) city centres or centrally located employment locations. This includes 10 minutes walking distance of DART, commuter rail or Luas stops or within 5 minutes walking distance of high frequency (min 10 minute peak hour frequency) bus services

The area around Adamstown District Centre can be considered to fall within the above thresholds of accessible urban locations, whereby the train station provides frequent services to Dublin City Centre.

Intermediate Urban Locations:
In suburban/urban locations served by public transport or close to town centres or employment areas and particularly for housing schemes with more than 45 dwellings per hectare net (18 per acre), planning authorities must consider a reduced overall car parking standard and apply an appropriate maximum car parking standard.

The above criteria can be considered and applied to the remainder of Adamstown SDZ, where an ‘appropriate maximum’ be applied. The appropriate maximum would be considered as per the above criteria, which could be less than 1 space per dwelling across the SDZ, on average.