COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE
Monday, March 24, 2025
HEADED ITEM NO. 10
HEADED ITEM: H. Administration
"Tallaght Town Centre LAP - Extension".
REPLY:
The elected members of South Dublin County Council resolved to make the Tallaght Town Centre Local Area Plan on 8th June 2020 and the Plan has effect from 20th July 2020.
Section 12 of the Planning and Development Act 2010 introduced a provision that amended Section 19 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, whereby a Planning Authority may extend the life of an existing Local Area Plan (LAP), which is normally 6 years, for a further 4 years i.e. up to a total of 10 years from adoption. This is dependent on the Planning Authority resolving to extend the life of the Plan within 5 years of its original adoption date.
Legislative Context
The process set out in Section 19 of the Planning and Development Acts 2000 (as amended) provides that the members can resolve to extend the life of a Local Area Plan following receipt from the Chief Executive of:
(i) an opinion that the Local Area Plan remains consistent with the objectives and core strategy of the relevant development plan,
(ii) an opinion that the objectives of the LAP have not been substantially secured, and
(iii) Confirmation that the sending and publishing of notices to commence the review of the LAP may be deferred and the period for which they may be deferred.
The purpose of this briefing is, therefore, to demonstrate that: -
- The Tallaght Town Centre Local Area Plan remains consistent with the objectives and core strategy of the South Dublin County Development Plan 2022-2028; and
- The objectives of the Tallaght Town Centre Local Area Plan 2020 have not been substantially secured.
Considerations
- Consistency with National, Regional, and Local Policies
- Progress to date with respect of URDF investment (Public Realm, 4th Stand of Tallaght Stadium, Innovation Centre, Airton Road, Sean Walshe Park Astro Pitches), Active Travel and Development in the wider Tallaght Area
- Need for increased compact growth and housing delivery in areas with high frequency transport links (LUAS and BusConnects), as well as close to services, retail, employment and education hubs
- Covid-19 Pandemic:
- In 2019 and 2020, a worldwide pandemic occurred, Covid-19, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), impacted daily life until January/February 2022.
As well as the major strain on Ireland's healthcare service, the pandemic measures severely damaged Ireland's economy, disrupted construction and had far-reaching impacts on society, including house building and delivery of services and infrastructure during the pandemic period. Many of these impacts are still being felt, almost 5 years on from the formal beginning of the pandemic.
The pandemic impacted the first number of months relating to the implementation of the LAP from June 2020 to Feb 2022 (approx. 20 months)
This is an additional consideration to factor in with regard to the Tallaght Town Centre LAP, as the pandemic timeline had a significant impact on the early implementation of the LAP.
Conclusion
Thus, it is considered, that while some areas of the LAP have seen significant achievement with regard the delivery of the objectives, the overall delivery of housing and wider objectives and phasing has not progressed significantly to date and cannot be said to have been substantially secured at this moment.
Therefore, it is recommended that the LAP be extended to align with the expiry of the current SDCC County Development Plan 2022-2028.