COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF SPECIAL MEETING OF COUNTY COUNCIL

Friday, June 19, 2026

MOTION NO.

MOTION: Councillor B. Lawlor

Amendment 1 - Ballynakelly Newcastle

Add SLO text to site as follows - Prior to a grant of planning permission for this site, SDCC shall complete a review of the car parking policy including provision, management and standards. This policy review shall assess the effectiveness, adequacy and impacts of existing carparking provision in newer developments such as Two Oaks, Citywest, Adamstown and Clonburris and shall include a public consultation. A report on the review should then be noted by Members and be used to inform future parking policy for this site. 

Reason: RTE Prime Time recently highlighted the parking disputes in high density housing estates and SDZs in SDCC. Motions to SDCC Area Committee Meetings and Traffic Management Meetings show that lack of parking is an issue that residents in areas such as Two Oaks, Citywest, Adamstown and Clonburris, and surrounding areas, are constantly escalating to elected members because not enough carparking spaces are being built into new high-density developments.

Co-Sponsored: Cllr. David McManus, Cllr. Sarah Barnes'

CE Response 

The intent of the motion to address car parking issues is acknowledged. The motion seeks to add an SLO that, prior to the granting of planning permission for the identified lands, South Dublin County Council undertake a review of car parking provision and standards, including assessment of recent developments and a process of public consultation and use the review to inform parking policy for the newly zoned site. 

National Policy Context 

The National Planning Framework (NPF) and Climate Action policy require a shift towards sustainable mobility and reduced car dependency, for proposed development which are generally highly accessible and will benefit from existing and planned public transport, including for South Dublin Bus Connects, Luas Red Line and rail including DART+ South West. 

Sustainable Residential Development and Compact Settlement Guidelines 

These Guidelines (2024) were published after the adoption of the South Dublin County Development Plan 2022-2028 and include SPPR 3 which requires: 

Planning authorities are required to have regard to the policies and objectives of the Guidelines and to apply the specific planning policy requirements (SPPRs). This is set out in legislation. 

In this regard SPPR 3 – Car Parking states: 

It is a specific planning policy requirement of these Guidelines that: 

(i) In city centres and urban neighbourhoods of the five cities, defined in Chapter 3 (Table 3.1 and Table 3.2) car-parking provision should be minimised, substantially reduced or wholly eliminated. The maximum rate of car parking provision for residential development at these locations, where such provision is justified to the satisfaction of the planning authority, shall be 1 no. space per dwelling. 

(ii) In accessible locations, defined in Chapter 3 (Table 3.8) car- parking provision should be substantially reduced. The maximum rate of car parking provision for residential development, where such provision is justified to the satisfaction of the planning authority, shall be 1.5 no. spaces per dwelling. 

(iii) In intermediate and peripheral locations, defined in Chapter 3 (Table 3.8) the maximum rate of car parking provision for residential development, where such provision is justified to the satisfaction of the planning authority, shall be 2 no. spaces per dwelling. 

Applicants should be required to provide a rationale and justification for the number of car parking spaces proposed and to satisfy the planning authority that the parking levels are necessary and appropriate, particularly when they are close to the maximum provision. The maximum car parking standards do not include bays assigned for use by a car club, designated short stay on–street Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations or accessible parking spaces. The maximum car parking standards do include provision for visitor parking. 

This SPPR will not apply to applications made in a Strategic Development Zone until the Planning Scheme is amended to integrate changes arising from the SPPR. Refer to Section 2.1.2 for further detail. 

As such, a maximum car parking standard, based on the accessibility of the location is set at National level. The assessment of accessibility to inform the maximum is on a case-by-case basis.  

Existing Development Plan Standards 

The current County Development Plan contains policy and objectives on car parking in section 7.10, in this regard Policy SM7 states: 

Implement a balanced approach to the provision of car parking with the aim of using parking as a demand management measure to promote a transition towards more sustainable forms of transportation, while meeting the needs of businesses and communities. 

Objectives SM7 1-4 and 6-11 of the CDP then indicate how this will be implemented, alongside more detailed implementation requirements set out under Section 12.7.4 of the County Development Plan.  

Consideration of the Proposed Review 

While the Planning Authority is constrained by National policy in terms of the extent to which it can amend car parking requirements, it is recognised that there are issues arising in the current implementation of the car parking standards in the County. For this reason, it is considered that a review and research into the implementation, management and ratio would be appropriate. It is recommended that this research and review is carried out.  

It is not recommended to link this research and review of car parking to the zoning and delivery of housing on new lands for residential. A SLO on the zoned lands is not recommended. The motion indicates a two tier car parking approach based on the timing of the zoning. A single car parking policy shall apply to residential development, regardless of the timing of the zoning of a particular site. A general objective in the CDP is the recommended approach.  

CE Recommendation 

Amend the motion to provide for a new objective in Policy SM7 of the County Development Plan as follows:  

 ‘To carry out a review, including public consultation, of the implementation of car parking policy, including provision, management and ancillary infrastructure within the context of the Sustainable Residential and Compact Settlement Guidelines (or as may be superseded). The review to consider necessary and appropriate parking levels for dwellings including one car parking space per dwelling.