SDCC Dev Plan: Planning for future economic development is essential for county
By Mary Dennehy
South Dublin County Council has started the process of reviewing the County Development Plan, with those living across communities invited to have their say on how their county and neighbourhood develops into the future.
According to South Dublin County Council, the County Development Plan is one of the most important documents for a local authority, and impacts on how the county deals with climate change, how people move around, where people live and work and the quality of their lives.
Lands at Grange Castle offer potential for significant new employment growth
The first, eight-week public consultation stage of the new plan started on Friday, July 31, with citizens of the county invited to make submissions under one or all of the eight strategic issues.
The eight key strategic issues include; built environment and place making; climate action and energy; population growth and housing; sustainable movement; community services; economic development and employment; natural heritage and biodiversity; and infrastructure and utilities.
This week, The Echo asked South Dublin County Council about the strategic issue of Economic Development and Employment.
Figures released by the council show that South Dublin County has 1,351 hectares of land zoned for enterprise and employment, 554 hectares of which remains undeveloped.
According to the council: “Both the National Planning Framework and the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy highlight the importance of employment within the county.
Citywest Shopping Centre
“Lands at Grange Castle offer potential for significant new employment growth while Tallaght/Cookstown and Naas Road/Ballymount provide potential to re-intensify older industrial estates.
“Local employment potential also exists at Adamstown and Clonburris.”
The council added: “Policy within the Development Plan will aim to use these lands to create conditions to attract internationally mobile investment and opportunities for indigenous enterprise growth in line with national and regional frameworks.
“An analysis of existing zoned employment lands will be carried out to assess their ability to deliver likely employment needs over the term of the plan.
“A review of all undeveloped employment lands will also be carried out.”
The total labour force within South Dublin County, according to CSO figures, stands at 137,475 people.
There are 6,800 businesses operating within South Dublin County, which employ more than 85,000 people.
According to Laura Leonard, a Senior Executive Officer in the council’s planning department: “Although the situation at present with the ongoing impact of Covid-19 is unprecedented, planning for future economic development and new jobs for a growing population is essential and the new Development Plan will set the framework to achieve this.”
The main aim of the County Development Plan, according to the council, is to ensure that sufficient lands are zoned for employment, ‘facilitating the right types of jobs in the right places’ – supporting the successful delivery of sustainable communities.
Ms Leonard said that during the course of preparing the new plan: “Additional or variations to zoning types and locations can be considered to best deliver for the future needs a of population predicted to increase by 50,000 by 2031 and this will have regard to planned residential development zones.
“The opportunity to regenerate brownfield or older industrial areas will be considered for future combined enterprise/commercial/office and residential development to get the maximum benefit from already existing and adjacent public transport and infrastructure links.
“In this compact urban growth and sustainable communities can be achieved.”
Through the strategic issues paper, the council is asking where and what types of employment do we require in South Dublin over the next six years and beyond?
How can the County Development Plan contribute towards the development of a strong resilient economy?
Be part of the future growth of your neighbourhood and county by engaging in the public consultation stage of the County Development Plan – open until September 28.
Share your thoughts and views by visiting www.sdcc.ie/en/devplan2022.
A virtual consultation room is now also open to visitors, with people invited to visit the consultation room and be part of the conversation.
Visit the consultation room at https://sdcc-27240.web.app/.
Planning staff are also available to meet members of the public at County Hall, Tallaght or by phone, by appointment on Tuesday, September 15, and Tuesday, September 22 between 1pm and 4pm.
If you would like to make an appointment, call 4149000.
Planning staff will also be at Tallaght Library on Thursday, September 17, between 2pm and 5pm to meet members of the public.
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