The Use of Local Area Plans in the Irish Context

"Dublin is a city of contrasts, intense loyalty, angry rebellion, fine buildings, wretched slums, some wealth and more poverty; pleasure-loving people, light of heart but bitter in hatred; gay and bright in the summer season, with a welcoming smile for the stranger and pilgrim."

Dublin Fragments, A. Peter 1925

The city of Dublin, and Ireland have both changed significantly since a visitor to our shores wrote these words some seventy-five years ago. We are still a nation, and a city of contrasts. There are some fine new neighbourhoods being created within our cities, but long distance car commuting is on the on the increase. For every well-designed sensitive infill development there are countless examples of what we term 'bungalow blitz', or on-off single-family dwellings built in the countryside miles away from the workplace. However Ireland is becoming urbanised. 60% of our 5 million population now live in urban areas.

Ireland's economy went into overdrive in the late 1990's. Double-digit growth under the  ‘Celtic Tiger' economy brought massive changes to our cities, towns and countryside. Urban development has brought urban sprawl, satellite towns and long lines of traffic to our roads. Our National Roads Authority promises us that the current motorway construction program will increase inter-urban travel speeds to 50 M.P.H., but they have no solution for what to do with the traffic when it reaches the outskirts of our towns and city. All is not bleak however. A light rail system is under construction in Dublin as the city's population touches 1.5 million, and land use planners and politicians are realizing the benefits of tempering the worst excesses of sprawl.

New planning legislation came into force in 2001. It brought reforms that promise to speed up the planning application process, reduce red tape and deliver sustainability. A National Spatial Strategy has been promised, and the new law provides for stronger planning at the neighbourhood and district level.

These new 'Local Area Plans' are beginning to provide three-dimensional design frameworks for development at a local scale. They allow intensification of use in existing built-up areas and at certain green-field locations.  I wish to examine two local area plans that have been put in place in Dublin. One is a Greenfield site on the edge of the built up area, and the other is a Brownfield location in Dublin's Docklands, which are undergoing rejuvenation. These plans have a statutory basis under the Planning and Development legislation enacted last year, and are already encouraging higher densities and mixed-use development at transport nodes.

Local Area Plans may be prepared for areas, which require economic, physical or social renewal. A Local Area Plan shall be consistent with the objectives of the general Development Plan and shall consist of a written statement and a plan or plans indicating the objectives in such detail as may be determined by the planning authority for the proper planning and sustainable development of the area to which it applies, including detail on community facilities and amenities and on standards for the design of developments and structures.

Local Area Plan shall contain information on the likely significant effects on the environment of implementing the Plan. A planning authority shall take whatever steps it considers necessary to consult the public before preparing, amending or revoking a Local area Plan including consultations with any local residents, public sector agencies, non-governmental agencies, local community groups and commercial and business interests within the area.

The accompanying presentations illustrates two recent Local Area Plans, one for a greenfield site at Pelletstown, two miles form Dublin's  City Centre. The second for Dublin's Grand Canal Docks encompasses an area of dereliction and under-use that is about to experience significant change and re-development.

The making of Local Area Plan has only commenced within the past two years in Ireland. It is hoped that they will assist in giving clear vision, consultation and direction to communities and developers in planning the future of their communities.

Ciarán Cuffe, June 2002, ciaran@ciarancuffe.com