(Update 6th November: I have received the Development Pipeline Analysis commissioned from EY.)

Fingal’s Development Contribution Scheme is up for review. There are some significant decisions to be taken. I will be arguing for us to end an exemption which favours car parking over housing, and to do what we can to facilitate shared spaces, communal, social and cultural facilities.

A Development Contribution Scheme sets out the rate of development contribution levied on new developments to (partially) fund the infrastructure that enables the developments. A draft was brought to the full Council last week, but we didn’t have time to get into the details of it. It is based on an analysis by EY, which also hadn’t been circulated.

In addition to seeking the EY report and any other relevant background information, I have asked for answers to the following questions in order to prepare a response to the public consultation. I will make a more detailed submission when I have the necessary information.

My observation on Phase 1F of this development south of Station Road in Portmarnock focuses on the following:

• the urgent need to improve walking and cycling infrastructure in all directions from this area
• designing the new neighbourhood to prioritise walking and cycling, including by
  • clustering the car parking in one location
  • creating residential streets oriented towards walking and cycling rather than acting as car parking access routes
  • filtered permeability
  • designing residential streets which are shared between cycling and occasional vehicles rather than a separate cycletrack.
• not materially contravening the Fingal Development Plan limit on car parking
• providing for the childcare needs of the existing and future residents

An Coimisiún Pleanála have accepted that they should have circulated the applicant’s response to my planning appeal to me for comment and conceded the legal challenge I took against them.

They will now reconsider the file and enable me to make a submission on the applicant’s response to my appeal.

Background and details:

I have made the following response to the proposed parking bye-laws which the Executive of Fingal County Council has put on public display.

Legality
Part 19 of the Local Government Act 2001 includes the following provision:

s.199 (5) The approval of a draft bye-law, the consideration of submissions in relation to such draft bye-law and the making, amendment or revocation of a bye-law, are each reserved functions.

This draft bye-law hasn’t been brought to the Council for approval.

I sent a copy of my planning observation focussing on the route for the cable to Transport Infrastructure Ireland and to Uisce Éireann.

The planning application by NISA involves routing the cable from the wind array to Belcamp substation along local roads, which is anticipated to cause serious disruption to road users, including to buses and local access in local communities.

My view, as expressed to the Board, is that if this is necessary then so be it, as decarbonising the economy is an overwhelming imperative.

However, it doesn’t seem necessary to me. The application said that TII was refusing to allow the use of the motorway alignment and that running it south along the coast and in from Portmarnock wasn’t feasible.

I have received markedly different responses from these two state bodies. The reply from Uisce Éireann demonstrates a ‘can’t do’ attitude. The reply from TII is far more positive, recognising the imperative to transition to renewable energy and showing a commitment to collaboration and cooperation to facilitate energy infrastructure.

Tá mo bhileog um thoghchán as Gaeilge anseo.

The English language version of my election leaflet is here.