The following report has been supplied to City Councillors in advance of next Monday’s meeting of the North Central Area Committee.

Quality Bus Network Office,
4th Floor, WorldCom Buildings,
Lower Erne Street, Dublin 2
Oifig Ghréasán Bus
Urlár 4, Foirgneamh WorldCom,
Sráid Éirne, Íocht, Baile Átha Cliath 2
T. 01 6860100 F. 01 6860127
Email: qbnoffice@dublincity.ie

Report to the Chairman and Members of the
North Central Area Committee

Malahide Quality Bus Corridor Enhancements

Report on Public Consultation                                     

19th June, 2006

 
Introduction

The Quality Bus Network Project Office (QBN Project Office) in association with Dublin City Council prepared a preliminary design for the enhancements of the Malahide Quality Bus Corridor. The scheme runs between Talbot Street and Clare Hall via Amiens Street, North Strand Road, Annesley Bridge Road, Fairview and Malahide Road.  The proposals entailed the provision of bus and cycle lanes, improved footpaths, additional signalised pedestrian crossing facilities and safety improvements at locations where accident records are high.

These proposals were presented to the South East Area Committee for consideration on the 24th April 2006.

Public Consultation Process

The Public Consultation process took place from the 15th May 2006 to the 9th June 2006, with observations accepted until the 16th June 2006.

Please note that this report deals with submissions received by the Quality Bus Network Project Office up to the 13th June and that any further observations received will be verbally reported to the Area Committee meeting on the 19th June.    

The scheme was put on public display in the Civic Offices, North Central Area Offices, Bunratty Road and Fairview Library. The scheme was included in the Dublin City Council Web Site with both text and drawings available for viewing.  An information leaflet on the scheme was also prepared and distributed at the public displays.  The public consultation process was advertised in the Irish Independent, the Irish Times and the North Side People newspapers.

In total 22 submissions were received up to the 13th June in relation to the scheme. In reviewing the submissions every effort has been made to respond to the concerns raised by members of the public, while at the same time ensuring that progress is made in improving the bus performance and traffic safety along the route. The proposed measures also address pedestrian and cyclist issues where appropriate.

Main Objections to Scheme

These were two main areas of concern expressed in the public consultation. These are the proposals to ban the right turn from Malahide Road to Kilmore Road and to reduce the width of the footpath outside Artane Cottages.

The right turn ban from Malahide Road to Kilmore Road was recommended to improve the bus priority at the junction.

The Quality Bus Network Project Office carried out a traffic count on the Malahide Road Kilmore Road junction on 18th May 2005. These counts show a peak hour flow of 98 passenger car units (pcus)/hr in the AM, an average of 121 pcus/hr in the off-peak and peak hour flow of 141 pcus/hr in the PM.

In order to estimate how traffic would divert as a result of a right turn ban being implemented a Select Link Analysis was carried out on the right turning movement by the Dublin Transportation Office using the Saturn Traffic Model. The model analysed the traffic movements and calculated the origin and destination of the right turners during the AM peak. The model found that 40% of right turning vehicles originated from the Malahide Road and 60% from the Gracefield Road approach to the Artane roundabout originating in the Howth and Clontarf areas. The main destinations shown by the model were the Swords and Ballymun Road (70%), the M50 (20%) and the Beaumont Area (10%).  Based on the above figures it is estimated that 15% of the right turning traffic would divert via Oscar Traynor Road, 80% via Ardlea Road and 5% via Collins Avenue.   

A traffic count taken on 24th February 2005 recorded that during the morning peak hour the two-way traffic flow on Ardlea Road was 1130 pcus with 567 pcus travelling westbound. An 80% diversion of right turners to Ardlea Road will lead to an additional
80 pcus during the AM peak hour, which is an increase of approx 14% in the westbound flow and an overall increase of approx. 7% on the road. Ardlea Road is a 7.3m wide road with off-road parking and can readily accommodate this increase in traffic volumes.

It is also proposed as part of the scheme to upgrade Ardlea Road/Kilmore Road junction by providing two lanes on the Ardlea Road approach and to operate the existing signals as part of the SCATS urban traffic control system and to ensure clear sign posting for Beaumont Hospital, a series of advance directional and information signs are proposed on the Malahide Road and Gracefield Road.
        
The Quality Bus Network Project Office has noted the objections raised by the residents of Artane Cottages in relation to proposals to reduce the width of the footpath outside their houses. The Quality Bus Network Project Office has prepared a revised layout for this section of the scheme which minimises the impact on the footpath on the east side of Malahide Road outside the Artane Cottages. The majority of the road widening will take place on the west side of Malahide Road between St. Davids Wood and Kilmore Road.
 
A summary report on the submissions received together with QBN Project Office comments is shown in Appendix A.

Recommendation

It is recommended that the scheme should be implemented with the modifications outlined above and in Appendix A.  This revised scheme addresses the comments received while not reducing the overall benefits of the scheme to bus passengers on the Malahide Road.  It is therefore intended to proceed to construction on the scheme in September of this year.

 

No	Rep	Name	Address	Issue/Comments	QBN Response	Date Received
1		Damien Shiels	40 Malahide RoadDublin 3 Clontarf,	Comments include:- – avails parking on daily basis outside his home from 10 am to 4 pm. No dish outside his house though has a drive in to the garden . – Concerned over the loss of parking space. .	Dish in footpath to be provided.	31/05/06
2	Seán Haughey	Damien Shiels	40 Malahide Road, Clontarf, Dublin 3	Comments include:- – avails parking on daily basis outside his home from 10 am to 4 pm. No dish outside his house though has a drive in to the garden . – Concerned over the loss of parking space.	Dish in footpath to be provided.	08/06/06
3		William Kearney	41 Maryaikenhead House Dublin 8	Comment: Very good		29/05/06
4	Cllr. David Healy		54 Pairc Eabhora Beann Eadair Howth	5.1 Dangerous existing junction with East Wall Road for cyclists Solutions proposed are as follows:- 1.       Ban left-hand turns at this junction (and redesign the junction in order to prevent/impede illegal turns)     2.       Direct the cyclists to occupy the centre traffic lane with markings             6.1/7.1 Annelsey Bridge Road and Fairview on seriously inadequate cycle lane in door zone The cross-section shows a cycle lane (at 1.20m below “absolute minimum width” and far below the recommended 2m) in the door zone of parked cars.   6.2/7.2Substandard cycletrack against railing with substandard footpath alongside Fairview park.               8.1 What happens to the existing straight-ahead cycle lane at Fairview/Malahide Road.    10.1 Cycle lane positioning cyclists to the left of left-turning traffic on junction Malahide Road/Griffith Avenue               10.2 Advanced Stop Lines to provided at Malahide Road Griffith Avenue Junction.           10.3/11/12.1 Inadequate cycle lane width on Malahide Road             13.1/14.1/15.1 Inadequate joint bus and cycle lane at Malahide Road/Collins Avenue                           13.2 Road markings should direct cyclists into the correct straight ahead lane at Malahide Road / Collins Avenue junction   13.3 Is it really necessary to have 4 north bound lanes on Malahide Road at Collins Avenue     13.4 Advanced Stop Lines at Malahide Road / Collins Avenue junction       16.1 Inadequate cycle lane width at Malahide Road/Kilmore Road junction         17 Removal of roundabout at Artane Roundabout               17.4 Bus stop missing? Is there to be no southbound bus stop at Artane Roundabout	5.1 It is not possible to ban the left turn from Annesley Bridge Road to East Wall Road. The number of Heavy Goods Vehicles making this turn has been reduced by the traffic management measures at the railway bridge and the left turn is necessary for local access.   5.2 This solution proposed is unsafe as the kerbside lane operates as straight through general traffic lane when the bus lane is not operational. It is proposed to provide advisory cycle   lanes across the junction in both directions.   6.1/7.1 This cross-section shows the existing layout which it is not proposed to change.             6.2/7.2 It is proposed to install red surfacing on the cycle track and provide additional cycle and pedestrian symbols to better delineate the cycle track from the pedestrian zone. It is not possible to remove one of the northbound traffic lanes. This would cause major congestion in the area.    8.1 Eastbound cycle lane on       10.1 This solution proposed is unsafe as the kerbside lane operates as straight through general traffic lane when the bus lane is not operational. It is proposed to provide advisory cycle   lanes across the junction in both directions. Box junction markings will be provided on the left turn lane to assist cyclists.   10.2 Advanced stop lines will be provided on all arms of the junction with the exception of the northbound arm on Malahide RoadCopeland Avenue. where the right-turn is banned to   10.3/11/12.1Combined bys and cycle lanes will be provided on Malahide Road. It is not proposed to carry out major road works in this area to widen the carriageway to provide additional width for the cycle lanes.      13.1/14.1/15.1The drawings on display were only the preliminary design drawings. The detailed design will show a combined bus/cycle lane on the Malahide Road      . The road widening being carried out is the maximum possible between Donnycarney Road and Kilmore Road as per the Design as it is necessary to maintain adequate visibility for the local residents with driveways. It would lead to serious congestion on the route to reduce it to one general lane of traffic in each direction .   13.2 Cycle lane markings will be provided a the junction to direct cyclists into the straight ahead lanes.        13.3 The 4 lane approach to the junction is essential to maintain adequate operating conditions for traffic.   13.4 Advanced Stop Lines will be provided on all arms of the junction together with advisory lines through the junction.   16.1 It is proposed to provide a combined bus/cycle lane southbound through the junction and widen the northbound lane to 3.5m as a cycle and traffic lane.    17 Noted. The detail design at the roundabout will take account of the comments made by Mr. Healy in relation to the width of the cycle lanes, the design of the cycle lanes on the side roads. The details of the left-turn filter lanes will be addressed.    17.4 There are proposals to remove any bus stops at this location.
5		Derek Peppard	Derek@timepoint.ie	–  Suggests to retain existing straight ahead cycle track at Fairview/Malahide road junction	Retained in scheme.	02/06/06
6		Derek Peppard	Derek@timepoint.ie	–   Fairview off road cycle path should be removed. – This off road cycle path should be removed so commuting cyclists can legally cycle on the bus lane without harassment.	The off-road cycle track in Fairview is the safest as the traffic lanes on Fairview are narrow and cannot accommodate a wide bus lane. It is proposed to upgrade the surface of the cycle track and provide additional cycle and pedestrian symbols.	02/06/06
7		Derek Peppard	Derek@timepoint.ie	Recommends as follows: – That major junction designs be modified to allow cycle lanes traverse the junction. Design already used in QBC proposals at the Killester Avenue junction – To replicate this design at the Artane Roundabout, Kilmore Road and Griffith Avenue junctions. – Continue the cycle lane through the junction in the main road direction i.e. along the Malahide Road	Agreed	02/06/06
8		John Sheridan	4 May Park, Malahide 0872391443	Phonecall. Is not happy with the Malahide QBC Enhancement Scheme	Issues re the ban on right turn to Collins Avenue West and the provision of a pedestrian crossing phase discussed with Mr. Sheridan. Scheme proposals explained to him .	29/05/06
9		Bill Casey	29 Portside Court East Wall	Agreed with proposal		13/06/06
10	Finian McGrath	Patricia Healy	133 Malahide RoadDublin 5 8327868	Phonecall – concerned regarding the right of access to her drive way	Dish to be provided.	06/06/06
11		Ken Ryan	52 Pinebrook Rise Artane Dublin 5	– Organise funding quick		01/06/06
12	Seán Haughey T.D.		5 Mornington Park, Malahide Road, Artane, Dublin 5	– Concerned about the proposed outright ban on cars turning right from Malahide Road to Kilmore Road – Believes that total ban will cause great inconvenience for local residents. – Suggest that other solutions to this problem be examined first and if that is not possible a ban during the morning peak only could be considered		26/05/06
13		Alan Sweeney	77 Pinebrook Drive, Artane	Comment: Banning right at Kilmore all day will  back up at roundabout and unfair to Residents		29/05/06
14		Alfie Local Government Auditor	audit@dublincity.ie	Feedback includes:- –  If possible to widen the footpath between Clontarf Golf Club entrance and Mount Temple School so as to make it safer for pupils attending Mount temple – To do something about the sequence of the traffic lights when turning right from Collins Avenue onto the Malahide Road when heading for the city. Currently, and for a significant period of time only 2 cars can get through. Results in traffic cutting through the residential areas of Hazel Road etc. onto Donnycarney Avenue to get onto the Malahide Road. – The proposal to ban the right turn into Kilmore Road will lead to problems as follows:     a)       If you know about it in advance you’ll have to turn right at Ardlea Road, left onto Kilmore Road and left again at the Roundabout at Artane Castle to get to McDonalds, say. This increases the volume of traffic passing the schools on Ardlea RoadKilmore Road.   and b)      If you don’t know about it in advance you’ll have to turn right into Elm Mount Road and travel along it, up Elm Mount Rise and right onto Skelly’s Lane to get back to McDonald’s or Tesco. This will increase delays due to right turns at this junction and will also force additional traffic through residential areas. It will also reduce access to Beaumont/ Whitethorn area and significantly increase journey times for people travelling there.		16/05/06
15		Mary Flynn	Santa Maria 31 Malahide Road Artane Dublin 5	– Welcomes most of the changes in particular removal of the roundabout with a signalised junction. – Concerned for people living between the roundabout and Kilmore Road and believes that no right hand turn into Kilmore Road will cause problems as there is no left turn on to Donnelli Road and this suggestion of no right turn to Kilmore Road will leave people with no option but to cross Malahide Road to get to Artane Castle SC which is busy and dangerous road.		31/05/06
16	Richard Bruton T.D.	Alan Sweeney	77 Pinebrook Drive, Artane, Dublin 5	– Believes that the proposal to close-off the right-hand turn from the Malahide Road on to Kilmore Road will be very disruptive to local residents and particularly the residents of Pinebrook. Makes it very difficult to access St. Brigid’s School.		01/06/06
17		Residents of Lower Artane Cottages Phyllis Kenny Marion Kavanagh Adam Kavanagh Agnes Costello Marie Radford Mary Reddy B. Horan	Lower Artane Cottages, No. 1 – 10 Dublin 5	–  Objects strongly to the proposals concerning the narrowing of the footpath outside homes of the Residents of Lower Artane Cottages. – Heavy traffic converges on the footpaths. Narrowing of footpaths will be dangerous as well as impossible to sleep as bedrooms are situated to the front of their homes. – Draws attention to the fact that lorry demolished No. 5.		06/06/06
18	Seán Haughey	Mary field Residents Association	5 Mornington Park, Malahide Road, Artane, Dublin 5	Comments include:- –          Maryfield Residents Association opposed to a ban on cars turning right from Malahide RoadKilmore Road to –          Association believes if this goes ahead that cars will divert down Ardlea Road and on to secondary roads in its area thus greatly increasing traffic volumes and reducing the quality of life for local residents.
19	Naoise Ó Muiri	Cecilia and Joe Roche	1 Dromawling Road, Beaumount, Dublin 9	– Opposed to the removal of the facility to turn right onto Kilmore Road from Malahide Road when heading towards the city centre. – Believes it will severely disadvantage local residents and cause serious congestion problem on the Ardlea road.		08/06/06
20	Seán Haughey	Residents of ten houses at Artane Cottages	5 Mornington Park, Malahide Road, Artane, Dublin 5	– The residents of the 10 houses at Artane Cottages are very concerned about the proposal to narrow the footpath in order to widen the road outside their houses. Will cause serious problems in relation to noise, vibrations & fumes – Believes that the road reservation opposite to these homes has plenty of room to widen the road.		08/06/06
21		Dr. Aine Kelly	Lower Artane Cottages	Phonecall Concerned about the narrowing of footpath outside her house		08/06/06
22		Maeve & Phyl Kenny	2 Lower Artane Cottages Malahide Road Dublin 5	– Very concernced about the narrowing of the footpath at Lower Artane Cottages for several reasons including no front gardens, buses, trucks running through the doors. –  Also reminding of a serious accident occurred some years ago when a lorry plaughed into no. 5 lower artane cottages.		09/06/06

 

Yesterday I again raised the issue of the illegal dump at Clonshaugh Belcamp at the area committee. My motion that the Council request a full Garda investigation be carried out into the dumping of hazardous waste at the illegal dump at Clonshaugh Belcamp was agreed unanimously.

 
Fingal County Council has received an application from the IDA to
retain the waste on site.  (The IDA didn’t carry out the dumping, but
bought the land without knowing it’s contents.)  This application was
submitted before, but on the morning of the day when Fingal County
Council was to discuss a motion from me directing that the Manager
refuse permission, the IDA withdrew their application.

Tommy Broughan, Labour Party TD has also been active on this illegal dump.  I learnt from his site
that the Gardaí "would carry out a full investigation if requested to
do so by either Fingal County Council or Dublin City Council." 
Therefore, I submitted the motion below that the Council formally ask
them to carry out a full investigation.  The Area Committee agreed
unanimously.

I also asked for a report on the current status of investigations of the site.  I attach that report below as well.

COMHAIRLE CONTAE FHINE GALL
FINGAL COUNTY COUNCIL

MALAHIDE/HOWTH AREA COMMITTEE
[Services A – Transportation, Environment and Water Services]

Thursday, 8th June, 2006

ITEM NO. 22

DUMPING OF HAZARDOUS WASTE AT ILLEGAL DUMP AT CLONSHAUGH BELCAMP

Motion:  Councillor D. Healy

"That this Committee recommends that the Council request that a full Garda investigation be carried out into the dumping of hazardous waste at the illegal dump at Clonshaugh Belcamp."

Report:

In June 2001 during the laying of a public sewer an illegal landfill site was encountered on land owned by IDA Ireland, a state sponsored body.  Subsequent detailed site investigations revealed that the waste dated from 1982 to 1983.  IDA Ireland had acquired the site in 1997 and were unaware of the presence of the waste prior to June 2001.

At the time of the dumping, some 14 years before the passing of the Waste Management Act, legislation in Ireland was very weak in this area.  The European Communities (Waste) Regulations, 1979 made it an offence to treat, tip or store waste on behalf of another person without a permit issued by the local authority under the regulations, and in this case there was no permit applied for or issued.  No authorisation system existed for waste collection activities.

An Garda Siochana were approached following the discovery with a view to carrying out an investigation, but because of the length of time since the dumping took place, and in view of their experiences in investigating more recent illegal dumping activities in Wicklow, they felt that it would not be possible to identify the persons who dumped on this site in such a fashion as to allow for prosecutions to take place.

 

COMHAIRLE CONTAE FHINE GALL
FINGAL COUNTY COUNCIL

MALAHIDE/HOWTH AREA COMMITTEE
[Services A – Transportation, Environment and Water Services]

Thursday, 8th June, 2006

ITEM NO. 23

ILLEGAL DUMP AT CLONSHAUGH BELCAMP – IDA PROPOSAL

Motion: Councillor D. Healy

"That the Manager report on the status of this Council’s investigations into the illegal dump at Clonshaugh Belcamp and on the environmental impact of retaining the waste on site as proposed by the IDA."

Report:

Following the discovery in June 2001 of illegal dumping at Clonshaugh, IDA Ireland, the owners of the land in question, commissioned a firm of environmental consultants to undertake an investigation of the site.  This investigation involved extensive trial holing and determined that the waste lies in an area 250 metres in length and 40 metres wide at a depth of 3 metres.  The waste is generally of commercial origin but also includes some clinical and hydrocarbon waste.  The presentation of the clinical waste makes it highly improbable that it originated from a hospital, and it is more likely to have come from an industrial origin, specifically the medical devices sector.  The volume of waste is approximately 50,000 cubic metres or 40,000 tonnes and the dumping took place in 1982 and 1983.  Part of the site lies within the administrative area of Dublin City Council.

While the likely origin of some of the waste has been determined, the length of time since the dumping took place and the legislative situation pertaining at the time of the activity make it extremely unlikely that sufficient proofs can be established for any prosecution to proceed.

IDA Ireland has applied both to this Council and to Dublin City Council for permission to retain the waste on site, which involves the construction of a containment system that will isolate the waste body within an area of 1.4 hectares for the purposes of environmental remediation of lands. The proposed development will include below ground level vertical containment walls; an impermeable capping system; surface water drainage; and monitoring systems, including boreholes, for environmental indicators. A landscape plan has also been incorporated and an EIS accompanies the application which deals with the environmental impact of retaining the waste on site including an environmental risk assessment.  Fingal County Council and Dublin City Council have jointly engaged an environmental consultant to evaluate the scope and adequacy of the EIS, and further information has been sought from the applicant.

The Environmental Protection Agency was consulted in relation to the proposal to retain the waste on site and the Agency has determined that a waste licence would not be required in this case.

Following a time extension, this Council is due to decide on the application by 17th July 2006.

The majority in the Area Committee agreed to put a proposal for a new car-park at Bottle Quay, Strand Rd., Sutton on public display.  I didn’t agree with the proposal because I feel the money involved is needed for maintenance works to the rights of way and providing signage to the rights of way.  The public display is at Baldoyle Library and the Council offices in Swords until 21st June. I have asked for the documents also to go on display at Howth Library Comments must be made by 5th July. I have scanned the documents and attach them below.

COMHAIRLE CONTAE FHINE GALL
FINGAL COUNTY COUNCIL
Planning & Development Act 2000
Planning & Development Regulations 2001
PROPOSED PROVISION OF CAR PARK AT BOTTLE QUAY, SUTTON
In accordance with Part VIII of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001,
Fingal County Council hereby gives notice of its intention to provide a car park for 16
cars, including 1 disabled parking space, at Bottle Quay, Sutton.
The car park is to be located on the seaward side of the access road from Strand Road
to the Cliff paths and it will be surfaced with buff coloured tarmacadam. The sea side
boundary will be a 500mm dry stone wall which will allow views over Dublin Bay.
The land^ward boundary will be the existing hedgerow which will be reinforced with
a low stone wall and additional planting of hawthorn in the hedgerow. The access
point to the car park will have a height restriction barrier provided. The boundary
between the car park and the cliff paths will be secured with another dry stone wall
with an electronically controlled (swipe card, proximity card or similar system) to
permit access for maintenance machinery and for the residents of the Martello Tower.
The existing hard standing which is located to the front of the property that abuts the
Council owned lands, and is currently used as a car park, will be reinstated in grass. A
plastic cell system will be used to reinforce the grass surface so that in the event that
this area is used to park cars, the grass surface will be protected from damage.
Plans and particulars of the proposed development will be made available for
inspection with the exception of public holidays between the hours of 9.00 a.m. to
5.00p.m. Monday to Thursday and 9.00a.m. to 4.30 p.m. on Fridays from Wednesday
24th May 2006 to Wednesday 21st June 2006 (inclusive) at (a) Fingal County
Council Offices, County Hall, Main Street, Swords and (b) Baldoyle Library .
Submissions and Observations with respect to the proposed development dealing with
the proper planning and sustainable development of the area in which the
development would be situated may be made in writing to:
Mr John Burke
Administrative Officer
Parks Division
Fingal County Council
County Hall
Main Street
Swords
Submissions may also be made via e-mail to john.burke@fingalcoco.ie
On or before Wednesday 5th July 2006 (4.00 p.m.)
{mosimage}

The motions to the draft Dublin Airport Masterplan, to be discussed on 12th June have been released.
FINGAL COUNTY COUNCIL

MONDAY, 12th JUNE, 2006

ITEM NO.

MOTIONS TO DRAFT DUBLIN AIRPORT MASTERPLAN
(LOCAL AREA PLAN)

1.    Motion:    Councillor D. Healy
“That the draft Masterplan be rejected and the Manager draft a new version which is to be based on
a) no increase in the impact of aviation through Dublin Airport on noise for residents
b) no increase in the impact of aviation through Dublin Airport on the climate,
c) no increase in the area of land sterilised or blighted by noise and safety zones associated with the Airport.”

2.    Motion:    Councillor T. Kelleher
“That the plan be rejected until it is clear what provision is made for the natural growth of St. Margaret’s Community in terms of housing, infrastructure and amenities.”

3.    Motion:    Councillor P. Coyle
“Add the following objective to the Masterplan:
“ To carry out a Health Impact Assessment on the proposed new runway and expansion of Dublin Airport prior to the implementation of the Masterplan.”

4.    Motion:    Councillor D. Healy
“That the references in the text and maps of the draft Masterplan to the Blanchardstown/Baldoyle Airport Road be deleted.”

5.    Motion:    Councillor D. Healy
“That all references in the text and maps of the draft Masterplan to the provision of a terminal accessed from the west of the airport, associated zoinings and roads be deleted.”

6.    Motion:    Councillor D. Healy
“That all references in the text and maps of the draft Masterplan to the provision of another runway at the airport be deleted.”

7.    Motion:    Councillor D. Healy
“That given the impact of aviation on local residents and the climate, and in the absence of a national aviation policy, it is not the policy of Fingal County Council to facilitate further growth in aviation through Dublin Airport, and that the draft Masterplan be amended accordingly.”

8.    Motion:    Councillor D. Healy
“That the following be included in the draft Local Area Plan:

Approach
Fingal County Council is committed as a priority to encouraging more sustainable development through energy end use efficiency, and increasing the use of renewable energy, in all new building projects in the designated area within the Masterplan.

It will achieve this by:

• Encouraging responsible environmental management in construction
• Promoting sustainable approaches to housing developments by spatial planning, layout, design and detailed specification
• Ensuring high standards of energy efficiency in all housing developments under its remit, and encouraging developers, owners, and tenants to improve the environmental performance of the building stock, including the deployment of renewable energy
• For housing, specifically applying an improvement of 60% relative to prevailing norms as represented by the Building Regulations Part L
• For other buildings, specifically applying an improvement of 60% relative to prevailing norms as represented by the Building Regulations Part L
• Anticipating the operational implementation of the EU Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings (EPBD) by encouraging the energy rating and labelling of building energy performance, so as to give visible recognition to such improvements.

The specific approach proposed for developers is to set a target, accompanied by a menu of design and technology options, including renewable energy technologies, as a means of offering flexibility towards meeting that target in the most technically and economically feasible manner on a case by case basis.

As an initial step towards achieving greater environment sustainability, Fingal County Council is proposing the introduction of a performance based CO2 Emissions Target (CET) for new buildings being constructed within the Masterplan.

Targets
All new buildings within the designated area will represent a significant improvement in energy and associated environmental performance relative to prevailing practice. The following conditions apply:

A collective reduction of at least 60% in CO2 emissions deriving from total energy usage (space heating, water heating, lighting, other) arising from all services within the development, relative to a baseline of existing regulatory and design practice. This initial baseline of comparison is to be represented by the provisions of TGD L to the Building Regulations, 2006. In the absence of an official national methodology for determining the energy performance of non-domestic buildings, this calculation is to be carried out using a method compliant with the draft European Standard prEN 13790.

In meeting this CO2 performance target, the development shall include:
• A collective average reduction of at least 60% in energy consumption for all services , relative to the baseline of existing regulatory and design practice and using a methodology as outlined above; and
• A contribution of 30% by renewable energy supply systems to meet the collective energy requirements within the development.

To illustrate the above, using the Heat Energy Rating methodology, the baseline energy performance of new housing is typically 125 kWh/m2/year for space and water heating when constructed to the minimum requirements of Building Regulations, 2002, and using a boiler with a seasonal efficiency of 75%. This translates into a CO2 performance of 23.7 kg/m2/year using a gas fired heating system.

Fingal County Council requires that new housing developments should achieve a 60% reduction in CO2 emissions associated with space and water heating (i.e. to below 9.5 kg/m2/year), which must include a reduction in energy use for this purpose (i.e. to below 50 kWh/ m2/year) and a contribution of at least 30% by renewable energy systems to meet the collective space and water heating requirements within the development.

Menu of options
In pursuit of these targets, a strong menu of superior design and specification options will include the following:

• Site layout and associated bio-climatic/ passive solar design measures
• Enhanced levels of insulation in walls, roofs, floors, glazing and doors
• Reduced uncontrolled air infiltration losses
• Use of healthy and controllable ventilation systems
• Heat recovery systems
• Use of daylight
• Water conservation measures
• More sustainable building materials
• Improved heat generation appliance efficiency, e.g. condensing boilers
• Intelligent heating system configuration and time/ temperature/ zone/ function controls
• Efficient provision of domestic hot water
• Fuel switching to low or zero CO2 emitting fuels
• Energy efficient lighting systems
• Incorporation of renewable energy systems, e.g. active solar, heat pumps, biomass
• Provision of appropriate group or district heating systems.
• Heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems and controls
• Electrical energy use including motive power
• Efficient lighting systems and controls
• Building Energy Management Systems
• Occupancy controls
• Monitoring and Targeting systems
• Combined Heat and Power (CHP).

Other measures which can contribute to the energy efficiency and renewable energy targets can also be considered.

This menu approach enables specifiers and developers to adopt approaches which are responsive to site and client circumstances and constraints, and offers the flexibility to explore and employ different mixes of options on a case by case basis, to maximise technical and economic feasibility.

9.    Motion:     Councillor P. Coyle.
“Add the following objective (ET2) to the Masterplan:
“Noise control of Engine testing will be carried out in sound controlled areas such as Noise Protection Hangars or Run-up Pens.”

10.    Motion:     Councillor P. Coyle.
“It is an objective that all issues relating to environmental control managed by Fingal County Council (including air, noise, and water quality) will extend into all the area covered by the Masterplan.”

11.    Motion:     Councillor P. Coyle.
“Bye-laws will be introduced for control of noise and Airlines fined for aircraft which exceed set noise levels.”

12.    Motion:     Councillor P. Coyle.
“Under “Drainage and Utilities” add:
“The use of de-icing chemicals on aircraft will be carried out in controlled areas.”

13.    Motion:     Councillor P. Coyle.
“Remove Objectives RW1 and TL2 for consideration until a full cost benefit analysis, as required by the Department of Finance Guidelines for investments by public bodies be carried out on the proposed runway with proper consideration of alternatives within Dublin Airport and elsewhere.”

14.    Motion:    Councillor C. Daly
“It is an objective of the MASTERPLAN that a full cost benefit analysis, as required by the Department of Finance Guidelines for investments by public bodies would be carried out on the proposed runway with proper consideration of alternatives within Dublin airport and elsewhere.”

15.    Motion:     Councillor P. Coyle.
“Remove Objectives RW1 and TL2 for consideration until a national aviation policy evaluation is undertaken to determine where best our national airport infrastructure should be built in ways compatible with National Development Policy and National Spatial Strategy.”

16.    Motion:     Councillor P. Coyle.
“A study and analysis be carried out and a model produced to simulate ground movements on taxiways and aprons based on the proposed terminals and runway development set out in the Masterplan, given that there are serious grounds to believe that the Masterplan is technically unworkable.

17.    Motion:     Councillor C. Daly.
“It is an objective of the masterplan to require a study to be undertaken to simulate ground movements on taxiways and aprons based on the proposed terminals and runway development prior to any development taking place.”

18.    Motion:     Councillor C. Daly.
“The road network is indicative only. Any final route selection must be mindful of the impact on residents of St. Margarets, Kilreesk and Millhead and should be finalised only after dialogue locally with these residents.”

19.    Motion:     Councillor C. Daly.
“It is an objective of the MASTERPLAN to ensure that the heritage of St. Margarets is protected, in particular that preservation orders and any other protective measures are maintained on the following; St. Margarets’ Church and Parochial Hall, St. Brigids Well, the Mill in Sandyhills, Dunsaughley Castle, and St. Margarets’ graveyard.”

20.    Motion:     Councillor C. Daly.
“That the section on noise would be rewritten to include the following, “Accepted research shows that damage to children’s education occurs even with noise insulation. This damage occurs at low noise levels way beyond the so-called Outer Noise Zone. The only way to reduce this impact on thousands of young people and children in Swords, Malahide, Kinsealy and Portmarnock is to delete the runway proposal.”

21.    Motion:     Councillor C. Daly.
“It is an objective of Fingal County Council and the Dublin Airport Masterplan to require the government to undertake a National aviation policy evaluation to determine the optimum approach to developing national airport infrastructure in a manner which is compatible with National Development Policy and National Spatial Strategy.”

22.    Motion:    Councillor M. Kennedy
“That new roadways be constructed by National Roads Authority linking Baldoyle/Portmarnock and M2 Cherryhound to the Dublin Airport lands or alternatively that sufficient government funding be made available to Fingal County Council for the design and construction of these roads.”

23.    Motion:    Councillor T. Kelleher
“That the road running through the St. Margaret’s Sports complex be deleted from the map.”

24.    Motion:    Councillor T. Kelleher
“That the land within the St. Margaret’s Sport complex boundaries be designated for recreation and amenity purposes.”

**********************

The full set of motions submitted to the draft LAP to be discussed at the meeting on 12th June have been released.
FINGAL COUNTY COUNCIL

MONDAY, 12th JUNE, 2006

ITEM NO.  

MOTIONS TO DONABATE LOCAL AREA PLAN

1.    Motion:    Councillor J. Corr
“That the draft Local Area Plan be rejected and that
1.    in order to inform further consideration of the appropriate zoning of these lands, the Manager carry out a study on the provision of rail access to the RS1 zoned lands at Corballis and Ballymastone, to consider the following possibilities
a.    the closure of the existing railway station at Donabate in favour of one to the north and one to the south of the existing station
b.    the extension of the Metro to an interchange station at the new South Donabate Railway Station
c.    the continuation of the Metro to a final stop to serve Ballymastone
d.    any other practical methods to ensure that new housing is built within walking distance of an effective integrated rail service
1.    demographic calculations of the occupation of the houses in Donabate be carried out and a phased programme be devised for the provision of educational facilities based on these calculations
2.    when redrafted the draft LAP will provide that planning permissions will be granted only in accordance with the available school capacities
3    demographic calculations of the occupation of the houses in Donabate be carried out and a phased programme be devised for the provision of medical facilities based on these calculations
4.    when redrafted the draft LAP will designate a site for a primary health-care centre and that the bulk of the residential planning permissions will be granted only when this is provided
when redrafted, the draft LAP will provide for energy standards in buildings constructed similar to those adopted in the Portmarnock LAP.”

2.    Motion:    Councillor P. Coyle
“That the present Draft Local Area Plan for Donabate be revoked and a new Draft be drawn up following the setting up and operation of a Donabate Forum (in similar lines to the Dublin North City Fringe Forum) that will bring together:
a)    all the service providers (including Dept. of Education, HSE, Gardai, Iaranód Eireann, Dublin Bus, ESB)
b)    Council officials (including Planning, Transportation, Water Services, Housing, Community & Parks staff)
c)    Elected Members
d)    Community representatives

The objective of the Forum is to ensure that the needed infrastructure will be provided and be seen to be provided in an integrated fashion.”

3.    Motion:    Councillors Kelleher & McGuire
“That the draft Local Area Plan for Donabate can only be approved in conjunction with the provisions contained in the Motions 7 to 16 submitted in the names of Councillors Gerry McGuire and Tom Kelleher.”

4.    Motion:    Councillor C. Daly
“To ensure transparency and accuracy in the translation of all motions passed, the County Manager will revise the LAP drawings and documents to take account of the Motions passed and put these on public display for a period of 6 weeks for the public to view and consulting with the community regarding any discrepancies found.”

5.    Motion:    Councillor G. McGuire
“That land swaps within the LAP lands and County should be an objective of the plan so that areas within the County that do not have access to land for social and affordable housing may be accommodated.”

6.    Motion:    Councillor J. Corr
“That the following be included in the draft Local Area Plan:

Approach

Fingal County Council is committed as a priority to encouraging more sustainable development through energy end use efficiency, and increasing the use of renewable energy, in all new building projects in the designated area within the Donabate Local Area Plan.

It will achieve this by:

• Encouraging responsible environmental management in construction
• Promoting sustainable approaches to housing developments by spatial planning, layout, design and detailed specification
• Ensuring high standards of energy efficiency in all housing developments under its remit, and encouraging developers, owners, and tenants to improve the environmental performance of the building stock, including the deployment of renewable energy
• For housing, specifically applying an improvement of 60% relative to prevailing norms as represented by the Building Regulations Part L
• For other buildings, specifically applying an improvement of 60% relative to prevailing norms as represented by the Building Regulations Part L
• Anticipating the operational implementation of the EU Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings (EPBD) by encouraging the energy rating and labelling of building energy performance, so as to give visible recognition to such improvements.

The specific approach proposed for developers is to set a target, accompanied by a menu of design and technology options, including renewable energy technologies, as a means of offering flexibility towards meeting that target in the most technically and economically feasible manner on a case by case basis.

As an initial step towards achieving greater environment sustainability, Fingal County Council is proposing the introduction of a performance based CO2 Emissions Target (CET) for new buildings being constructed within the Donabate Local Area Plan.

Targets

All new buildings within the designated area will represent a significant improvement in energy and associated environmental performance relative to prevailing practice. The following conditions apply:

A collective reduction of at least 60% in CO2 emissions deriving from total energy usage (space heating, water heating, lighting, other) arising from all services within the development, relative to a baseline of existing regulatory and design practice. This initial baseline of comparison is to be represented by the provisions of TGD L to the Building Regulations, 2006. In the absence of an official national methodology for determining the energy performance of non-domestic buildings, this calculation is to be carried out using a method compliant with the draft European Standard prEN 13790.

In meeting this CO2 performance target, the development shall include:
• A collective average reduction of at least 60% in energy consumption for all services , relative to the baseline of existing regulatory and design practice and using a methodology as outlined above; and
• A contribution of 30% by renewable energy supply systems to meet the collective energy requirements within the development.

To illustrate the above, using the Heat Energy Rating methodology, the baseline energy performance of new housing is typically 125 kWh/m2/year for space and water heating when constructed to the minimum requirements of Building Regulations, 2002, and using a boiler with a seasonal efficiency of 75%. This translates into a CO2 performance of 23.7 kg/m2/year using a gas fired heating system.

Fingal County Council requires that new housing developments should achieve a 60% reduction in CO2 emissions associated with space and water heating (i.e. to below 9.5 kg/m2/year), which must include a reduction in energy use for this purpose (i.e. to below 50 kWh/ m2/year) and a contribution of at least 30% by renewable energy systems to meet the collective space and water heating requirements within the development.

Menu of options

In pursuit of these targets, a strong menu of superior design and specification options will include the following:

• Site layout and associated bio-climatic/ passive solar design measures
• Enhanced levels of insulation in walls, roofs, floors, glazing and doors
• Reduced uncontrolled air infiltration losses
• Use of healthy and controllable ventilation systems
• Heat recovery systems
• Use of daylight
• Water conservation measures
• More sustainable building materials
• Improved heat generation appliance efficiency, e.g. condensing boilers
• Intelligent heating system configuration and time/ temperature/ zone/ function controls
• Efficient provision of domestic hot water
• Fuel switching to low or zero CO2 emitting fuels
• Energy efficient lighting systems
• Incorporation of renewable energy systems, e.g. active solar, heat pumps, biomass
• Provision of appropriate group or district heating systems.

In the case of non-domestic buildings, additional options include:

• Heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems and controls
• Electrical energy use including motive power
• Efficient lighting systems and controls
• Building Energy Management Systems
• Occupancy controls
• Monitoring and Targeting systems
• Combined Heat and Power (CHP).

Other measures which can contribute to the energy efficiency and renewable energy targets can also be considered.

This menu approach enables specifiers and developers to adopt approaches which are responsive to site and client circumstances and constraints, and offers the flexibility to explore and employ different mixes of options on a case by case basis, to maximise technical and economic feasibility.”

7.    Motion:    Councillors Kennedy, McGuire, Kelleher & Kelly
“That Fingal County Council resolve that the Social and Affordable housing element in new residential housing be restricted to 15pc of the units being built and the distribution and breakdown between Social and Affordable housing be consistent with current best practice in Fingal.”

8.    Motion: Councillors Kennedy, Devitt, McGuire, Kelleher, Daly &
   Kelly
“That Fingal County Council resolve that the existing town centre of Donabate be enhanced in accordance with the provisions of the Donabate Local Area Plan and the County Manager must ensure that any other commercial centre to be developed within the Local Area Plan lands does not compromise the viability of the existing town centre.”
    

9.    Motion: Councillors Kennedy, Devitt, McGuire, Kelleher, Daly &
   Kelly
 “That Fingal County Council resolve that provision be made in the Local Area Plan for the reservation of any additional lands for an integrated transport hub for Donabate and Portrane.  Any such reservation should accommodate rail and bus service needs, and car and bicycle parking.”

10.    Motion: Councillors Kennedy, Devitt, McGuire, Kelleher, Daly &
   Kelly
“That the detailed planning for the new residential developments must make provision for a high degree of permeability, specifically cycling, pedestrian and vehicular permeability both between and within those areas connecting to the existing town centre. To enhance the degree of permeability, provision should be made for footpaths, cycle ways and walkways and the Council must facilitate in particular access to train station, Newbridge Demesne, the beaches and major open space at Rogerstown and Broadmeadow estuaries.  Permeability must be of the highest design standards and address crime prevention concerns of the local community.”

11.    Motion: Councillors Kennedy, Devitt, McGuire, Kelleher, Daly &
   Kelly
 “That Fingal County Council resolve that as part of a comprehensive programme to upgrade vehicular road traffic movements in and out of Donabate/Portrane peninsula that the Manager submit to the Council his proposals and time scales to improve existing county road connections to the proposed connector road.  These improvements must make adequate provision for connections from the distributor road eastwards with Portrane and westwards with the national road network and the M1 motorway at Lissenhall junction.”

12.    Motion: Councillors Kennedy, Devitt, McGuire, Kelleher, Daly &
   Kelly
 “That as part of a proposed programme to have phased provision of infrastructure in advance of housing construction, that the County Manager submits his proposals to the Council and reports regularly on progress, in phasing and targets for the provision of necessary infrastructure, in addition to the targets already provided for in the Local Area Plan for Donabate.  Such proposals and regular reports must specify the distributor road, four and storm water drainage, water and electricity provision, Class 1 open space and other essential community facilities, specifically primary and secondary schools, Garda, Fire and Medical Services, Civic facilities, Public Library, adequate Retail facilities, After School Care, Crèche facilities, and enhanced Transport links.”

13.    Motion: Councillors Kennedy, Devitt, McGuire, Kelleher
 “Fingal County Council resolves that the phasing of residential development in the Donabate area must be constrained to a maximum of 150 units a year until 2010, and the County Manager must outline to the Council his proposals for phasing thereafter having regard to infrastructure provisions and sustainability.”

14.    Motion: Councillors Daly & Kelly
 “The phasing of residential development in the Donabate area must be constrained to a maximum of 150 units constructed a year until 2010, and the County Manager must outline to the Council his proposals for phasing thereafter having regard to infrastructure provisions and sustainability.”

15.    Motion: Councillors Kennedy, Devitt, McGuire, Kelleher, Daly &
   Kelly
 “Fingal County Council resolves that the overall number of units to be constructed must be consistent with the National Spatial Strategy and with Regional Planning Guidelines for the Greater Dublin Area 2004-2016, which identifies Donabate as a moderate growth town.”

16.    Motion: Councillors Kennedy, Devitt, McGuire, Kelleher, Daly &
   Kelly
“That, in recognition of Community Concerns for the low lying lands and the areas of ecological sensitivity (Figure 5, Area 3 of the Strategic Environmental Assessment) in the LAP Section west of the railway line and south of the Hearse road, a detailed environmental impact study be prepared and presented to the Council for consideration re:
A)    The alternative route for t the new distributor road
B)    The design and construction of the new distributor road
C)    Potential residential and or commercial development in the section
D)    The potential designation of open space, greenways or protected lands in the Section.”

17.    Motion:    Councillor A. Devitt
“That the lap provide for a transitional zoning on the rahillion lands at the interface between the existing 3 storey development and the proposed single story development for the remaining majority of these zoned lands —in the interest of providing a phased step down, to minimise overlooking from thr 3storey units of the lower developments.”

18.    Motion:    Councillor C. Daly
“Environment
“To protect the character of Donabate, the environment and sensitive habitats, landscapes and views, the County Manager will adapt the LAP to include the following provisions:
•    No development anywhere in Donabate may be 4 or more storeys in height. Development in Corballis may not exceed 2 storeys, Rahillion may not exceed 1 storey and Turvey may not exceed 2 storeys.
•    Retain the low density development in Rahillion as per the draft LAP, and do not increase this as proposed by the Manager’s Report
•    Prior to drawing up Masterplans, adopt, with consultation with the Department of the Environment, Birdwatch Ireland and other groups proposed by the Donabate and Portrane Community, a conservation mandate for the entire peninsula, whether lands are directly included in LAP land, SPA’s, Ramsar Sites or not, to include dunes, estuaries, forestry, marshlands, wild animals, birds and their habitats, which if not specifically protected will be under threat from development.
•    To reduce damage to sensitive habitats at Corballis, Rahillion and Turvey nearest the Estuary, planning applications must contain measures to prevent construction pollution and run-off and protect existing vegetation and hedgerows with severe penalties for failure to do so.
•    To reduce damage to sensitive habitats by Corballis, Rahillion and Turvey nearest the Estuary, give priority to planning applications containing grass roof (sedim) planting schemes, attenuated stormwater catchment and sustainable energy use schemes approved by Sustainable Energy Ireland.
•    No building development, road or disturbance of the landscape may be permitted closer than 200m from the Broadmeadow or Rogerstown Estuaries.
•    No road or housing may be constructed on any lands found to support rare plant or nesting rare or endangered bird species as identified in the SEA and any future required EIS.”

19.    Motion:    Councillor C. Daly
“Education
“To ensure that education facilities are accessible and safe for children to reach and to reduce the risk of hazards crossing the distributor road and noise from the railway, the County Manager will alter the LAP in the following ways by setting aside council owned land, obtaining land swaps or pursue compulsory purchase orders as necessary.
•    Relocate the Corballis Primary School away from the railway line and distributor road to a new location along or near the Balcarrick Road.
•    Locate a new Secondary School in Ballymastone on or near the Balcarrick Road to allow for sharing of facilities between schools.
•    Relocate the Ballymastone Primary School to a new location on the same side of the distributor road as the residential development.
•    Identify a location in for a Tertiary Education Institution of the same size as the proposed Secondary school.
•    Identify locations for the development of pre-school facilities in all four LAP areas.”

20.    Motion:    Councillor C. Daly
“Community Facilities
“In order to meet the needs of both the present and future generations of Donabate and to ensure the sustainability of existing and future communities the County Manager will adapt the LAP to include the following provisions by setting aside council owned land, obtaining land swaps or pursue compulsory purchase orders as necessary:    
•    Relocate both the Corballis and Balcarrick commercial centres to Balcarrick Road so that the existing Donabate town centre can expand and link to new commercial areas.
•    Adopt a condition that no new houses in the LAP lands may be occupied until parking for the Donabate beachfront is provided for 200 cars with changing and toilet facilities, including disabled facilities at the Corballis Road with a protected pathway to the beach.
•    Treble the size of the Donabate cemetary.
•    Adopt a condition that no new houses in the LAP lands may be occupied until a detailed programme is drawn up with all involved Heritage groups for the restoration of St Patrick’s Church of Ireland and any other heritage structures in disrepair.
•    Identify a location with safe access for a youth facility, which will include a skateboard park, basketball courts and playgrounds for younger children.”

**********************************

Following the introduction of energy standards in LAPs in Fingal , I have been invited to speak at a conference at Cultivate Centre on 22nd June entitled Rethinking the City: Towards Zero-Carbon Cities
Details are at http://www.sustainable.ie/cultivate/Rethinking/index.htm

The three Green Councillors on Fingal County Council have submitted the following motions in relation to the Dublin Airport Masterplan which will be discussed in the Council on 12th June.
 
 

Dublin Airport Masterplan question and motions

 

Question

To ask the Manager whether the Draft Dublin Airport Masterplan has been subjected to Strategic Environmental Assessment?

 

Motions

 

That the draft Masterplan be rejected and the Manager draft a new version which is to be based on

a)      no increase in the impact of aviation through Dublin Airport on noise for residents

b)      no increase in the impact of aviation through Dublin Airport on the climate,

c)      no increase in the area of land sterilised or blighted by noise and safety zones associated with the Airport.

***********

 

That the references in the text and maps of the draft Masterplan to the Blanchardstown/Baldoyle Airport Road be deleted.

**********

 

That all references in the text and maps of the draft Masterplan to the provision of a terminal accessed from the west of the airport, associated zoinings and roads be deleted.

**********

 

That all references in the text and maps of the draft Masterplan to the provision of another runway at the airport be deleted.

**********

 

That given the impact of aviation on local residents and the climate, and in the absence of a national aviation policy, it is not the policy of Fingal County Council to facilitate further growth in aviation through Dublin Airport, and that the draft Masterplan be amended accordingly.

**********

 

That the following be included in the draft Local Area Plan:

Approach

Fingal County Council is committed as a priority to encouraging more sustainable development through energy end use efficiency, and increasing the use of renewable energy, in all new building projects in the designated area within the Masterplan.  

It will achieve this by:

·         Encouraging responsible environmental management in construction
·         Promoting sustainable approaches to housing developments by spatial planning, layout, design and detailed specification
·         Ensuring high standards of energy efficiency in all housing developments under its remit, and encouraging developers, owners, and tenants to improve the environmental performance of the building stock, including the deployment of renewable energy
·         For housing, specifically applying an improvement of 60% relative to prevailing norms as represented by the Building Regulations Part L
·         For other buildings, specifically applying an improvement of 60% relative to prevailing norms as represented by the Building Regulations Part L
·         Anticipating the operational implementation of the EU Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings (EPBD) by encouraging the energy rating and labelling of building energy performance, so as to give visible recognition to such improvements.

The specific approach proposed for developers is to set a target, accompanied by a menu of design and technology options, including renewable energy technologies, as a means of offering flexibility towards meeting that target in the most technically and economically feasible manner on a case by case basis.

As an initial step towards achieving greater environment sustainability, Fingal County Council is proposing the introduction of a performance based CO2 Emissions Target (CET) for new buildings being constructed within the Masterplan.  

Targets

All new buildings within the designated area will represent a significant improvement in energy and associated environmental performance relative to prevailing practice.  The following conditions apply:

A collective reduction of at least 60% in CO2 emissions deriving from total energy usage (space heating, water heating, lighting, other) arising from all services within the development, relative to a baseline of existing regulatory and design practice.  This initial baseline of comparison is to be represented by the provisions of TGD L to the Building Regulations, 2006.  In the absence of an official national methodology for determining the energy performance of non-domestic buildings, this calculation is to be carried out using a method compliant with the draft European Standard prEN 13790.

In meeting this CO2 performance target, the development shall include:
·         A collective average reduction of at least 60% in energy consumption for all services , relative to the baseline of existing regulatory and design practice and using a methodology as outlined above; and
·         A contribution of 30% by renewable energy supply systems to meet the collective energy requirements within the development.  

To illustrate the above, using the Heat Energy Rating methodology, the baseline energy performance of new housing is typically 125 kWh/m2/year for space and water heating when constructed to the minimum requirements of Building Regulations, 2002, and using a boiler with a seasonal efficiency of 75%.  This translates into a CO2 performance of 23.7 kg/m2/year using a gas fired heating system.

Fingal County Council requires that new housing developments should achieve a 60% reduction in CO2 emissions associated with space and water heating (i.e. to below 9.5 kg/m2/year), which must include a reduction in energy use for this purpose (i.e. to below 50 kWh/ m2/year) and a contribution of at least 30% by renewable energy systems to meet the collective space and water heating requirements within the development.

Menu of options

In pursuit of these targets, a strong menu of superior design and specification options will include the following:

·                     Site layout and associated bio-climatic/ passive solar design measures
·                     Enhanced levels of insulation in walls, roofs, floors, glazing and doors
·                     Reduced uncontrolled air infiltration losses
·                     Use of healthy and controllable ventilation systems
·                     Heat recovery systems
·                     Use of daylight
·                     Water conservation measures
·                     More sustainable building materials
·                     Improved heat generation appliance efficiency, e.g. condensing boilers
·                     Intelligent heating system configuration and time/ temperature/ zone/ function controls
·                     Efficient provision of domestic hot water
·                     Fuel switching to low or zero CO2 emitting fuels
·                     Energy efficient lighting systems
·                     Incorporation of renewable energy systems, e.g. active solar, heat pumps, biomass
·                     Provision of appropriate group or district heating systems.
·                     Heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems and controls
·                     Electrical energy use including motive power
·                     Efficient lighting systems and controls
·                     Building Energy Management Systems
·                     Occupancy controls
·                     Monitoring and Targeting systems
·                     Combined Heat and Power (CHP).

Other measures which can contribute to the energy efficiency and renewable energy targets can also be considered.

This menu approach enables specifiers and developers to adopt approaches which are responsive to site and client circumstances and constraints, and offers the flexibility to explore and employ different mixes of options on a case by case basis, to maximise technical and economic feasibility.

**********

 

 

Councillor David Healy

Green Party/Comhaontas Glas

Howth ward / Dublin North East

www.davidhealy.com

01 8324087

54, Páirc Éabhóra, Beann Éadair

54, Evora Park, Howth

 

 

 

The Donabate draft Local Area Plan is due to be discussed in the Council on Monday 12th.  The three Green councillors have submitted the following motions.

Motion 1

That the draft Local Area Plan be rejected and that

1        in order to inform further consideration of the appropriate zoning of these lands,  the Manager carry out a study on the provision of rail access to the RS1 zoned lands at Corballis and Ballymastone, to consider the following possibilities
         a. the closure of the existing railway station at Donabate in favour of one to the north and one to the south of the existing station
         b. the extension of the Metro to an interchange station at the new South Donabate Railway Station
         c. the continuation of the Metro to a final stop to serve Ballymastone
         d. any other practical methods to ensure that new housing is built within walking distance of an effective integrated rail service

   2. demographic calculations of the occupation of the houses in Donabate be carried out and a phased programme be devised for the provision of educational facilities based on these calculations

   3. when redrafted the draft LAP will provide that planning permissions will be granted only in accordance with the available school capacities

   4. demographic calculations of the occupation of the houses in Donabate be carried out and a phased programme be devised for the provision of medical facilities based on these calculations

   5. when redrafted the draft LAP will designate a site for a primary health-care centre and that the bulk of the residential planning permissions will be granted only when this is provided

   6. when redrafted, the draft LAP will provide for energy standards in buildings constructed similar to those adopted in the Portmarnock LAP

Motion 2
That the following be included in the draft Local Area Plan:

Approach

Fingal County Council is committed as a priority to encouraging more sustainable development through energy end use efficiency, and increasing the use of renewable energy, in all new building projects in the designated area within the Donabate Local Area Plan. 

It will achieve this by:

·         Encouraging responsible environmental management in construction
·         Promoting sustainable approaches to housing developments by spatial planning, layout, design and detailed specification
·         Ensuring high standards of energy efficiency in all housing developments under its remit, and encouraging developers, owners, and tenants to improve the environmental performance of the building stock, including the deployment of renewable energy
·         For housing, specifically applying an improvement of 60% relative to prevailing norms as represented by the Building Regulations Part L
·         For other buildings, specifically applying an improvement of 60% relative to prevailing norms as represented by the Building Regulations Part L
·         Anticipating the operational implementation of the EU Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings (EPBD) by encouraging the energy rating and labelling of building energy performance, so as to give visible recognition to such improvements.

The specific approach proposed for developers is to set a target, accompanied by a menu of design and technology options, including renewable energy technologies, as a means of offering flexibility towards meeting that target in the most technically and economically feasible manner on a case by case basis.

As an initial step towards achieving greater environment sustainability, Fingal County Council is proposing the introduction of a performance based CO2 Emissions Target (CET) for new buildings being constructed within the Donabate Local Area Plan. 

Targets

All new buildings within the designated area will represent a significant improvement in energy and associated environmental performance relative to prevailing practice.  The following conditions apply:

A collective reduction of at least 60% in CO2 emissions deriving from total energy usage (space heating, water heating, lighting, other) arising from all services within the development, relative to a baseline of existing regulatory and design practice.  This initial baseline of comparison is to be represented by the provisions of TGD L to the Building Regulations, 2006.  In the absence of an official national methodology for determining the energy performance of non-domestic buildings, this calculation is to be carried out using a method compliant with the draft European Standard prEN 13790.

In meeting this CO2 performance target, the development shall include:
·         A collective average reduction of at least 60% in energy consumption for all services , relative to the baseline of existing regulatory and design practice and using a methodology as outlined above; and
·         A contribution of 30% by renewable energy supply systems to meet the collective energy requirements within the development. 

To illustrate the above, using the Heat Energy Rating methodology, the baseline energy performance of new housing is typically 125 kWh/m2/year for space and water heating when constructed to the minimum requirements of Building Regulations, 2002, and using a boiler with a seasonal efficiency of 75%.  This translates into a CO2 performance of 23.7 kg/m2/year using a gas fired heating system.

Fingal County Council requires that new housing developments should achieve a 60% reduction in CO2 emissions associated with space and water heating (i.e. to below 9.5 kg/m2/year), which must include a reduction in energy use for this purpose (i.e. to below 50 kWh/ m2/year) and a contribution of at least 30% by renewable energy systems to meet the collective space and water heating requirements within the development.

Menu of options

In pursuit of these targets, a strong menu of superior design and specification options will include the following:

·                     Site layout and associated bio-climatic/ passive solar design measures
·                     Enhanced levels of insulation in walls, roofs, floors, glazing and doors
·                     Reduced uncontrolled air infiltration losses
·                     Use of healthy and controllable ventilation systems
·                     Heat recovery systems
·                     Use of daylight
·                     Water conservation measures
·                     More sustainable building materials
·                     Improved heat generation appliance efficiency, e.g. condensing boilers
·                     Intelligent heating system configuration and time/ temperature/ zone/ function controls
·                     Efficient provision of domestic hot water
·                     Fuel switching to low or zero CO2 emitting fuels
·                     Energy efficient lighting systems
·                     Incorporation of renewable energy systems, e.g. active solar, heat pumps, biomass
·                     Provision of appropriate group or district heating systems.

In the case of non-domestic buildings, additional options include:

·                     Heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems and controls
·                     Electrical energy use including motive power
·                     Efficient lighting systems and controls
·                     Building Energy Management Systems
·                     Occupancy controls
·                     Monitoring and Targeting systems
·                     Combined Heat and Power (CHP).

Other measures which can contribute to the energy efficiency and renewable energy targets can also be considered.

This menu approach enables specifiers and developers to adopt approaches which are responsive to site and client circumstances and constraints, and offers the flexibility to explore and employ different mixes of options on a case by case basis, to maximise technical and economic feasibility.

 

Further to my previous post on this, I have obtained copies of the consultation notice and the three options in colour, see below.

COMHAIRLE CONTAE FHINE GALL
FINGAL COUNTY COUNCIL

 

Planning & Development Act 2000

Planning & Development Regulations 2001

 

PROPOSED DESIGN OF OPEN SPACE BETWEEN CASTLEROSSE AND ADMIRAL PARK, BALDOYLE

 

In accordance with Part VIII of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, Fingal County Council hereby gives notice of its intention to develop the open space located between Castlerosse Estate, Admiral Park Estate, Grange Road and the proposed Millennium Park, Baldoyle.

 

Three options for the development of the open space are presented. Members of the public are invited to make Submissions and Observations with respect to each of the three options and to clearly indicate their preferred option for the proposed development.

 
Option 1 shows a) the development of a wide tree lined boulevard type access from Grange Road to Millennium Park; b) the removal of the existing palisade fence currently located on the open space boundary between Castlerosse Estate and Admiral Park Estate; c) a gated feature entrance on Grange Road; d) building up of the garden side wall at number 14 Grange Road; and d) extensive landscape planting, including trees, hedges, bulbs etc. will be used to enhance this entrance.

 

Option 2 shows a) the development of a wide tree lined boulevard type access from Grange Road to Millennium Park, bounded on both sides and along Grange Road by new solid bar railings approximately 2m high; b) a gated feature entrance on Grange Road; c) link paths and pedestrian gates in the railings. These gates will provide the option of direct access to the boulevard from either estate. They can be locked and unlocked in accordance with Millennium Park opening times and will remained locked unless residents decide otherwise; d) building up of the garden side walls to number 50 Castlerosse View and number 14 Grange Road; e) extensive landscape planting, including trees, hedges, bulbs etc. will be used to enhance this entrance.

 
Option 3 shows a) the replacement of the existing palisade fence currently located on the open space boundary between Castlerosse Estate and Admiral Park Estate with new solid bar railings approximately 2m high; b) building up of the garden side walls to number 50 Castlerosse View and number 14 Grange Road; c) landscape improvements and associated site works.

 

Submissions and Observations made with regard to the proposed development dealing with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area in which the development would occur may be made in writing to:

 

Mr John Burke

Administrative Officer

Parks Division

Fingal County Council

County Hall

Main Street

Swords

 

Submissions may also be made via e-mail to john.burke@fingalcoco.ie

 

On or before Wednesday 5th July 2006 (4.00 p.m.)
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