Development plan · Dublin City Council
Dublin City Development Plan 2022–2028 – Volume 1: Written Statement (as varied by Variations Nos. 1–11)
The council's development plan written statement: its strategy, policies, objectives and development standards.
Dublin City Council · 2022–2028 · 696 pages
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- Climate Action | Chapter 3 91 The main initial source of heat for this network is the Poolbeg waste to energy facility, which has the capacity to deliver 90 megawatts of heat, equivalent to the heating needs of 50,000 to 80,000 homes in the city. The first phase of the DDHS was designed to serve the North Lotts and Grand Canal Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) and the Poolbeg West SDZ, as provided for in government policy. Once the first phase of the DDHS is established, the next phase of its development would entail the imminent expansion of the network, firstly to areas directly adjacent to the SDZs which currently make up the Docklands Strategic Development and Regeneration Area (SDRA), and then on to the wider city through connections with existing, new, local and communally heated developments. According to Codema, Dublin City has enough waste heat to provide for 1.75 times the total heating demand of the city’s buildings. Furthermore, Codema’s Spatial Energy Demand Analysis (SEDA), identified that over 75% of Dublin City areas have heat densities high enough to be considered feasible for connection to district heating systems. In order to ensure the future development of District Heating in Dublin City, it will be necessary to ensure that significant new residential and commercial developments, particularly in SDRAs are ‘district heating enabled’, where feasible, in order to ensure that they are capable of being connected with local or citywide District Heating systems. Where this is not feasible, the proposed energy and heating solution should offer a similarly efficient and low carbon solution. Details as to the requirements for specific SDRAs as well as details on the requirements a development must meet in order to be considered ‘district heating enabled’ is provided in Chapter 13: Strategic Development and Regeneration Areas and in Chapter 15: Development Standards. It is the Policy of Dublin City Council: CA15 Waste Heat, District Heating and Decentralised Energy To actively encourage the development of low carbon and highly efficient district heating and decentralised energy systems across the city utilising low carbon heat sources such as renewable energy and waste heat recovery and to promote the connection of new developments to district heating networks where such systems exist/can be developed in a given area.
- Climate Action | Chapter 3 92 It is the Policy of Dublin City Council: CA16 The Dublin District Heating System (DDHS) To support, encourage and facilitate the development and expansion of any necessary energy infrastructure which will deliver the low carbon Docklands and Poolbeg catchment of the Dublin District Heating System (DDHS) project including, its pipeline infrastructure and its energy centre with energy storage and back-up heat production. CA17 Supporting the Potential of District Heating in Dublin City To support, encourage and facilitate the potential of district heating in Dublin City, all Climate Action Energy Statements submitted to the Council (see Policy CA10) shall include an assessment of the technical, environmental and economic feasibility of district or block heating or cooling, particularly where it is based entirely, or partially on energy from renewable and waste heat sources. In addition: ▪ Climate Action Energy Statements for significant new residential and commercial developments in Strategic Development and Regeneration Areas (SDRAs), will assess the feasibility of making the development ‘district heating enabled’ in order to facilitate a connection to an available or developing district heating network in the area. ▪ Climate Action Energy Statements for significant new residential and commercial developments in the Docklands SDRA will assess the feasibility of making the development ‘district heating enabled’ in order to facilitate a connection to the Dublin District Heating System. CA18 Capture and Utilisation of Waste Heat To encourage proposed and existing developments and facilities (such as data centres) to capture and utilise otherwise wasted heat, and use waste heat either on-site, or in an adjoining, and nearby sites, in compliance with all relevant Energy Efficiency Regulations. Energy Initiatives, Strategic Energy Zones and Decarbonising Zones A number of significant strategies and initiatives have been introduced (or are being prepared) in order to further drive the transition towards low carbon energy use across the city as a whole as well as in local communities.
- Climate Action | Chapter 3 93 Strategic Energy Zones This ongoing work will also assist in the identification of potential ‘Strategic Energy Zones’ in accordance with Regional Policy Objective (RPO) 7.35 of the RSES which states that “EMRA shall, in conjunction with local authorities in the Region, identify Strategic Energy Zones as areas suitable for larger energy generating projects, the role of community and micro energy production in urban and rural settings and the potential for renewable energy within industrial areas”. Local Initiatives Public and stakeholder engagement is extremely important in addressing climate change and it is recognised that there is a need to foster and build momentum on wider citizen engagement in climate change, across all age groups. A successful established example of community engagement in this regard is the SEAI’s Sustainable Energy Communities initiative, which assists groups of people come together to improve how energy is used for the benefit of their community with the common goals of using less energy, using clean, renewable energy and using smart energy. Decarbonising Zones Action 80 of the Climate Action Plan 2021 identified the need to engage at a local level and included a specific action which requires local authorities to identify and develop plans for at least one Decarbonising Zone (DZ) in their administrative area. A Decarbonising Zone is a spatial area identified by the local authority, in which a range of climate mitigation measures can co-exist to address local low carbon energy, greenhouse gas emissions and climate needs. Dublin City Council has identified Ringsend/Irishtown as a Decarbonising Zone and work is progressing in conjunction with Codema and CARO on an implementation plan to provide for the development demonstrator projects which will harnessing a range of energies technologies and initiatives. Dublin Region Energy Masterplan Codema has developed the Dublin Region Energy Master Plan. The plan provides evidencebased, and costed pathways for the Dublin region to achieve its carbon emission reduction targets to 2030 and 2050, building on the energy areas identified in the Spatial Energy Demand Analyses (SEDAs) for the four Dublin local authority areas.
- Climate Action | Chapter 3 94 It is the Policy of Dublin City Council: CA19 Decarbonising Zones To support, encourage and facilitate the specific polices and projects identified in the Decarbonisation Zone of Ringsend/Irishtown in order to address local low carbon energy, greenhouse gas emissions and climate needs and commit to establishing Decarbonising Zones in each LEA (Local Electoral Area) within the lifetime of this plan, with a view to designating all of Dublin City as a decarbonised zone by the end of this Development Plan. CA20 Strategic Energy Zones To support, encourage and facilitate the designation of potential Strategic Energy Zones in the Dublin City Area in conjunction with the Eastern and Midland Regional Authority. CA21 Sustainable Energy Communities To support, encourage and facilitate the ongoing efforts and future development of Sustainable Energy Communities in Dublin City through the SEAI ‘Sustainable Energy Communities’ Initiative. CA22 Dublin Region Energy Masterplan To support, encourage and facilitate the preparation of the Dublin Region Energy Masterplan by Codema and to support its implementation in conjunction with neighbouring Dublin local authorities, Dublin Metropolitan CARO and other relevant stakeholders. 3.5.4 Waste Promoting the Circular Economy Chapter 9: Sustainable Environmental Infrastructure as well as Chapter 15: Development Standards seek to integrate a more sustainable approach to waste based on circular economy principles. National climate action policy emphasises the need to take action to address climate action across all sectors of society and the economy. In the waste sector, policy on climate action is focused on a shift towards a ‘circular economy’ encompassing three core principles: designing out waste and pollution; keeping products and material in use; and regenerating natural systems. The government’s commitment to these principles is underlined by the Circular Economy and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022, which provides a national policy framework for Ireland’s transition to a circular economy.
- Climate Action | Chapter 3 95 It will also seek to implement many of the actions contained in the recently published Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy which sets out Ireland’s National Waste Policy for 2020- 2025. Construction and Demolition Waste In addition to setting out policy measures relating to issues including municipal waste, food waste and single use plastic, the Waste Action Plan addresses the issue of construction and demolition waste as it relates to the planning system. The Waste Action Plan highlights the need to revise the 2006 Best Practice Guidelines on the Preparation of Waste Management Plans for Construction and Demolition Waste Projects, which culminated in the publication of the Best Practice Guidelines for the Preparation of Resource and Waste Management Plans for Construction and Demolition Projects 2021. The Waste Action Plan also outlines the intention to bring construction and demolition waste guidelines within the framework of statutory planning guidelines, to ensure that there is a consistent application of planning requirements. It is the Policy of Dublin City Council: CA23 The Circular Economy To support the shift towards the circular economy approach as set out in a Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy 2020 to 2025, Ireland’s National Waste Policy, as updated together with The Whole of Government Circular Economy Strategy 2022- 2023. https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/b542dwhole-of-government-circular-economy-strategy-2022-2023-living-moreusing-less/ CA24 Waste Management Plans for Construction and Demolition Projects To have regard to existing Best Practice Guidance on Waste Management Plans for Construction and Demolition Projects as well as any future updates to these guidelines in order to ensure the consistent application of planning requirements. 3.5.5 Sustainable Transport According to data collected by the SEAI, the transport sector was the single largest consumer of energy in Ireland, accounting for 40% of energy use in 2018. In terms of greenhouse gas emissions, data collected by the EPA indicates that the transport sector was responsible for 20.4% of total greenhouse gas emissions in 2019, second only to the agriculture sector. This data demonstrates the need not only to reduce transport by private vehicles, but also to reduce the direct emissions from vehicles themselves.
- Climate Action | Chapter 3 96 Chapter 8: Sustainable Movement and Transport sets out a strategy which responds to these challenges by seeking to minimise the need to travel and by promoting a shift from private car use towards more sustainable forms of transport (see Chapter 8, Section 8.5.6: Sustainable Modes). It also addresses the recent policy and technological developments relating to electric vehicles and alternative fuels which present an opportunity to significantly decarbonise transport across the city. Decarbonising Transport and Electric Vehicles (EVs) The 2021 National Climate Action Plan calls for the combination of measures to influence the spatial pattern of development, urban structure and overall mobility, with low carbon technology measures, such as a significant increase in the EV fleet. The Plan sets out a government target to accelerate the take up of EV cars and vans so that by 2030, there will be 945,000 EVs and low emitting vehicles (LEVs) on the road. In order to cater for this growth in electric vehicles, it will be necessary to ensure that sufficient charging points and rapid charging infrastructure are provided to appropriate design and siting considerations and having regard to the Planning and Development Regulations (2001) as amended, which have been updated to include EV vehicle charging point installation. Regard will be had to advances being made in EV charging technology as well as the development of new, efficient, innovative and accessible ways of providing charging points. It is the Policy of Dublin City Council: CA25 Electric Vehicles To ensure that sufficient charging points and rapid charging infrastructure are provided on existing streets and in new developments subject to appropriate design, siting and built heritage considerations and having regard to the Planning and Development Regulations (2001) as amended, which have been updated to include EV vehicle charging point installation. It is an Objective of Dublin City Council: CAO4 Regional Strategy for Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging To support and implement the forthcoming Regional Strategy for Electric Vehicle (EV) charging over the lifetime of the plan in order to facilitate the transition to low carbon vehicles required to achieve 2030 national targets. 3.5.6 Flood Resilience and Water With more extreme rainfall events anticipated with climate change Dublin is likely to experience increased flooding (pluvial, fluvial and coastal, groundwater and network) in
- Climate Action | Chapter 3 97 vulnerable areas of the city. Climate change projections also show a shift in the seasonality of rainfall, with an increase in winter and a decrease in summer. Coupled with changes in temperature, these changes pose a threat to people, critical infrastructure including water supply and security, ecology and property. The Floods Directive calls for member states to undertake strategic flood risk assessments and to identify flood risk management measures. The Office of Public Works (OPW) has prepared flood maps for future climate scenarios and Flood Risk Management Plans outlining measures such as flood alleviation schemes / flood defence works (grey infrastructure) to manage flood risk within the relevant river catchments. Green Infrastructure (GI) as part of Sustainable Drainage System (SuDS), also has a role to play in reducing flood risk and in integrated water resource management. GI reduces the rate and volume of water entering the drains by intercepting it, providing temporary and permanent storage areas, and allowing water to infiltrate into the ground rather than being directed to drains. In addition, green infrastructure can filter out pollutants and sediments from over-land surface run-off and it can be designed to capture and store rainwater for reuse / conservation. Establishing space for rivers corridors also plays a role in adaptation responses to achieve flood resilience. Protecting existing river corridors and landscaping and providing natural flood management measures such as the creation of wetlands within river corridors can help to manage river flooding by reducing the volume of runoff, by promoting water infiltration into the soil and slowing runoff to streams, and by delaying the downstream passage of flood flows. The development plan has been subject to, and is accompanied by a Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA), prepared in accordance with the Guidelines for Planning Authorities (DEHLG and OPW, 2009). Consequently, this plan zones appropriate sites for development and identifies how flood risk can be reduced. Chapter 9: Sustainable Environmental Infrastructure and Flood Risk sets out a River Corridor policy approach for the city’s rivers. It also contains policies and objectives on SuDS (see also Appendix 12); Green Roofs (see also Appendix 11); Surface Water Management Plans (see also Appendix 13) and policies and objectives on the separation of foul and surface water drainage systems, water conservation and coastal zone management.
- Climate Action | Chapter 3 98 It is the Policy of Dublin City Council: CA26 Flood and Water Resource Resilience To support, encourage and facilitate the delivery of soft, green and grey adaptation measures to enhance flood and water resource resilience in the city and support the delivery of grey adaptation measures to enhance flood and water resource resilience where necessary. CA27 Flood Risk Assessment and Adaptation To address flood risk at strategic level through the process of Strategic Flood Risk Assessment, and through improvements to the city’s flood defences. CA28 Natural Flood Risk Mitigation To encourage the use natural flood risk mitigation or nature based solutions including integrated wetlands, green infrastructure, and Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) as part of wider adaptation and mitigation responses to achieve flood resilience. 3.5.7 Green Infrastructure and Nature Based Solutions Green Infrastructure (GI) can assist the city to adapt and become resilient to the effects of climate change while also playing a role in climate mitigation. The city’s GI features include natural and semi-natural features (the marine environment, parks, woodland, waterbodies, etc.) and nature based infrastructure (such as green roofs, tree pits, rain gardens and green walls). These natural assets and urban greening elements provide a range of functions and benefits (ecosystem services) that contribute towards climate change adaptation and mitigation. The city’s trees, vegetation and soil capture and store carbon and provide evaporative cooling and shading in the city, mitigating the urban heat island effect. Increasing, restoring and connecting habitats rich in biodiversity that provide valuable ecosystem services, is essential to increasing the city’s resilience to climate change and improving quality of life. The provision of allotments and community gardens provide for food production which can contribute to reducing food miles and the provision of networks for sustainable travel modes such as cycle routes enables active travel thereby helping to reduce carbon emissions from transport. Chapter 10: Green Infrastructure and Recreation sets out adaptive green infrastructure and urban greening policies and objectives to help implement climate action in the city. The
- Climate Action | Chapter 3 99 forthcoming Dublin City GI Strategy will support new climate change actions as will the Dublin City Biodiversity Action Plan (2021-2025). It is the Policy of Dublin City Council: CA29 Climate Action and Green Infrastructure To protect, connect and expand the city’s Green Infrastructure while optimising the climate change adaptation and mitigation services it provides. CA30 Coastal Zone Management To support, encourage and facilitate coastal zone management measures for adapting to climate change which include restoration of degraded ecosystems, increased flood resilience, water quality improvement, habitat conservation and provision of amenities for the residents and visitors of Dublin City. 3.5.8 Integration of Climate Action Policies ‘Mainstreaming’ Climate Action The approach to climate action adopted in this development plan means that every chapter of the plan contributes to the overall effort to adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change. The summary table overleaf, provides a brief overview of the principal ways that each relevant chapter in the development plan makes a concrete contribution to climate action efforts and how in broad terms, each chapter addresses the various climate action policy areas addressed in this chapter.
- Climate Action | Chapter 3 100 Table 3-1: Summary of Climate Action Measures by Chapter Chapter 1: Strategic Context and Vision ▪ Supports compact growth and the continued consolidation of the city. ▪ Supports the effective use of land well-served by public transport and the development of sustainable infrastructure. ▪ Supports the transition to a low-carbon, resilient and sustainable city. Chapter 2: Core Strategy ▪ Supports compact growth via appropriate infill and brownfield development and targeted growth along key transport corridors. ▪ Supports key healthy place-making and the 15 minute city. Chapter 3: Climate Action ▪ Supports the implementation of the DCC Climate Change Action Plan. ▪ Supports integrating climate action measures into development proposals. ▪ Supports the decarbonisation of the energy sector and the continuing development of renewable and low carbon sources of energy. ▪ Supports local and citywide energy strategies and initiatives. ▪ Supports the circular economy approach to waste. ▪ Supports the transition towards more sustainable modes of movement and transport and the decarbonisation of transport. ▪ Supports improving flood risk mitigation and adaptation measures including the use of nature based solutions and SuDS. ▪ Supports the principles of nature based solutions and urban greening. Chapter 4: Shape and Structure of the City ▪ Supports directing and prioritising growth in locations which enable targeted infrastructure investment and the optimal use of public transport. ▪ Supports the creation of a more compact city where development is closely aligned and integrated with public transport infrastructure. ▪ Supports the creation of sustainable neighbourhoods in line with the 15 minute city principle designed to facilitate walking and cycling, close to public transport, and with a range of community infrastructure. ▪ Promotes development that enhances natural heritage assets, improves biodiversity and develops a green infrastructure network. Chapter 5: Quality Housing and Sustainable Neighbourhoods ▪ Supports the delivery of compact growth through the development of high quality sustainable neighbourhoods in accordance with the 15 minute city approach. ▪ Supports healthy place-making and the integration of climate action measures in the development of sustainable neighbourhoods.
Source Dublin City Council: Dublin City Development Plan 2022–2028 – Volume 1: Written Statement (as varied by Variations Nos. 1–11) (2022–2028) · Licence the publisher's termsText read from the publisher’s PDF; tables, maps and drawings do not survive as text, and page numbers are the PDF’s (its first page is 1). Check the original before relying on a passage.