Development plan · Fingal County Council
Fingal Development Plan 2023–2029 – Written Statement (Consolidated)
The council's development plan written statement: its strategy, policies, objectives and development standards.
Fingal County Council · 2023–2029 · 662 pages
Ask this document
Answers come only from the text of Fingal Development Plan 2023–2029 – Written Statement (Consolidated), each claim linked to its page. They are not advice; check the page itself.
Free, with a daily limit.
- GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE AND NATURAl hERITAGE 341FINGAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2023-2029 Policy GINHP4 – Green Infrastructure Themes Ensure the green infrastructure strategy for Fingal protects and enhances existing green infrastructure resources and plans for future green infrastructure provision which addresses the five main themes identified in this Plan, namely: Biodiversity, Parks, Open Space and Recreation, Sustainable Water Management, Archaeological and Heritage landscapes, Landscape. 9.5.1.1 Biodiversity Biodiversity can be defined as the diversity of plants, animals, insects, birds, fish and micro-organisms and their habitats in which they live and interact, such as grasslands, woodlands, streams, hedgerows, public parks and private gardens. The County’s natural heritage is a core component of Fingal’s green infrastructure. Key elements are: ¨ Fingal’s Ecological Network includes Core Biodiversity Conservation Areas: Ramsar sites, Natura 2000 sites (Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs)), Natural Heritage Areas (NHA), proposed Natural Heritage Areas (pNHA), Statutory Nature Reserves, Refuges for Fauna, Annex I habitats outside designated sites, habitats of protected or rare flora. ¨ Ecological Buffer Zones. ¨ Nature Development Areas. ¨ River Corridors along major Rivers. Policy GINHP5 – Green Infrastructure Network Develop the green infrastructure network to ensure the conservation and enhancement of biodiversity, including the protection of European Sites, the provision of accessible parks, open spaces and recreational facilities (including allotments and community gardens), the sustainable management of water, the maintenance of landscape character including historic landscape character and the protection and enhancement of archaeological and heritage landscapes. Objective GINHO2 – Fragmentation Reduce fragmentation and enhance the resilience of Fingal’s green infrastructure network by strengthening ecological links between urban areas, Natura 2000 sites, proposed Natural Heritage Areas, parks and open spaces and the wider regional network by connecting all new developments into the wider green infrastructure network. Objective GINHO3 – Biodiversity in Open Space Make provision for biodiversity within public open space and include water sensitive design and management measures (including SuDS) as part of a sustainable approach to open space design and management.
- GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE AND NATURAl hERITAGE 342FINGAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2023-2029 Objective GINHO4 – Green Infrastructure and Development Resist development that would fragment or prejudice the County’s strategic green infrastructure network. Objective GINHO5 – Pollinator Plan Continue to support the provisions of the National Pollinator Plan 2021-2025 through the management and monitoring of the County’s pollinator protection sites and through the promotion of additional pollinator sites during the lifetime of this Development Plan. Objective GINHO6 – Agriculture and Horticulture Identify and map the important agricultural and horticultural lands in the County for future food security purposes and protect these lands from development. 9.5.1.2 Parks, Open Space and Recreation This theme is defined as lands zoned open space and/or in use as public open space. The Council has established 2,000 hectares of public open space that are increasingly managed in a sustainable manner to ensure that future generations can enjoy the benefits of these amenities for recreation, health and wellbeing. Policy GINHP6 – Multi-Functionality Ensure delivery of multifunctional green and civic spaces that meet community needs, promote active and passive recreation, flood and surface water management and local habitat improvements. The multi-functionality of spaces will be balanced against the need to protect and enhance local habitat and the recreational and functional requirements of parks. Objective GINHO7 – Provision of Open Space Provide a range of accessible new parks, open spaces and recreational facilities accommodating a wide variety of uses (both passive and active), use intensities and interests. Objective GINHO8 – Routes Provide attractive and safe routes linking parks and open spaces and other related features such as cultural sites and heritage assets as an integral part of green infrastructure provision, where appropriate and feasible. Objective GINHO9 – Greenways and Net Gain Ensure that all greenway developments have a biodiversity net gain. Nature conservation and opportunities for biodiversity enhancement will be a key part of these infrastructure projects and nature conservation will be considered throughout the lifetime of the project and into the future, following project completion.
- GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE AND NATURAl hERITAGE 343FINGAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2023-2029 Objective GINHO10 – Food Production Identify and provide opportunities for Fingal residents to engage in food production through allotments, community gardens and the provision of food foraging areas in new parks and green infrastructure proposals where appropriate. Objective GINHO11 – Donabate Turvey Nature Reserve That Fingal County Council in the lifetime of this Development Plan provides for the development of a wildlife, education and rehabilitation centre within the Turvey Nature Reserve, Turvey Donabate. 9.5.1.3 Sustainable Water Management The considered management and enhancement of watercourses including rivers and streams, riverine floodplains and wetland areas and coastal areas liable to flooding can provide effective measures to help manage flooding and improve the quality of water. Policy GINHP7 – Protection Protect and enhance the natural, historical, amenity and biodiversity value of the County’s watercourses, flood plains, riparian corridors, wetlands and coastal area though long-term and liaison with relevant Prescribed Bodies where appropriate. Objective GINHO12 – Green Infrastructure Requirements Ensure the provision of new green infrastructure addresses the requirements of functional flood storage, the sustainable management of coastal erosion, and links with provision for biodiversity, Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) and provision for parks and open space wherever possible and appropriate. Objective GINHO13 – Wetlands Seek the creation of new wetlands and/or enhancement of existing wetlands through provision for Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) where appropriate. Objective GINHO14 – Green Roofs Seek the provision of green roofs and green walls as an integrated part of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) and which provide benefits for biodiversity, wherever possible. Objective GINHO15 – SuDS Limit surface water run-off from new developments through the use of appropriate Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS) using nature-based solutions and ensure that SuDS is integrated into all new development in the County. Objective GINHO16 – Coastal Ensure the green infrastructure strategy for Fingal protects the County’s natural coastal defences, such as beaches, sand dunes, salt marshes and estuary lands, and promotes the use of soft engineering techniques as an alternative to hard coastal defence works wherever possible.
- GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE AND NATURAl hERITAGE 344FINGAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2023-2029 9.5.1.4 Archaeological and Heritage Landscapes There is a significant link between our archaeological, built and natural heritage. Historic graveyards, stone structures and ruins are a rich part of not only our cultural but natural heritage and are of significant ecological value while archaeological monuments are often preserved within open space. Policy GINHP8 – Archaeology and Green Infrastructure Protect, conserve and enhance landscape, natural, cultural and built heritage features, and support the implementation of the Fingal Heritage Plan in relation to the provision of green infrastructure. Objective GINHO17 – Fingal Heritage Plan Protect, conserve and enhance landscape, natural, cultural and built heritage features, and support the objectives and actions of the Fingal Heritage Plan. Objective GINHO18 – Heritage Landscape Ensure, wherever possible and appropriate, that elements of the archaeological and heritage landscape are fully integrated into proposals for new developments at the project design stage. 9.5.1.5 Landscape This theme includes the Special Amenity Areas on Howth Head and the Liffey Valley, High Amenity Areas, Highly Sensitive Landscapes and County Geological Sites. Policy GINHP9 – Landscape Character Ensure green infrastructure provision responds to and reflects landscape character including historic landscape character, conserving, enhancing and augmenting the existing landscapes and townscapes of Fingal which contribute to a distinctive sense of place. 9.5.2 Green Infrastructure and Planning A key objective of green infrastructure planning is that green infrastructure management and provision is integrated with plans for growth and development. All proposals for development must take account of the County’s strategic green infrastructure resources and ensure that these are protected, managed and enhanced as new development takes place. In addition, proposals for development must seek to provide for the protection and provision of green infrastructure which addresses the five green infrastructure themes identified in the Development Plan in a coherent and integrated manner. Rewilding is defined as the process of innovation in conservation philosophy science and management, characterised by a desire to restore ecological processes at various scales, often through the introduction of functional species and restoration of natural processes. Rewilding is a progressive approach to conservation. It’s about letting nature take care of itself, enabling natural processes to shape land and sea, repair damaged ecosystems and restore degraded landscapes. Through rewilding, wildlife’s natural rhythms create wilder, more diverse habitats.
- GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE AND NATURAl hERITAGE 345FINGAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2023-2029 Policy GINHP10 – Green Infrastructure and Development Seek a net gain in green infrastructure through the protection and enhancement of existing assets, through the provision of new green infrastructure as an integral part of the planning process, and by taking forward priority projects including those indicated on the Development Plan Green Infrastructure maps during the lifetime of the Development Plan. Objective GINHO19 – Green Networks Create an integrated and coherent green infrastructure for the County by requiring the retention of substantial networks of green space in urban, urban fringe and adjacent countryside areas to serve the needs of communities now and in the future including the need to adapt to and mitigate climate change. Objective GINHO20 – Green Infrastructure and Recreation Where new residential development is proposed, seek, where appropriate to maximise the use and potential of existing parks, open spaces and recreational provision, by upgrading and improving the play and recreational capacity of these existing facilities through development contributions in lieu of new open space or play provision. Objective GINHO21 – Integration of Green Infrastructure Avoid the fragmentation of green spaces in site design and to link green spaces /greening elements to existing adjacent green infrastructure / the public realm where feasible and to provide for ecological functions. Objective GINHO22 – Network Fragmentation Resist development that would fragment or prejudice the County’s strategic green infrastructure network. Objective GINHO23 – Policies Support and implement The Forest of Fingal-A Tree Strategy for Fingal, Keeping it Green – An Open Space Strategy for Fingal and Space for Play – A Play Policy for Fingal during the lifetime of the Development Plan. Objective GINHO24 – Allotment Strategy Continue to respond to the demand for Public Allotments and Community Gardens in the County in line with Fingal’s adopted Allotment Strategy. Objective GINHO25 – Reintroduction Programmes Promote reintroduction programmes. Reintroduction programmes are an important part of rewilding and increasing biodiversity in the County. Objective GINHO26 – Re-wilding Continue to promote and support re-wilding and pollinator initiatives within the County.
- GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE AND NATURAl hERITAGE 346FINGAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2023-2029 9.6 Natural Heritage Our natural heritage includes the variety of life we see around us every day, often referred to as biodiversity. Biodiversity includes everything from trees to weeds, from mammals to birds, from coast to countryside. Fingal hosts a wealth of wildlife including many threatened habitats and plant and animal species which are protected by law. The Baldoyle, Malahide and Rogerstown Estuaries support thousands of migratory birds during the Winter. These sites have been designated as Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) or Special Protection Areas (SPAs) under the EU Habitats and Birds Directives. At EU level, the most important habitats and species are protected through Natura 2000 which is the network of protected areas established under the Habitats and Birds Directives. In addition, member states are called on to develop and implement wider countryside measures in their land-use planning and development policies that support the coherence of the Natura 2000 network pursuant to Article 10 of the Habitats Directive and Article 3 of the Birds Directive. At national level biodiversity policy is set out in the National Biodiversity Plan (NBP) which identifies habitat degradation and loss as the main factor eroding biodiversity in Ireland today. The spread of invasive species is also a growing problem and prohibitions are in place in relation to the introduction or dispersal of certain invasive species as set out in the Third Schedule of the European Communities (Birds and Habitats Regulations 2011 (S.I. 477/2011). Many of the policy provisions of the NBP are given effect through the legislative framework provided by the Wildlife Acts 1976–2012 and through the implementation of the Habitats Directive, the Birds Directive and the Water Framework Directive. Among other things, the NBP calls on Local Authorities to move towards no net loss of biodiversity through Development Management, to include policies and objectives in their County Development Plans for the protection and restoration of biodiversity and to develop a green infrastructure network at local level and promote the use of nature-based solutions for the delivery of a coherent and integrated network. It is important that all development proposals include measures to protect and enhance biodiversity. This will be achieved through the Development Management process and reference should be made to the Development Management Standards set out in Chapter 14. Policy GINHP11 – Biodiversity Action Plan Support the adoption and implementation of the Fingal Biodiversity Action Plan, implementation of the National Biodiversity Action Plan 2017– 2021 and the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan 2021–2025 and any superseding plans. Policy GINHP12 – Protected Sites Protect areas designated or proposed to be designated as Natura 2000 sites (i.e. Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs), proposed Natural Heritage Areas (pNHAs), Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs), Statutory Nature Reserves, and Refuges for Fauna. Policy GINHP13 – Fingal Ecological Network Support the development of the Fingal Ecological Network in line with the Fingal Biodiversity Action Plan. Policy GINHP14 – Biodiversity Net Gain Guidance Promote biodiversity net gain in new developments and develop a planning guidance document on Biodiversity Net Gain.
- GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE AND NATURAl hERITAGE 347FINGAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2023-2029
- GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE AND NATURAl hERITAGE 348FINGAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2023-2029 Policy GINHP15 – Biodiversity in Buildings Guidance Promote the inclusion of swift, swallow, house martin, house sparrow, starling, bat and insect boxes and structures in and on building facades and develop a guidance document on how to incorporate these structures into buildings. Policy GINHP16 – Rewilding and Pollinator Initiatives Promote and support rewilding and pollinator initiatives in Fingal. Objective GINHO27 – National Parks and Wildlife Service Support the National Parks and Wildlife Service, in the maintenance and achievement of favourable conservation status for the habitats and species in Fingal by taking full account of the requirements of the Habitats and Birds Directives, in the performance of its functions. Objective GINHO28 – Protection of Natural Heritage Areas Ensure that development does not have a significant adverse impact on proposed Natural Heritage Areas (pNHAs), Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs), Statutory Nature Reserves, Refuges for Fauna, Habitat Directive Annex I sites and Annex II species contained therein, and on rare and threatened species including those protected by law and their habitats. Objective GINHO29 – Biodiversity and Open Space Ensure that the management of the Council’s open spaces and parks is pollinator-friendly, provides more opportunities for biodiversity, and is carried out without the use of pesticides where possible. Objective GINHO30 – Infrastructure and Net Biodiversity Gain All greenway and infrastructure projects are to have a net biodiversity gain and this principle shall be incorporated from the start of the project. Objective GINHO31 – Invasive Species Continue the control programs of invasive species with all relevant stakeholders and landowners to control the key invasive species. Objective GINHO32 – Development and Invasive Species Ensure that proposals for development do not lead to the spread or introduction of invasive species. If developments are proposed on sites where invasive species are or were previously present, the applications will be required to submit a control and management program for the particular invasive species as part of the planning process and to comply with the provisions of European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 and EU Regulations 1143/2014.
- GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE AND NATURAl hERITAGE 349FINGAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2023-2029 9.6.1 Biodiversity Conservation in Fingal Fingal hosts a wealth of wildlife including a range of threatened habitats and species which are protected by law. The most important sites for wildlife can be found along the coast. Baldoyle, Malahide and Rogerstown estuaries and the islands off the Fingal coast host a range of important habitats and species as well as being home to thousands of breeding and migratory birds. The Rockabill to Dalkey Island marine Special Area Conservation (SAC) is located off the Fingal coast and was designated for the underwater reefs and as a habitat for Harbour Porpoise. In addition to the coastal sites, two wetland sites in Fingal (Sluice River Marsh and the Bog of the Ring) are proposed for designation as Natural Heritage Areas (NHA) under national wildlife legislation. The occurrence of protected flora and fauna species is not confined to protected sites. Protected birds, bats, otters and badgers for example are frequently found in the wider countryside. The Fingal Ecological Network sets out a spatial framework for biodiversity conservation and management in Fingal. The ecological network consists of the following elements (See Green Infrastructure Maps): ¨ Core Biodiversity Conservation Areas, ¨ Ecological Buffer Zones around Core areas, ¨ Nature Development Areas, ¨ Ecological Corridors and Stepping-Stones including Trees and Hedgerows. The approach is primarily based on strictly protecting the most important biodiversity conservation areas in the County as required by law, including the identification and protection of ecological buffer zones around these areas, providing opportunities for nature through the development of conservation initiatives in nature development areas and by protecting important movement corridors and stepping-stones for wildlife in the landscape. 9.6.2 Core Biodiversity Conservation Areas The most important nature conservation sites make up the core biodiversity conservation areas. These include internationally and nationally designated sites, sites hosting habitats listed in Annex I of the Habitats Directive and sites hosting rare and protected flora species and their habitats. Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) are being or have been, designated to conserve habitats and species of European importance pursuant to the EU Habitats and Birds Directives. These sites are part of a pan-European network known as Natura 2000 (See Table 9.1). Article 6 of the Habitats Directive requires that the impacts of any plans or projects likely to affect Natura 2000 sites are assessed by the Planning Authority via Appropriate Assessment. Chapter 14 Development Management Standards refers. Policy GINHP17 – Protection of European and National Sites Strictly protect areas designated or proposed to be designated as Natura 2000 sites (i.e. Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs); also known as European sites) including any areas that may be proposed for designation or designated during the lifetime of this Plan.
- GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE AND NATURAl hERITAGE 350FINGAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2023-2029 Table 9.1: Protected Areas of International and National Importance Location SAC SPA pNHA NHA WFDRPA Ramsar SNR RFF Baldoyle Bay CHECK CHECK CHECK CHECK CHECK CHECK North Bull Island CHECK CHECK CHECK CHECK Bog of the Ring CHECK CHECK Zone* Marine SAC CHECK Feltrim Hill CHECK CHECK Howth Head CHECK CHECK CHECK CHECK Ireland’s Eye CHECK CHECK CHECK CHECK Lambay Island CHECK CHECK CHECK CHECK Knock Lake CHECK CHECK Liffey Valley CHECK CHECK Loughshinny Coast CHECK CHECK Malahide/Swords/ Broad meadow Estuary CHECK CHECK CHECK CHECK CHECK North Dublin Bay CHECK CHECK CHECK Portraine Shore CHECK CHECK Rockabill Island CHECK CHECK CHECK CHECK Rockabill to Dalkey CHECK Rogerstown CHECK CHECK CHECK CHECK CHECK CHECK Royal Canal CHECK CHECK Santry Demesne CHECK CHECK Skerries Islands CHECK CHECK CHECK Sluice River Mars CHECK CHECK SAC = Special Area of Conservation SPA = Special Protection Area pNHA = proposed Natural Heritage Area NHA = Natural Heritage Area WFDRPA = Water Framework Directive Register of Protected Areas site Ramsar = site designated pursuant to Ramsar Convention on Wetlands SNR = Statutory Nature Reserve RFF = Refuge for Fauna * = This area is not mapped on Green Infrastructure 2, Sheet 15 owing to the 24 km distance from shore but can be reviewed in SI 99 of 2016, 24 February 2016, as a map is attached. See www.npws.ie. 9.6.3 Protected Areas of National Importance Under the Wildlife (Amendment) Act, 2000 Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs) are being designated to conserve species and habitats of national importance. This includes the Liffey Valley, Royal Canal and wetland sites such as the Sluice River Marsh and the Bog of the Ring. There are also a number of Statutory Nature Reserves
Source Fingal County Council: Fingal Development Plan 2023–2029 – Written Statement (Consolidated) (2023–2029) · 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.