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.
- INFRASTRUCTURE AND UTIlITIES 441FINGAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2023-2029 Policy IUP37 – Fingal Digital Strategy Develop and support the implementation of the Fingal Digital Strategy 2020–23, to encourage and support communities and businesses to reap the full rewards of a digitally enabled society, including the completed rollout of public Wi-Fi hotspots as set out in the Fingal Public Wi-Fi Roadmap and as part of the WIFI4EU scheme. Policy IUP38 – Open Access Connectivity Arrangements Consider provision of open access connectivity arrangements within new developments to enable service provider competition and consumer choice in line with the requirements of the European Electronic Communications Code 2018. Policy IUP39 – National Broadband Plan Support the rollout of high-quality broadband throughout the County and facilitate the delivery of the National Broadband Plan and International fibre communications links, including full interconnection between the fibre networks in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Policy IUP40 – Digital Connectivity Promote and support the Government’s Strategy Harnessing Digital – the Digital Ireland Framework Feb 2022 and the National Development Plan 2021–2023 – National Strategic Objective 6, which relates to enhancing Ireland’s high quality international connectivity. Objective IUO48 – High-quality ICT Network and Appropriate Telecommunications Infrastructure Promote and facilitate the provision of a high-quality ICT network and appropriate telecommunications infrastructure in accordance with the Fingal Digital Strategy 2020–23 (and any subsequent plan), and to support broadband connectivity and other innovative and advancing technologies within the County, whilst protecting the amenities of urban and rural areas. Objective IUO49 – Digital Inclusion Promote digital inclusion and improve digital equality. Facilitate access to free high-speed connectivity in public buildings and facilitate the rollout of Community Broadband Connection Points (BCPS). Objective IUO50 – Smart Districts/Smart Places Support the development of Smart Districts/Smart Places to enhance socio-economic development. Objective IUO51 – Digital Hubs and Co-working Spaces Facilitate the development of digital hubs and co-working spaces at appropriate locations, including towns and rural villages. Objective IUO52 – Telecommunications Infrastructure Ensure that applications made in relation to the provision of overground telecommunications infrastructure, including planning applications and Section 254 licence applications, take into consideration and demonstrate compliance with the Guidance on the Potential Location of Overground Telecommunications Infrastructure on Public Roads 2015.
- INFRASTRUCTURE AND UTIlITIES 442FINGAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2023-2029 Objective IUO53 – High-quality Design of Telecommunications Infrastructure Ensure a high-quality design of masts, towers, antennae and other such telecommunications infrastructure in the interests of visual amenity and the protection of sensitive landscapes in the County. Objective IUO54 – Sharing and Co-location Of Digital Connectivity Infrastructure Support the appropriate use of existing assets (i.e. lighting, street furniture etc) for the deployment of telecoms equipment and to encourage the sharing and co-location of digital connectivity infrastructure in the interests of visual amenity and protection of the built heritage. Objective IUO55 – Ducting Support greater coordination in the delivery of telecoms/ digital connectivity infrastructure and use of underground ducting asset space. Objective IUO56 – Open Access Connectivity Arrangements Require all new developments to provide open access connectivity arrangements directly to the individual premises to enable service provider competition and consumer choice. Objective IUO57 – Sensor and Telecommunication Register of Council Assets Support the development of a mapped IoT sensor and telecommunication register of Council assets and make the data available through the Fingal Open Data Portal. 11.9 Air, Noise, Light Policies and Objectives While the overall quality of our environment is good, this masks some of the threats we now face. Key national environmental challenges include the need to accelerate action on climate change, health risks to drinking water, treating urban wastewater, protecting important and vulnerable habitats as well as diminishing wild countryside and dealing with air quality problems in urban areas. Noise is unwanted sound but is an inevitable consequence of everyday life, arising from environmental noise (created by human activity outdoors such as transport, construction, and industry), with different tolerance levels varying from person to person. It becomes a problem when it occurs in the incorrect place or at the incorrect time or on a frequent or recurring basis. As we seek to promote more compact and efficient forms of development within our settlements, it is important to more proactively manage noise. Fingal has prepared a Noise Action Plan 2019–23 for Dublin Airport and a separate Noise Action Plan for Fingal. Our Development Plan policies have been reviewed and updated to include the policies and actions outlined in these Noise Action Plans. Noise associated with Dublin Airport is addressed in Chapter 8 Dublin Airport (Section 8.5.7: Ensuring Environmental Protection and Sustainability). Artificial lighting has its place in our world and is invaluable to businesses, homes, roads and recreation. However, when used inappropriately or excessively, artificial lighting can cause light pollution. This has adverse effects on the environment, our health, biodiversity, and our climate (through energy waste). Light levels in Ireland have increased significantly in recent years.
- INFRASTRUCTURE AND UTIlITIES 443FINGAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2023-2029 11.9.1 Air The need to ensure the highest standards of air quality is recognised by Fingal County Council, with the EPA being the competent authority for the management of the national ambient air quality network. EPA studies show that air quality in Ireland is generally good, however there are localised issues in the Dublin area due to pollution from transport and the burning of solid fuel. The Dublin Area Local Authorities have prepared an Air Quality Management Plan for improvement in levels of nitrogen dioxide in ambient air quality for submission to the EPA. Under the Clean Air for Europe Directive, EU member states must designate ‘Zones’ for the purpose of managing air quality. For Ireland, four zones were defined in the Air Quality Standards Regulations 2011. The EPA’s ambient air quality monitoring network provides real time air quality data for urban areas within the Eastern Region. There are a number of air monitoring stations in Fingal, including stations at Swords, Ballymun, Finglas, Blanchardstown and Balbriggan and up to date information on air quality for the Dublin area, which includes the four Dublin Local Authorities together with the Air Quality Index for Health is available at https://www.epa.ie/environment-and-you/air/ The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications is preparing a National Clean Air Strategy and Fingal is committed to supporting its implementation, once adopted. This will require Local Authorities to play a role in local data collection to support the EPA’s air monitoring network and facilitate air quality alerts and pollen counts. The Council will continue to engage with the EPA and other relevant Departments to promote the monitoring and improvement of air quality in Fingal. Policy IUP41– EPA and Air Quality Continue to work proactively with the EPA to monitor and improve air quality in Fingal. Objective IUO58 – Air Quality Monitoring Monitor, pro-actively manage and improve air quality in the County through integrated land use and spatial planning measures to avoid, mitigate and minimise unacceptable levels of air pollution in accordance with national and EU policy Directives on air quality and, where appropriate, promote compliance with established targets. Objective IUO59 – Air Quality Monitoring Network Continue to work with the Dublin Local Authorities and relevant agencies in the collection of local air quality data through the EPA’s air quality monitoring network, to maintain good air quality in the County. Objective IUO60 – Dublin Regional Air Quality Management Plan Implement the recommendations of the Dublin Regional Air Quality Management Plan (and any subsequent Plan) and to implement the relevant spatial planning recommendations and actions of the Dublin Agglomeration Environmental Noise Action Plan 2018–2023 or any superseding action plan.
- INFRASTRUCTURE AND UTIlITIES 444FINGAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2023-2029 11.9.2 Noise The RSES highlights that the WHO has identified that noise is the second major environmental issue in Europe causing health problems after air quality and the Strategy outlines that there should be proactive management of noise, where it is likely to have a significant adverse impact on health and the environment. The EU Environmental Noise Directive requires that Local Authorities prepare strategic noise maps and action plans, setting out mitigation measures to reduce the harmful effects, including long term exposure to environmental noise from roads, railways and airport traffic and the protection of ‘quiet areas’, which are shown to bring significant health and wellbeing benefits. Fingal County Council has prepared a Noise Action Plan for Dublin Airport (See Chapter 8 Dublin Airport (Section 8.5.7: Ensuring Environmental Protection and Sustainability) and a separate Noise Action Plan for Fingal (to inform the Dublin Agglomeration Environmental Noise Action Plan 2018 – 2023), in compliance with requirements under the EU Environmental Noise Directive and the Environment Noise Regulations. The Noise Action Plans and Noise Maps are required to be reviewed every 5 years. The key objective of the Noise Action Plans is to avoid, prevent and reduce where necessary on a prioritised basis the harmful effects including annoyance due to long term exposure to environmental noise. These Plans are aimed at developing strategic policy and managing environmental noise and Fingal’s Noise Action Plan identifies approaches as to how the Council will manage all environmental noise issues, whether strategic or local, regulated or unregulated. The Plans set out how the Council deals with local noise nuisances and complaints along with planning, development and traffic management issues. (The plans do not, however, cover noise in relation to health and safety in the work place, noise inside any means of transport or noise caused by military activities in military areas.). The EPA has also established an Ocean Noise Register for Ireland. The EPA is the national competent authority under the Noise Regulations. Strategic Noise Maps identifying the most significant sources of noise exposure from road and rail have been identified under the Environmental Noise Regulations and are presented in the Fingal Noise Action Plan 2018–2023. These maps can be used to identify the main areas where noise may be considered relevant to planning applications associated with noise-sensitive development. Through the Development Management process, the Council can minimise the adverse impacts of noise pollution by controlling developments which are noise intensive and not permitting their location adjacent to more sensitive residential areas. Furthermore, where it is considered that a proposed development is likely to create disturbance due to noise, the Planning Authority can impose a planning condition limiting the hours of operation and level of noise generation. The Council will take a strategic approach to managing environmental noise within its functional area and this will be undertaken through ensuring that appropriate noise assessments are carried out in respect of planning applications for residential and other noise sensitive developments within the relevant noise contours presented by the Strategic Noise Maps in the Noise Action Plan or any other noise contour maps prepared by Fingal County Council. Noise assessments should follow the principles of good acoustic design in line with Professional Practice Guidance on Planning and Noise: New Residential Developments 2017 so that development is designed to achieve acceptable internal noise levels. Further detail is contained within Chapter 14 Development Management Standards, Section 14.20.17: Noise.
- INFRASTRUCTURE AND UTIlITIES 445FINGAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2023-2029 Policy IUP42 – Dublin Agglomeration Environmental Noise Action Plan Support the pro-active management of noise in the County and to continue to work with the Dublin Local Authorities and relevant statutory agencies, through the implementation of measures to avoid, mitigate and minimise noise in accordance with the Noise Action Plan for the County of Fingal 2018–2023 and the Dublin Agglomeration Environmental Noise Action Plan 2018–2023 (and any subsequent plans). Policy IUP43 – Working with Stakeholders Continue to work alongside relevant stakeholders including the NTA, TII and the EPA to promote and improve safer noise protection infrastructure in line with population growth and traffic increases along all our national roads. Objective IUO61 – Implementation of Noise Plans Implement the relevant spatial planning recommendations and actions of the Dublin Agglomeration Environmental Noise Action Plan 2018–2023 and the Noise Action Plan for Dublin Airport 2019–2023 (or any subsequent plan), working in conjunction with relevant statutory agencies. Objective IUO62 – Noise Sensitive Developments Consider the location, design and construction of noise sensitive developments, to ensure they are protected from major noise sources, where practical, and to support and facilitate the monitoring and enforcement by Fingal’s Environmental Health Department of noise reduction measures in areas experiencing excess noise. Objective IUO63 – Noise Exposure Maps Developments for noise sensitive uses shall have regard to the noise exposure maps contained within the Fingal Noise Action Plan 2018 – 2023 or any supplementary mapping prepared by Fingal County Council, and developers shall be required to produce a noise impact assessment and mitigation plans, where necessary, for any new noise sensitive development within these areas. 11.9.3 Light Light pollution is increasing in the Fingal and the Eastern Region due to increasing levels of development. Light pollution can refer to skyglow (the brightening of the night sky over urban areas), light trespass (where light falls where it is not intended) or light glare (where light is excessively bright). At present there are no Irish Guidelines in relation to the control of light pollution. Adequate lighting is essential for a safe and secure environment. However, light spillage from excessive or poorly designed lighting is increasingly recognised as a potential nuisance to surrounding properties and a threat to light-sensitive wildlife. While Fingal has large areas of rural and coastal character, including river corridors, which are particularly sensitive to light pollution. Artificial light is important for businesses, homes, roads and recreational purposes, however, the inappropriate or excessive use of artificial light, especially blue light, can be harmful to wildlife, particularly nocturnal species and on human health due to sleep disruption. Where proposals for new lighting require planning consent, the Council will ensure that they are carefully and sensitively designed.
- INFRASTRUCTURE AND UTIlITIES 446FINGAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2023-2029 Source: Dark Sky Ireland
- INFRASTRUCTURE AND UTIlITIES 447FINGAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2023-2029 According to a recent study by the CSO, ‘How Dark is your Sky?’ Estimating Artificial Light in Ireland from Satellite Imagery, 2015–2019, Dublin has artificial light emissions close to seven times higher than any other County. This is based on a study of satellite data over a 5 year period. Artificial Light at Night (ALAN) is a matter of increasing public interest. In recent years, concerns about excessive levels of artificial lighting have driven research and legislation in countries including France and the UK. Having regard to the predominantly rural nature of Fingal, the County is sensitive to light pollution. Sky glow can ultimately affect the tranquility associated with rural areas. Light pollution not only has an effect on humans but also can have a negative impact on biodiversity by affecting the normal diurnal patterns of plants and animals. Effects of impacts on biodiversity are apparent when birds sing or feed after dark. In general, sports pitches and security lighting are probably the biggest cause of nuisance. Equally, unnecessary light spillage is wasted light, which in turn is wasted energy, resulting in the unnecessary release of CO2 into the atmosphere. Without good design, planning and policy for reducing light pollution, there is a real risk of losing these natural heritage sites across the country. This Plan includes policies to protect areas from light pollution and light spillage from flood lights. 11.9.3.1 Public Lighting in Fingal The drive to reduce both costs and carbon production from public lighting is leading to the national adoption of more energy efficient light emitting diode (LED) lighting. Due to the longevity of LED lamps (typically 25 years), any equipment installed now will have a long-term effect, so we have a responsibility to implement the best choice in terms of lighting as well as its wider impact based on an informed balance of current evidence. There are environmental and health impacts with high temperature LEDs containing more ‘blue-rich’ light. Fingal will promote the adoption of lower temperature (warmer colour) lighting, which provides the best balance of cost saving, road and personal safety through better balanced light and improved perception, as well as reducing environmental impact. Fingal will continue to have regard to best practice in public lighting. Policy IUP44 – Light Pollution Promote appropriate lighting installations, availing of best practice as published by the relevant authority, designed to minimise light pollution / unwanted environmental effects while maximising the light reaching the public realm. Objective IUO64 – Design of Lighting Schemes Require that the design of lighting schemes minimises the incidence of light spillage or pollution into the surrounding environment and new schemes shall ensure that there is no unacceptable adverse impact on neighbouring development, visual amenity and biodiversity in the surrounding areas. Objective IUO65 – Lighting: New Developments Require that new developments are appropriately lit and that all public and external lighting in new residential and commercial developments use highly energy efficient luminaires, with the use of energy saving strategies (such as dimming in line with nationally agreed tariffs) encouraged.
- INFRASTRUCTURE AND UTIlITIES 448FINGAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2023-2029 12. IMPLEMENTATION AND MONITORING FINGAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2023–2029
- IMPlEMENTATION AND MONITORING 449FINGAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2023-2029 12.1 Introduction The implementation and delivery of the Fingal Development Plan is a key objective of Fingal County Council, and it is acknowledged that this requires a concerted range of actions by the entire organisation in order to ensure that the policies and objectives of the Plan are fully implemented. The Plan sets out the Council’s vision and strategic overview, including policies and objectives that will guide the sustainable future growth of Fingal. The Council will utilise its wide range of statutory powers and responsibilities to achieve and implement the objectives of the Plan. It is also acknowledged that the implementation of objectives may take a number of plan cycles to be fully realised. While the Council will take a leadership role in the implementation and delivery of key policies and objectives in the Plan, it will also require the continued engagement and collaboration with local communities, relevant stakeholders and adjoining Local Authorities. This collaboration is imperative to achieving desired results and ensuring the successful implementation of specific policies and objectives. The Council, through collaboration with communities and networks, such as the Public Participation Network, Social Inclusion Community and Activation Programme, the Fingal Local Community Development Committee, and Fingal Comhairle na nÓg, will develop on-going engagement processes for the implementation of the Development Plan. Fingal County Council will carry out a 2-year progress report on the Plan, where each specific objective is identified and progress on implementation of same recorded. The Council will also continue to engage with the Eastern and Midlands Regional Assembly and report on progress made in supporting the objectives of the RSES and MASP in accordance with Section 25A (1) of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 (as amended). 12.2 Implementation A key mechanism for the implementation and monitoring of policies and objectives of the Plan is through the Development Management process, which includes information regarding the number of planning applications, units permitted and constructed etc. During the implementation phase, proactive measures will be taken to enable the delivery of the housing targets outlined in the Core Strategy. The policies and objectives of the Plan are aligned with the principles of compact growth as stipulated in the NPF and RSES. Active land management measures including the implementation of the vacant site levy on all vacant residential and regeneration lands as set out in the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015 (as amended) are key means to implement the Plan. Local Area Plans, Masterplans and Framework Plans will provide a further range of mechanisms to secure active land management. In addition, the Fingal Urban Capacity Study 2021 undertaken to inform the preparation of the Plan and constituting a snapshot in time of potential opportunities for consolidation within existing settlements, has identified a range of sites of varying size within villages, towns and large urban centres which offer the possibility of significant residential delivery on greenfield, brownfield, vacant and underutilised lands. This study and the resulting Masterplans and Framework Plans for chosen areas will be key factors in the implementation of the policies and objectives of the Plan.
- IMPlEMENTATION AND MONITORING 450FINGAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2023-2029 The Council will continue to secure funding from state and other investment programmes to support the implementation of the policies and objectives of the Plan, including funding under the Rural and Urban Regeneration and Development Funds. Fingal County Council seeks to promote the implementation of the Plan in a rational and sequential manner. It is also an aim to ensure that developments are appropriately phased and that essential facilities, such as active travel infrastructure, roads infrastructure, water, sewerage, schools and community facilities, are secured and provided in conjunction with proposed developments. The implementation of the policies and objectives of the Plan and the delivery of desired planning outcomes, may be subject to a range of external factors, most notably wider economic circumstances and availability of resources. 12.3 Monitoring The implementation and monitoring system is intended to function as a formal feedback loop. The framework will form an evidence-based input and integrate with the review process of the subsequent Fingal Development Plan 2029–2035. This framework is also designed to assist the Planning Authority in preparing reports in meeting its statutory requirements, including: ¨ The 2 Year Review of the 2023–2029 Fingal Development Plan. ¨ Report to the Regional Assembly setting out progress made in supporting objectives of the RSES. ¨ Plan Monitoring in accordance with Part 10 of the Development Plans Guidelines for Planning Authorities – June 2022. Fingal County Council will prepare an Annual Development Plan Monitoring Report on the Core Strategy. New housing development activity will be monitored and the report will illustrate the development trends being experienced at settlement level and assess the consistency of such trends with the agreed housing and population targets as set out in the Core Strategy of the Plan. This information will be sourced from internal processes such as Development Management planning data and external sources such as the CSO. Fingal County Council also plays an important role on the Dublin Housing Supply Coordination Task Force, an initiative of the Government’s Construction 2020 – A Strategy for a Renewed Construction Sector. The task force comprises the four Dublin Local Authorities, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and a number of other bodies. Fingal County Council compiles regular updates on residential developments completed, under construction and those currently in the planning system, such as current planning applications, in order to monitor the delivery of housing units and the quantum of ‘ready to go’ and potential development sites in the County. Article 10 of the SEA Directive requires monitoring of the significant environmental effects of the implementation of the Plan in order to identify, at an early stage, unforeseen adverse effects and to enable appropriate remedial action to be undertaken. While the monitoring system set out below incorporates some monitoring of environment related objectives, the full and comprehensive monitoring and evaluation assessment, required to be undertaken under Article 10 of the SEA Directive, is set out in the Strategic Environmental Assessment that accompanies the Plan.
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.