Development plan · South Dublin County Council
South Dublin County Development Plan 2022–2028 – Written Statement
The council's development plan written statement: its strategy, policies, objectives and development standards. Variations adopted since are not in this text.
South Dublin County Council · 2022–2028 · 584 pages
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- SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022-2028379Energy (E) Vision Deliver a green society and circular economy adaptable to new technologies, a home and place of employment for people and industries striving towards reducing their carbon footprint. Energy
- SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022-2028380Energy (E)380 10.0 Introduction The ‘2021 Climate Action Plan’ represents the Government’s all of society approach, aimed at enabling Ireland to meet the EU targets to reduce carbon emissions by 51 per cent between 2021 and 2030, and lays the foundations for achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Within that context South Dublin County Council through its strategic County Development Plan seeks to exceed those targets or meet them earlier, creating reliable, robust and efficient energy systems which enable growth across all sectors, and which supports the future development of the County. In line with the LGMAs Delivering on Climate Action 2030, the Council will continue to make every effort to increase energy efficiency and unlock renewable energy potential in the County. Improvement in the Council’s Energy Efficiency by 2020 33% Make Dublin a Climate- Resilient Region by Reducing the Impacts of future Climate Change-Related Events Actively Engage and Inform our Citizens on Climate Change Reduction in the Council’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 2030 51% GHG Changes to our climate resulting from the warming effect of greenhouse gas are issues of significance to the global environment. The use of carbon-based fossil fuels is responsible for over half of all greenhouse gas emissions globally. European and national energy policy prioritise measures to support climate change resilience through reduced energy consumption and increasing the proportion of energy consumed from alternative, non-polluting, low carbon and renewable energy sources across sectors (for instance, wind, solar, hydro, geothermal). A key driving force behind this County Development Plan is responding to the climate change issues facing our society today. Climate action measures underpin every aspect of the Plan. This is demonstrated through the compact growth approach and linked settlement and sustainable movement strategies which have been integrated into the Plan. It is also evident in the priority given to Green Infrastructure and placemaking in delivering all elements of the plan at a county and local level creating quality places to live and work.
- SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022-2028381Energy (E) 10.0.1 Planning Policy Context Section 10(2)(n) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 as amended requires that a Development Plan shall include objectives for: ‘the promotion of sustainable settlement and transportation strategies in urban and rural areas including the promotion of measures to — 1. reduce energy demand in response to the likelihood of increases in energy and other costs due to long-term decline in non-renewable resources, 2. reduce anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, and 3. address the necessity of adaptation to climate change; in particular, having regard to location, layout and design of new development’. Development Plan policies and objectives must be consistent with national and regional planning policy as set out in the National Planning Framework (NPF) and Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES). à National Policy Objectives 54 and 55 require that we reduce our carbon footprint by integrating climate action into the planning system in support of national targets for climate policy mitigation and adaptation objectives, (also RPO 7.32) as well as targets for greenhouse gas emissions. Policy also requires the promotion of renewable energy use and generation at appropriate locations within the built and natural environment to meet national objectives towards achieving a low carbon economy by 2050. à National Policy Objectives 57 and 58 require the integration of flood risk management and Green Infrastructure into development proposals to help mitigate climate change. RPO 3.6 requires that county development plans undergo assessment of their impact on carbon reduction targets and include measures to monitor and review progress towards carbon reduction targets. à RPO 7.38 requires local authorities to consider the use of heat mapping to support developments which deliver energy efficiency and the recovery of energy that would otherwise be wasted. It also requires the carrying out of an assessment of district heating and identification of local waste heat sources. à RPO 7.40 requires the inclusion of polices to promote high levels of energy conservation, energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources in existing buildings, including retro fitting of energy efficiency measures in the existing building stock and energy efficiency in traditional buildings. RPO 7.40 requires the inclusion of policies to facilitate electric vehicle usage. Policy also requires the promotion of renewable energy use and generation at appropriate locations within the built and natural environment to meet national objectives of achieving a low carbon economy by 2050. South Dublin County Council’s strategic aim for the duration of this Development Plan is to meet or exceed
- SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022-2028382Energy (E) national annual GHG reduction targets to ensure the County is carbon neutral by 2050. There are many other relevant national and regional policy objectives. These are referenced by number within individual Development Plan policies and objectives in this chapter and are set out in full at Appendix 7. 10.0.2 Overarching Policy Policy E1: Responding to European, National and Regional Policy and Legislation à Respond to the European, National and Regional Climate Action Programme and UN Sustainable Goal 13 through the integration of climate action policies and objectives which promote renewable energy and energy conservation and an increase in energy efficiency; à Promote an increase in energy efficiency and the growth of locally based energy alternatives in an environmentally acceptable and sustainable manner. 10.1 Energy Planning in South Dublin In the last decade the Council has adopted a proactive approach to addressing the climate change and energy challenge by delivering substantial energy efficiencies in its own building and vehicle stock. This has included the carrying out of an extensive retrofitting programme on its own social housing and public building stock and taking the lead role in identifying low carbon and renewable energy opportunities in the County. South Dublin County Council signed up to the EU Covenant of Mayors (Europe wide shared commitment by city mayors to reduce CO2 emissions by a minimum of 20% by 2020) in June 2012. An update of progress on delivery of the Council’s Climate Action Plan is prepared annually. Of the 130 actions set out in the Plan Work is currently ongoing on 109 actions and 15 are complete. It is notable that South Dublin County Council surpassed its improvement in energy efficiency target of 33% by 2020, one year ahead of schedule, and is well placed to meet the 51% reduction in GHG emissions by 2030. By 2021 South Dublin County had achieved a 34.4% improvement in energy efficiency in the intervening years since 2009, reaching its target one year ahead of schedule. In addition, CO2 emissions had been reduced by 33.6 per cent in the same period. A number of ground breaking initiatives have been rolled out in the County in recent years. The ongoing Tallaght District Heating project will use waste from a data centre in Tallaght to provide low carbon heat to public sector buildings, 1,400 residential apartments and over 12,000m2 of commercial buildings in the County Town. This project is the first of its kind in Ireland and will reduce carbon emissions by 1,900 tonnes per year. The SEAI award winning Tallaght Community Energy Living Lab
- SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022-2028383Energy (E) (Tallaght Smart Grid Test Bed) is a local smart community grid that enables communities to produce and sell electricity generated from renewable sources such as wind, solar and hydro. The project produces a local market for the community with smart boxes installed in every participating house. The project began in 2013 with just 20 participants, it now has expanded to 200 local businesses and homes. The Council will progress energy masterplans for the existing business district at Grange Castle and Clonburris SDZ lands. The City Edge Framework Plan will assess how the area can support the County in meeting its climate change and carbon emission requirements. Economic Environmental Lower Energy Maintenance Costs Legal/Technical Space Saving No Gas Connection Trench Cost Sharing Lower Capital Costs Better Air Quality More Renewable Energy No Carbon Monoxide Risk Less Noise Less CO2 Planning Compliance Steady Temperature Supply Improved Reputation System Reliability & Maintainability Compliance with Building Regulations Tallaght District Heating Scheme 10.1.1 South Dublin County Baseline Emissions Table 10. 1 shows the county-wide emissions inventory for South Dublin. This baseline emissions analysis highlights the sectors that generate the highest levels of emissions and provides a record of carbon emissions, which can be used to support the EMRA in creating an emissions inventory for the region, as required under RPO 7.31 of the RSES1. Table 10.1 also provides an update to emissions figures where they were available for the Council’s own emissions based on the most recent energy consumption figures. 1 The initial emissions analysis was performed using 2016 data, this is because these calculations are based on Central Statistics Office (CSO) data which is only available every five years. Codema has refined the methodology through the recently adopted Dublin Metropolitan Project which, at time of publishing of Plan provided data for the entire Dublin Region. Further analysis is required to extract separate South Dublin Data which will be available at a later date.
- SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022-2028384Energy (E) Table 10.1 Baseline Emissions and Current Emissions South Dublin’s Energy and Emission Inventory Sector Energy Demand (MWh) Emissions (tCO2 / tCO2eq) 2021 Residential 1,803,177 457,286 Commercial 2,022,840 607,679 Transport 2,799,199 731,029 Municipal (2019 Update) 30,180 8,768 Social Housing 116,681 29,184 Agriculture 6,358 7,023 Waste - 26,530 Wastewater - 6,411 Water 1,803 844 Total 6,780,238 1,874,753 Source: Codema: 2021 In 2016, the total energy use in South Dublin amounted to 6,780 MWh. At 31 per cent, diesel accounted for the greatest percentage of this energy use. This was followed by natural gas (29 per cent) and electricity (15 per cent). It should be noted that energy from renewables only contributed 2 per cent to the total fuel mix in South Dublin. Of this renewable energy, 1.5 per cent came from biomass sources. The total emissions from the various sectors in South Dublin was 1,874,753 tonnes of tCO2eq. The analysis found that the commercial sector used the most electricity in South Dublin, and also had the highest emissions from electricity (69 per cent), likely due to the number of industrial uses in South Dublin with a high electricity demand. Policy E2: South Dublin Energy Profile Further develop and implement climate action and energy related initiatives in the County in conjunction with EMRA, the Dublin Energy Agency (Codema), Climate Action Regional Office (CARO) and all relevant stakeholders, promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy measures across the County E2 Objective 1: To seek to reduce the reliance on fossil fuels in the County by reducing the energy demand of existing and new development. E2 Objective 2: To promote the generation and supply of low carbon and renewable energy alternatives, having regard to the opportunities offered by the settlement hierarchy of the County and the built environment.
- SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022-2028385Energy (E) E2 Objective 3: To support the recording and monitoring of renewable energy potential in the County in partnership with other stakeholders including the East Midlands Regional Assembly EMRA, the Dublin Energy Agency (Codema), Climate Action Regional Office (CARO). E2 Objective 4: To support new and existing Sustainable Energy Communities (SECs) in line with sustainable development and proper planning. 10.2 Energy Measures 10.2.1 Energy Performance in Existing Buildings The energy performance of existing buildings is one of the foremost considerations in responding to the energy challenge in South Dublin County. Increased efforts in this area, in particular the upgrading and refurbishment of homes and business premises has made a significant contribution in reducing energy demands and costs in the County. The graph below shows the significant increase in higher BER ratings in recent years in line with energy rating requirements. Figure 10.1: South Dublin BER Distribution by Year Built - Source: Codema 2021 10.2.2 Energy Performance in New Buildings The design, construction and operation of new buildings has a significant role to play in reducing energy demand and increasing energy efficiency into the future. The integration of energy issues into the life cycle of all new residential and nonresidential buildings, from the neighbourhood, street and individual building scale, can result in significant savings at the local level. The energy efficiency and renewable energy requirements for the construction of new residential and non-residential buildings are primarily addressed in the current Building Regulations under Part L.
- SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022-2028386Energy (E) All new buildings owned and occupied after the 31st December 2020 are required to comply with the nZEB (near zero energy building) standard. nZEB is defined as a building that has a very high energy performance, as determined in accordance with Annex I of the Energy Performance in Buildings Directive. The nearly zero or very low amount of energy required should be covered to a very significant extent by energy from renewable sources, including energy from renewable sources produced on-site or nearby. For public sector bodies the standard has applied since 31st December 2018. Policy E3: Energy Performance in Existing and New Buildings Support high levels of energy conservation, energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources in new and existing buildings including the retro fitting of energy efficiency measures in the existing building stock in accordance with relevant building regulations, national policy and guidance and the targets of the National and South Dublin Climate Change Action Plans. E3 Objective 1: To reduce the need for energy, enhance energy efficiency and secure the use of renewable energy sources in refurbished and upgraded dwellings, and other buildings through the design and location of new development, in accordance with relevant building regulations and national policy and guidance. E3 Objective 2: To prioritise the retrofitting of buildings over demolition and reconstruction where possible to reduce the large quantities of embodied carbon energy generated from building materials when building from the ground up. E3 Objective 3: To require all new development to be designed to take account of the impacts of climate change, and that energy efficiency, energy provision and renewable energy measures are incorporated in accordance with national building regulations and relevant policy and guidelines. E2 Objective 4: To support and facilitate the actions and targets of the National and South Dublin Climate Action Plans where they relate to private and public buildings in the County. 10.2.3 Electric Vehicles The National Climate Action Plan has ambitious targets for the uptake of electric vehicles (EVs), with a target of having 945,000EVs on the road by 2030, including 840,000 cars, 95,000 light commercial vehicles, 3500 Low Emitting Trucks, 1500 Electric Buses and an electrified rail network. This means approximately one-third of all vehicles sold during the decade need to be Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) or Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs). To support this target, the four Dublin Local Authorities in conjunction with the Climate Action Regional Office (CARO) and Smart Dublin have produced an overarching EV charging strategy which addresses on street charging infrastructure for the Dublin region. Electric vehicle policies and objectives
- SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022-2028387Energy (E) are addressed in more detail in Chapter 7: Sustainable Movement. It is recognised that while EVs are an improvement on vehicles that use internal combustion engines they are not the lowest emission method of transportation and suffer some of the same inefficiencies as fossil fuel-based vehicles when it comes to time in use, land take for parking and low capacity to move people per standard lane of road space. Policy E4: Electric Vehicles Promote the delivery of EV charging facilities in accordance with relevant regulations and national and regional policy and guidance. (see also Chapter 7: Sustainable Movement and Chapter 12: Implementation and Monitoring) E4 Objective 1: To support the implementation of the EV charging strategy for the Dublin Region. E4 Objective 2: To ensure that EV charging points are installed such that they do not cause significant obstruction to lower carbon forms of transportation (that is, footpaths, cycle lanes, access to DART or Luas stations, or bus lanes / stops). E4 Objective 3: To ensure that all new vehicles purchased or replaced in the Council’s fleet are EVs charged from renewable sources or powered by renewable fuels.
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