I fully support the elected members decision to retain the existing high amenity zoning at St Edmundsbury by rejecting the proposed residential rezoning of these lands.
The St Edmundsbury lands form part of the wider liffey valley landscape and make an important contribution to rich biodiversity, visual amenity and the countys green infrastructure network. They help maintain the distinctive character and ecology of the valley and provide an important green setting between existing developed areas.
The Councils own figures show that the revised National Planning framework (NPF) baseline housing requirement has already been met. The overall package of proposed rezonings provides approximately 30% more residential capacity than the governments baseline requirement. As a result there is no planning necessity to remove the existing High amenity (HA-LV) zoning from the St Edmundsbury lands in order to comply with national housing policy. Lucan area in particular has more than met its housing obligation to the country.
Maintenance of green spaces in areas already with significant housing has to given importance. Retaining these lands avoids the cumulative loss of green space in the Lucan area and protects an important environmental asset for future generations of local dwellers. The gradual erosion of high amenity lands through individual rezoning decisions under outside pressure should not be considered. It can have significant long term consequences for landscape character and ecological connectivity. The liffey valley itself is home to ancient woodlands and ecosystems dependent on them and the more buffer we give around these areas the better.
For these reasons, I ask that the elected members decision be upheld and that the existing High amenity zoning of St Edmundsbury be retained.
I believe that to fail to do so would be setting a dangerous precedent which would potentially put at risk many parks and green areas that have long established value to their local areas.
Paul & Linda McKenna
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