I wish to express my support for the elected members' decision to retain the existing High Amenity (HA-LV) zoning at St. Edmundsbury and to reject the proposed residential rezoning of these lands.
The St. Edmundsbury lands form an important part of the wider Liffey Valley landscape, providing significant environmental, ecological and visual benefits. They contribute to the County's Green Infrastructure network, help maintain biodiversity and ecological connectivity, and preserve the distinctive character of the Liffey Valley by providing an important green buffer between existing developed areas. The valley is home to ancient woodlands and long-established ecosystems, and protecting adjoining High Amenity lands strengthens the resilience of these sensitive habitats while helping to prevent the cumulative erosion of green space in the Lucan area.
The current High Amenity (HA-LV) zoning is fully consistent with the objectives of the South Dublin County Development Plan, which seeks to protect and enhance landscape character, biodiversity, environmental quality and Green Infrastructure. Planning decisions should remain consistent with the adopted Development Plan unless there is a compelling planning justification to depart from it. In this instance, I do not believe such a justification has been demonstrated.
Furthermore, the Council's own evidence shows 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 Government's baseline requirement. As a result, there is no planning necessity to remove the existing High Amenity zoning from the St. Edmundsbury lands in order to comply with national housing policy or to meet projected housing needs.
Retaining the existing HA-LV zoning protects an important environmental asset for future generations while ensuring consistency with the County Development Plan and the principles of sustainable planning. It also avoids the unnecessary loss of valuable green space where sufficient residential land has already been identified elsewhere.
For these reasons, I respectfully request that the elected members' decision be upheld and that the existing High Amenity (HA-LV) zoning at St. Edmundsbury be retained.
Paul Casey
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