Local Area Plan for Cherrywood-Rathmichael Submission

25^th May 2004

The Green Party welcomes the proposals to prepare a Local Area Plan for the above area and recommends that the following issues be taken into consideration in the preparation of the Plan.

Introduction

The Plan should be the subject of a design competition. This could help ensure that a high level of design guidance is brought to bear on the development of the area. It could also help to ensure that a public debate takes place on the area’s development.

Areas such as the Dublin Docklands and Temple Bar have had competitions to develop a Masterplan and it is appropriate that a similar process take place for the Cherrywood-Rathmichael area.

The Plan area should include all the lands south of Foxrock and bordered by the south-eastern motorway to the west and the Bray road to the east. It should include the lands surrounding Loughlinstown Hospital, and should ensure that the views of existing residents are sought and respected as part of the plan process.

A vision of the area as a bustling well-designed, mixed-use town should inform the Plan. This area should be socially mixed and should contain a mixture of uses and activities within each quarter of the town.

Urban Design

An urban design framework should be put in place prior to the start of development. This should provide clarity on the scale and hierarchy of streets, building heights and parks throughout the area.

The plan should contain a hierarchy of development, ranging from high density, mixed-use development with pedestrian and public transport priority at the centre of the plan area to lower density warehousing at the motorway edge should be provided.

A contour map and three-dimensional model of the existing site at a scale of 1 to 500 should be prepared in advance of detailed plan preparation so that the rich physical fabric and flora and fauna of the area are respected in the plan’s formulation.

The Luas/Metro should be designed into the plan from the outset, and the plan should favour high-density development of excellent design quality adjacent to public transport stops.

All proposed an exiting utilities should be placed underground as part of the area’s development.

The area’s rich archaeology should be respected, conserved and protected with advice from the relevant statutory authorities.

Transport

-It is imperative that the Luas / Metro be extended at least as far as Cherrywood, and better still to Shankill prior to the commencement of substantial development.

Bus routes should be provided from the outset within the proposed development.

-The principal roads through the area should be designed and treated as streets and boulevards, rather than seen as mere traffic arteries. An urban designer should have a significant input into the Plan’s preparation.

All roads should prioritise cycling, and cycling and pedestrian links should be made across the south-eastern motorway towards Kilternan and Enniskerry.

The massive roundabout at Cherrywood should be eliminated and an urban crossroads should be designed to replace it at this location. Unless this crucial junction is seen as a town centre, rather than simply viewed as a traffic junction, it will be difficult, if not impossible to provide a strong identity for the area. There is an opportunity to place a town square at this location.

The majority of car parking should be placed underground. Some surface car parking can be allowed on streets within the development.

Green Space and the Natural Environment

Existing areas of tree planting and hedgerows should be preserved wherever possible within the plan .

A hierarchy of outdoor spaces ranging from an urban square at the centre to small pocket parks containing play equipment within to hundred metres of every dwelling should be provided .

Health and Social Services

Loughlinstown Hospital should be upgraded in order to cater for the expanding population of Cherrywood-Rathmichael.

A local medical centre should be provided close to the heart of the proposed development.

Housing

A range of housing types should be provided within the development. This should include a mix of private, social, voluntary and local authority housing.

Housing units should vary in size from studios to 4 bedroom homes.

All housing should be located within easy walking distance of shops and other services.

Lifelong housing needs should be provided for. In particular housing for older persons should be located close to all services.

The housing needs of the Travelling Community should be catered for. Travellers have resided in the area for generations, and the Plan should consult with, be informed by the views of the Travelling Community.

Ciarán Cuffe TD
Tom Kivlehan
25th May 2004