Submission from the National Transport Authority (Submission No 348)
Issues / Recommendations / Observations
Chief Executive’s Response & Recommendation
3. Sustainable Neighbourhoods, Compact Growth and Sustainable Residential Development & Residential Density
Objective 3.4 Active Growth (k) The NTA supports Objective 3.4(k) which provides for review and updating of land use designations, where new sustainable transport infrastructure is planned. Recommendation: The review and updating of land use designations would be best informed by the preparation, at the wider area (Key Growth Area) level, of ABTAs, based on the approach set out in NTA/TII guidance.
The settlement and growth strategy set out in the Draft Plan is based upon the key principles of aligning transport and land use planning, compact growth and a 15-minute city. The updating of land use designations will be informed by a range of criteria, including transport and mobility considerations. Paragraph 4.154 of the Draft Plan supports the use of Area Based Transport Assessments (ABTAs) which integrate national and regional transport policies and objectives into local level land use plans and in the preparation of Development Frameworks for significant development areas across the City. This will be taken into account in the consideration of updating land use designations. Recommendation: No change. The Draft Plan sets out a policy basis to guide development based upon the general suitability of locations. Amplifications of the Development Plan for specific major development areas will take account of all relevant guidance, including the Area-Based Transport Assessment Advice Note (NTA/TII, December 2018). Density targets will take account of the evolving transport environment as a matter of course. There may be opportunities to increase densities over and above conservative density targets set out for greenfield development areas in the Study that reflected the Planning Strategy in 2021. Alternatively, development frameworks may lead to the opportunity to improve public transport accessibility level and hence densities. Blarney is in the process of transitioning from a large village to an urban town serviced by a new train station. However, the village has a distinct and unique character. It is therefore proposed to retain the density guidance set out in the
Objective 11.1 (Sustainable Residential Development) and Residential Density (Table 11.2) The NTA supports the Draft Plan’s approach to Sustainable Residential Development and the promotion of the 15 minute city concept. The proposed higher density ranges across the City fringe / corridor/ centre and Inner Urban Suburbs is supported in principle, but with the qualification that the specific density proposed be considered on an individual development basis and informed by a detailed examination of accessibility levels by public transport and to services at the local level. Recommendations: In addition to the case to be made for the use of ABTA, implicit in such an approach would be the identification of accessibility levels based on PTALS and ATOS, as referenced in NTA/TII ABTA guidance. It is recommended that this aspect of ABTA is referenced as an influencing factor in determining residential density.
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