To Whom it May Concern

6th June 2025

Submission Ref: Planning Register Reference 24/60371, Material contravention to Celbridge LAP 2017 – 2023, proposed Section 47 Arrangement

Reason for Proposed Material Contravention

The development is proposed on lands zoned ‘E: Community & Educational: “To provide for education, recreation, community and health”, where the proposed residential development use would not normally be permitted under the land use zoning matrix unless the dwellings are ancillary to health / community use to meet special accommodation needs. The development would therefore contravene materially that zoning objective of the Celbridge Local Area Plan 2017-2023.

Aspects in relation to the existing Celbridge LAP

There are currently 3 Second Level Schools and 8 Primary Schools within Celbridge boundaries.

From Celbridge Local Area Plan:

6.3.1 Education: Celbridge is served by three post primary schools and eight primary schools. Two of these schools, St. Patrick’s Primary School and Celbridge Community College, are currently operating in temporary buildings pending the identification of permanent school sites. Celbridge is expected to attract young families over the plan period and as such, it is necessary to provide for the further development of educational facilities in order to meet the needs of a growing population. Sites are identified for Community and Educational purposes in a number of Key Development Areas. The Council is also conscious that schools in Celbridge have catchment areas beyond the extent of Celbridge town. Kildare County Council will work with the Department of Education and Skills, under the nationally agreed Memorandum of Understanding on the provision of school sites, to support the Department’s Schools Building programme and to proactively identify and acquire appropriately located sites for new primary and post primary schools where the Department has identified a need.

It is an objective of the Local Area Plan:

RDO1.4: To focus the majority of new housing in Celbridge within walking or cycling distance of a school cluster, the town centre, neighbourhood centre or transport routes

Policy COM1 ‐ Education, Childcare and Health Facilities. It is the policy of the Council to facilitate and secure the provision of social infrastructure to support existing and new communities, in a manner which provides flexibility to respond to varied and changing community needs. Objectives: It is an objective of the Council:

COMO1.1 To support and facilitate improvements to existing educational, childcare and healthcare facilities within the Celbridge LAP area.

COMO1.2 To require the provision of childcare spaces in the Key Development Areas, in accordance with the phasing requirements set out in Chapter 13.

Actions: To liaise with the Department of Education and Skills, under the nationally agreed Memorandum of Understanding on the provision of school sites, to support the Department’s Schools Building programme and to proactively identify and acquire sites for new primary and post primary schools where the Department has identified a need.

Policy MT1 – Pedestrian and Cycle Movement It is the policy of the Council to provide an enhanced pedestrian and cycle network in Celbridge including the provision of an additional crossing of the River Liffey, to ensure ease of access to public transport, the town centre, heritage sites and other recreational facilities.

Objectives It is an objective of the Council:

MTO1.1: To ensure all footpaths in the town provide adequate access for persons with a disability or who have impaired mobility.

MTO1.2: To facilitate and encourage cycle as a more convenient and safe method of transport through the development of new or improved cycle facilities in Celbridge with a particular focus on the routes identified in the National Transport Authority (NTA) Greater Dublin Area Cycle Network Plan to link population, commercial, community facilities, schools and transport nodes.

MTO1.7: To promote enhanced permeability for pedestrians and cyclists within the urban environment in order to improve access to local shops, schools, public transport services and other amenities, in accordance with NTA published ‘Permeability: Best Practice Guide (2015)’, or any successor to same, subject to local public consultation.

12.2.3 KDA 3 – OLDTOWN

[excerpt] Site layouts should seek to fully integrate the identified primary school site into the urban structure of the neighbourhood. School buildings should be designed to front onto new streets and spaces so that they contribute to the streetscape and the character of this KDA.

Submission in relation to the Proposed Material Contravention of the Local Area Plan

It is essential to ensure the provision of an educational campus. The proposed Schools in the Cebridge LAP proposed at this and other sites at Donaghcomper have not as yet been realised by the Department of Education. Meanwhile, the population increases apace. It would be welcomed to include a deadline for the Department of Education to deliver a school site on this land.

The Celbridge LAP also sought realisation of an education site here and also the Donaghcomper school site. All of the proposed residential building has commenced in this KDA and other KDAs and progressed. The Social Infrastructure in respect of Schools and Creches have not followed. The Department of Education needs to act on this zoning. There are a lot of new residents in Celbridge that require School places and Creche facilities. It is crucial that this site remains dedicated for Schools and Education and not subsequently rezoned in a future Celbridge LAP. This should be conditioned as part of the Section 47.

Ensure the preparation of the School Area in the proposed site to include:

Footpath to side leading to indicated school site ensuring safe access. As the site is currently undeveloped, it is a perfect site for Safe Routes To Schools.

Note that the current footpath outside homes already built on the Oldtown KDA is used as a parking zone. Not addressing this will impact future Safe Routes to School zones.

Not in line with proper road design

The existing housing units leading to the proposed School sites have no footpath. As part of the proposed school site placement plans should resolve this issue as a condition to the Section 47 on safety grounds if possible.

The wall of the existing internal cul de sac is a natural barrier to traffic. Removal of this to facilitate the new houses requires a replacement of safety measures.

The cul de sac has provisioned a natural open space and recreation area for children. This needs to be replicated in another site.

Density 13.7 ha

2 ha school site

New houses are terraced as opposed to semi d – intensification of density

Need to ensure that Flooding problems are future-proofed from an engineering perspective on the site. Adjacent to the newly proposed school site some residents are unable to obtain flood risk insurance.

The inability to obtain flood risk insurance should not become an impediment to progress of a school site at delivery stage.

Housing Mix Statement 17.4,.3 cdp

Viability of Oldtown planned and part-constructed creche places more importance on the design of the school. Must be viable and accessible. Must be able to accommodate sufficient numbers. Must be deliverable within a decade.

6.3.1 Department to Identify Need

The Department of Education has been deficient in delivery – e.g Donaghcomper Three School Campus - and is working a decade behind while demand for school and crèche spaces in Celbridge is peaking now. Kildare is expected to absorb huge population increases with ready-made populations. Department of Education planned figures do not reflect this.

Connectivity / movement kda

Propose condition that Safe Routes to Schools is designed within the site and delivered as part of the site

Submission from Councillor Nuala Killeen and Councillor Claire O'Rourke Celbridge Leixlip Municipal District

Material Contravention of the Celbridge Local Area Plan 2017-2023 - Aighneachtaí

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