"As city councillors we want to work in partnership with all of the citizens of Dublin, hear what they have to say, and work together to create a Development Plan that will make Dublin the jewel in the crown of European capital cities. This website is designed to provide you with information about the Draft Dublin Development Plan, 2011-2017, and to enable you to comment on it. Please use the submission form to have your say in the future of our city." [Note: Comments are now closed.]

The closing date for receipt of submissions on the Draft Development Plan was last Friday, March 12th. We’d like to thank everyone who got involved in the discussion and especially those who posted replies or made submissions about the plan. 

The next step is the preparation of a report on the submissions/observations received. This will be submitted to members of the City Council who will consider it until mid-August 2010. Any material amendments agreed to the Draft Plan will then be put on public display for four weeks. It is envisaged that this display will take place during September.

We’ll post notification of the dates closer to the time.

Regards,
The Development Plan Team

The recent cold spell is having a major impact on water supplies across the State and in particular in the Dublin Region. Dwindling reservoir supplies and burst pipes have led to a disruption in supply.

Due to projected population growth a new water source supply will be required for Dublin in the medium- to long-term (post 2016).

How can we change the behaviour of city householders towards their use of water?  The Draft Dublin City Development Plan recognises the need to ensure efficient use of drinking water resources with the emphasis on conservation. The following objectives are set out in the Draft Plan:

 - to promote best practice in all aspects of water supply including planning, supply, treatment, storage, transmission, distribution and conservation

 - to promote the introduction of efficient water saving fixture and fittings in all developments in compliance with the water bye-laws.

 - to promote a reduction in water demand through a range of conservation measures including rainwater harvesting

 - to co-ordinate with the other planning authorities in the Greater Dublin Region regarding the supply of drinking water

 - to protect and safeguard the integrity of water supply facilities, installations and pipes

 - to facilitate the identification and securing of service corridors for water supply

 - to seek to initiate pilot projects encouraging homeowners to install rainwater recovery systems where feasible in conjunction with local communities

Do you think the above objectives can help to achieve a reduction in water consumption and encourage a greater awareness of water conservation? What else would you add? What other measures would you suggest?

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A green city is a healthy city. Protecting and enhancing green space not only makes the city more sustainable, it makes it a more attractive place to live, work and visit. The Draft Development Plan contains a wide range of policies aimed at making Dublin a cleaner, greener city. These include:

 - an overall ‘Green Infrastructure’ strategy that maps out new city-wide ‘green routes' 

- play spaces and sports facilities at neighbourhood level

 - sustainable connectivity between green areas

 - enhanced tree planting along green routes

 - protection of landscapes and biodiverse areas

Chapter 6 of the development plan is called ‘Greening the City.' It outlines these and many other proposed actions the city will take over the next six years. You can read a short summary of the chapter or download the original here. And you can view an interactive map that illustrates the proposed ‘Strategic Green Corridors’ here.

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Dublin is renowned as a cultural city. In all its forms, culture enhances quality of life for everyone living, working, visiting and studying in the capital.

Chapter 7 of the Draft Development Plan is called “Fostering the City’s Character and Culture.” It outlines many proposed actions and objectives regarding cultural life in the city over the next six years. 

These include

- celebrating diversity
- seeking the preservation of historic buildings
- supporting the selection of a chosen day to be designated 'Dublin Day' 
- ensuring that cultural facilities are provided as part of larger developments in the City Centre

You can read a full summary of the chapter or download the original here.

Retail activity is fundamental to the success of any city. It stimulates spending, connects streets and plazas and provides a focus for urban communities. In a compact area, retail / shopping areas have the power to create a rich, diverse urban experience.

The Draft Development Plan contains a wide range of policies aimed at strengthening Dublin as a national retail destination. These include:

 - Creating mixed-use, lively and vibrant neighbourhoods throughout the city

 - Providing locally accessible shopping

 - Maintaining the city centre as the country’s main retail centre for comparison goods

 - Promoting and protecting specialist shops within the inner city

 - Encouraging quality convenience shopping with strong choice and competition

 - Developing and expanding Key District Centres

Chapter 10 of the Draft Development Plan is called ‘Strengthening the City as a National Retail Destination.' It outlines these and many other proposed actions the city will take over the next six years. You can read a short summary of the chapter or download the original here. And you can view an interactive map that illustrates the proposed Key District Centres here.

What do you think of the ideas suggested? What else would you like to see in the city to help protect and strengthen its retail offering? 

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Dublin is acknowledged as a low-rise city and the Draft Development Plan intends to retain this intrinsic quality and ensure that it remains predominantly so in the future.

Do you think this is an appropriate stance for the city to take? Can the city accommodate greater height without comprising the city’s unique identity?

Chapter 5 of the Development Plan is called “Shaping the City.” It outlines the approach and proposed actions the city will take regarding the form and structure of the city over the next six years. You can read a short summary of the chapter or download the original here.

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With over 90% of new homes in apartment format in the city, it is essential that such apartments are sustainable over time and not treated merely as a step on the ladder until one can move into a house.

How do you think this can be achieved? What makes city apartment living work? What would you like to see changed / improved about apartment living in the city?

Chapter 11 of the Development Plan is called “Providing Quality Homes in a Compact City.” It outlines the approach and proposed actions the city will take regarding accommodation in the city over the next six years. You can read a short summary of the chapter or download the original here.

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Although our Drop-In Day sessions finished this week, the Draft Development Plan remains on display at a wide variety of locations throughout the city.

Dublin libraries and local area offices have copies of the plan available to view and are showing the video regularly. Comment boxes are set up at these locations too, so people can leave immediate feedback on any aspect of the plan they wish. For a full list of public display locations and opening times, click here.

And don’t forget you can discuss any aspect of the plan online at any time, via our general discussion thread here. 

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In order to make the city centre more attractive for pedestrians and cyclists, the City Council has introduced major initiatives such as the construction of the Liffey boardwalk, the widening of footpaths (e.g. O’Connell Street), the 5-axle ban, a decrease in speed limits and the dublinbikes scheme.

What other initiatives / changes would you like to see happen in the city that would further improve the pedestrian and cyclist experience?

Chapter 5 of the Development Plan is called “Connecting & Sustaining the City's Infrastructure.” It outlines the approach and proposed actions the city will take regarding transport and services infrastructure over the next six years. You can read a short summary of the chapter or download the original here.

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One of the priorities of the new Draft Dublin City Development Plan is to create ‘sustainable’ neighbourhoods in Dublin. By sustainable the Council means neighbourhoods that have all the necessary facilities and services people need within walking distance, and which support life-long living.  If a neighbourhood has accommodation options and facilities that cater to children, singles, couples, families and older residents, people can potentially live there through different phases of their life.

Is your neighbourhood sustainable? How could it be made more so? Is sustainability an important issue for you? If not, what is most important to you as a resident in your neighbourhood? 

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Dublin City Council's Jim Keogan is appearing this afternoon on DublinCityFM to discuss the Draft Development Plan. Jim will take part in a panel discussion with John Kearney, a Dublin-based architect, and Cathleen O'Neill, representing the Kilbarrack CDP community group.

The discussion will be chaired by DublinCityFM’s Declan Carty and will cover a range of topics related to the Draft Plan, from explanations of what it means to the importance of public consultation and citizen feedback. Listeners can also contact the station and pose questions to the panel during the show.

Be sure to tune in to 103.2FM at 2pm today to catch the discussion! You can also listen online on the DublinCityFM website, here.

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Our last week of Drop-In Days concludes today with sessions in Finglas Civic Centre and Walkinstown Library. Two City Planners will be in both locations from 1pm - 8pm to answer questions and explain the ideas and vision behind the Draft Development Plan.

 If you're in the neighbourhood, drop in, tell us what you think, and have your say in how Dublin develops over the next six years.

Our last week of Drop-In Days continues today with two sessions: one in the Cabra Library and the other in Coolock Library. As always, City Planners will be onhand in both locations from 1pm - 8pm to answer questions and explain the ideas and vision behind the Draft Development Plan.

If you're in the neighbourhood, why not drop in? Talk to a City Planner, tell us what you think, and have your say in how Dublin develops over the next six years.

Our last week of Drop-In Days begins today with two sessions: one in the Ballymun Civic Centre and the other in Pearse Street Library. City Planners will be onhand in both locations from 1pm - 8pm to answer questions and explain the ideas and vision behind the Draft Development Plan. 

Whether it’s for reasons of health or economy, there’s a growing interest in locally-produced food in the capital. More and more Dubliners are asking the Council for allotments to grow their own food. The draft plan supports the development of allotments, particularly on vacant sites of the city.

The popularity of the city's many farmer's markets also reflect people's ongoing desire for fresh, local produce.  

What else would you like to see in the plan to encourage people to grow their own food? Are there any measures or ideas you’d suggest to support the growth and sale of locally-produced food in Dublin's markets? Is this an important issue for you?

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We were asked yesterday for an example of a change that was made to the Dublin development plan as a result of a comment from "an ordinary citizen." The request – which came in to our Twitter page from Tupp_Ed – was made “to give me heart that making the effort [to comment on the Plan] would be worthwhile because the interest was genuine.” Today we responded to Tupp_Ed, and thought it was worth reposting here too.

Last year, we received a public submission, which subsequently became a specific objective in the Draft Development Plan, to “provide dedicated & separated cycleways on main route corridors to support commuting by bicycle.”

This submission became objective SI013 (p.46 in the draft Plan): “To develop a direct cycle linkage system away from the primary traffic network including on and off road cycle lanes designed and constructed to minimise conflict with other road users.” (The full reference for the objective is Ch.5, 5.1.4.4, p46.)

We’re happy to have a chance to illustrate that the submissions sent in by the public are reviewed and can shape the direction of the Plan and the development of the city. The goal behind this website - and our presence on sites like Twitter - is to reach out to people and encourage dialogue, debate and as many submissions as possible. So if you’re inclined, take a little time and discuss or submit your thoughts on the draft Plan, and contribute to the future development of your city! 

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What does the future hold for Dublin City? Is there a vision? A strategy? A plan? Yes!  

Today we’re talking about culture. Dublin is renowned as a cultural city. The draft plan aims to promote an active artistic community at city-wide and neighbourhood levels. You can check out a selection of cultural policies and objectives in the Priorities section here. Or you can read them all in Chapter 7 of the Plan, ‘Fostering Dublin’s Character and Culture.’

What do you think of the ideas suggested? Do you want to see more affordable live-work units for artists? Would you support the establishment of an annual ‘Dublin Day’? What initiatives would you like to see to encourage artists to live, produce and display in the city? 

Go to the Feedback page and have your say!

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The current public consultation programme for the draft Dublin City Development Plan, 2011-2017, was officially launched on 12^th January. During the ten-week public display of the Draft Development Plan (Dec 2009 - March 2010) submissions are invited from interested parties.

A Manager's Report on the submissions received during this period will be circulated to the Elected Members by late May 2010. The Elected Members must consider the report within twelve weeks of its circulation. At this stage the Elected Members may, by resolution, accept or amend the Draft Development Plan and make the Development Plan.

Any Proposed Amendment which would be of a material alteration to the Draft Development Plan, will be put on public display by early September 2010. The public display of the Proposed Amendments will be for a minimum of four weeks. A Manager's Report on submissions relating to the Proposed Amendments will be circulated to the Elected Members by November 2010.

At that point, phase three of the process begins. The Elected Members must consider the Manager's Report on submissions relating to the Proposed Amendments by mid-December 2010, and, by resolution, make the Dublin City Development Plan.

The Dublin City Development Plan 2011 - 2017 will come into effect 4 weeks after being made, i.e. January 2011.