‘Developers win’ as Government guts 5% community and cultural space for large apartment developments
‘Developers win’ as Government guts 5% community and cultural space for large apartment developments - The Labour Party
- 5% provision hard-fought win to deliver more space for struggling artists and community groups.
- Govt stripping more powers from Cllrs as Local Democracy Taskforce gets underway
Labour Party Councillor, Darragh Moriarty and Chair of Dublin City Council’s Community, Gaeilge, Sport, Arts & Culture Committee, has expressed deep concern at reports Government are to gut mandatory minimum requirements for vital community and cultural spaces under new proposed apartment guidelines.
The move, which has been widely reported over the weekend, would represent just the latest in a string of efforts to undermine local democracy and represent a blatant attack on the fundamental principle of building sustainable communities.
Cllr. Darragh Moriarty said:
“Not alone are Government intent on further reducing the size and quality of the homes that the people of Dublin so desperately need, they are also hell-bent on giving in to developer pressure and gutting hard-won community and cultural space requirements in larger developments. Dublin City Council, the country’s largest local authority, had no prior warning of these new guidelines, has not been consulted or had any opportunity to offer input.
“Culture is dying in Dublin. Artists are being driven out of our city because they can’t afford to live and work here. Our communities increasingly have nowhere to gather and come together. In recognition of these cultural and community space deficits, in the 2022-2028 Dublin City Development Plan, we took a bold and ambitious step carve out these much-needed spaces.
“The City Development Plan obliges developers of sites that are 10,000 sqm or larger to include a minimum of 5% community or cultural space. Since before this provision came into effect, and ever since, big developers all over the city and the LDA itself have resisted these measures and sought to get around them at every turn. Other developers meanwhile have gotten on with factoring community and cultural spaces into their developments, partnering with local arts organisations and community groups in the process. Government is now injecting yet more uncertainty into the delivery of vitally-needed housing and community infrastructure.
“If Government goes ahead and rips away this provision, they will be trampling all over local democracy, undermining our role as local authorities and paying total lip service to the principle of sustainable community development. While we are crying out for housing, the people who live and work in this city also need community facilities, such as creches, playgrounds and community centres and our artists need studio, rehearsal and display spaces. These guidelines would rob our communities of these basic amenities and are a retrograde step.
“At July’s Dublin City Council Meeting, which takes place on Monday, 7 July, I will be seeking immediate clarity on the implications of these guidelines for Dublin City Council and the people we represent.”
“Once again the Custom House and the Minister of the day is stripping away powers from local government at the behest of developers, while on the other hand they go through the charade of setting up a Local Democracy Taskforce.”