Courtlough

Motion that the lands outlined in red (CE OPR SH2.1 ), continuous with the GE zoned land at the eastern part of the M1 Business Park, Balbriggan retain the GE designation assigned to the Fingal Draft Plan 2023- 2029 (compliant with NPF4.4) being a location for extension of existing enterprises.  The subject site is an extension to and contiguous with the M1 Business Park, progressively developed over the last 20 years. The established employment area, accommodating light industrial enterprises, logistics and warehousing, food ripening Fyffes, is compliant with NPF 4.4.

It is a lower density employment, high density space typology with excellent major road access and good utility infrastructure.

The location is away from high intensity employment office developments and does not attract HGVs into busy compact settlements.

Planning permission F22a/0225 for improved waste water pump station to service existing and future GE development of M1BP was granted 13th July 2022.
The M1BP East is well serviced by frequent National, local and private bus services.

This is a sequential GE development on the remaining Eastern M1BP lands it is compliant with the GE vision and National Planning Guidelines and RSES and Variation 2 to the current FDP 2017-2023

The “Vision” for GE lands is to “Facilitate opportunities for compatible industry and general employment uses, logistics and warehousing activity in a good quality physical environment. General Employment areas should be highly accessible, well designed, permeable and legible”.(DFDP)

“Low intensity employment uses such as distribution, warehouse, storage and logistics facilities will require good access to the major road network;” (NPG)

“The opening of Business Parks and industrial complexes near Junction 5 (Balbriggan South) and 6 (Balbriggan) together with the benefits accruing from the M1 motorway, will increase the attractiveness of Balbriggan to businesses that require easy access to Dublin Airport and the IFSC in Dublin City. The readily available workforce, together with the power, natural gas, and fibre-optic resources can be used to attract large-scale employers to the area.” (FDP 2017 - 2023 variation 2).

Contrary to the CE response to the OPR recommendation11(V)
this GE site is compliant with the key objectives of both the current FDP and the emerging DFDP.

Logistics, warehousing and light industry are permissible within the Matrix. The Typology proposed use for this site is the same as those already operating at this location and referred to in the NPG section 6.2.5

“Differing typologies of commercial /industrial land-uses will generate different employment characteristics (e.g. high-intensity commercial office use in comparison to lower Intensity warehousing/logistics) and these should be considered in overall strategic assessment.”

The existing uses at M1BP and the planned use at this site are in an appropriate location for warehousing and logistic and light industry. channelling such uses into Strategic Employment Area identified by uses by RSES (page 19 KMPG report) is contrary to guiding principles as this is a space intensive enterprise.

The employment growth anticipated at M1BP, being a lower density employment growth cannot be channeled into the Strategic Employment areas listed  ...  view the full agenda text for item 362.