14.8.9 Amenity/Open Space Lands/Green Network – Zone Z9
Land-Use Zoning Objective Z9:
To preserve, provide and improve recreational amenity and open space and green networks.
This zoning includes all amenity open space3 lands which can be divided into three broad categories as follows: Public open space Private open space Sports facilities in private ownership.
This zoning includes all amenity open space3 lands which can be divided into three broad categories as follows:
- Public open space
- Private open space
- Sports facilities in private ownership
The provision of public open space is essential to the development of a strategic green network. The chapters detailing the policies and objectives for landscape, biodiversity, open space and recreation and standards respectively, should be consulted to inform any proposed development (see Chapter 10 – Green Infrastructure, Open Space and Recreation, and Section 16.2 – Design, principles and standards). Generally, the only new development allowed in these areas, other than the amenity/recreational uses, are those associated with the open space use.
The continuation of sports clubs and facilities to enhance sustainable city living is recognised. In highly exceptional circumstances, in order to serve the long term retention and consolidation of the sporting facility in a locality and to secure the primary sporting land use on the site, some limited once off development is open to consideration. Specifically, residential development shall not be permitted on public or privately owned open space unless exceptional circumstances are demonstrated.
In certain specific circumstances where it has been demonstrated to the satisfaction of the planning authority that there is a need for ancillary development to take place in order to consolidate or retain the sporting and amenity nature of Z9 lands or an existing facility in a local area, some limited degree of (residential/retail) development may be permitted on a once-off basis and subject to the primary use of the site being retained for sporting or amenity uses.
In all cases height shall relate to the prevailing height in the vicinity. In all cases the applicant shall submit a statement, as part of a legal agreement under the Planning Acts, demonstrating how the sports facility will be retained long term on site.
In all cases the applicant shall be the sports club owner/occupier.
3 Open space is any land (active or passive use), including water, whether enclosed or not, on which there are no buildings (or not more than 5% is covered with buildings), and the remainder of which is laid out as a garden/ community garden or for the purposes of recreation, or lies vacant, waste or unoccupied. It also includes school playing fields, playgrounds, urban farms, forests, allotments, and outdoor civic spaces.
