Dublin Cycling Campaign is glad to announce that we have secured improvements for people walking and cycling as part of a private planning application for housing on the Howth Road in Howth. An Bord Pleanála, while granting permission for a strategic housing development application, have attached a condition requiring the developer to provide improved pedestrian and cycle facilities on the adjoining Howth Road, at the urging of Dublin Cycling Campaign.

The vast majority of cycling facilities in Ireland are provided by government bodies, including city and county councils and the National Transport Authority. However, a not insignificant chunk of new cycle tracks are being built by private developers as part of large scale planning applications. This is usually on new roads within developments, though these new cycle lanes can be on public roads adjoining the development site.

Dublin Cycling Campaign is attempting to see more cycle lane improvements delivered as part of large planning applications. As a result we made a submission to this strategic housing development in Howth. As always, our planning submissions only deal with the transport elements.

The Howth Road is secondary cycle route 1A of the National Transport Authority’s GDA Cycle Network Plan. That means that the appropriate high-quality cycle facilities should be provided on Howth Road. Given the high traffic volumes and 60km/h speed limit, the Howth Road needs a curb protected cycle track.

The condition attached by An Bord Pleanála was:

3. The proposed development shall be amended as follows:

(a) The public footpath shall be maintained across the full extent of the site along the Howth Road. Access to the permitted car parks shall be provided in the form of crossovers whose surface treatment and level indicate the maintenance of pedestrian priority in accordance with the guidance set out 4.3.1 of the Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets.

(b) A continuous cycle lane or track shall be maintained along the Howth Road in front of the site which shall conform to the one of the models set out in section 4.3 of the National Cycle Manual and which shall segregate cyclists from pedestrians and vehicular traffic and provide cyclists with priority over vehicles exiting or turning right into the permitted car parks. The design of the bus stop shall comply with one of the options set out in section 5.1.5 of the manual.

Revised drawings showing compliance with these requirements shall be submitted to, and agreed in writing with, the planning authority prior to commencement of development.

Reason: In the interest of road safety and to ensure that the development complies with the applicable policies and standards for road design.

We’re delighted that An Bord Pleanála’s (ABP) inspector listened to our concerns. ABP are requiring the developer to provide updated and improved plans before construction can commence. We hope to use this as a template to require more large private developments to provide dedicated cycle facilities as they make changes to public roads bordering the site.

Attached below is our original planning submission to An Bord Pleanála.