TALLAGHT AND LUCAN WIN NATIONAL PLANNING RECOGNITION

South Dublin County Council has been Highly Commended at the presentation of the Irish Planning Institute, National Planning Awards 2008, which took place in the Merrion Hotel in Dublin on 28^th February 2008. The awards, for the Tallaght Integrated Area Plan and the Lucan Village Design Statement were both presented by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government Mr. John Gormley T.D.

South Dublin County Manager, Mr Joe Horan, Senior Planner Paul Hogan and IAP Project Manager Dara Larkin accepted the awards on behalf of South Dublin County Council.

The Council was Highly Commended in the Planning Achievement award category for its work in both preparing and implementing the Tallaght Integrated Area Plan from 1999-2008. In presenting the Award, Minister Gormley said that the pro-active role taken by South Dublin County Council demonstrates what can be achieved through planning, in terms of development generally, urban regeneration and community development. The work undertaken by South Dublin County Councils planners and other stakeholders reflects an excellent example of best practice, from which we can all learn some lesson.

The Tallaght IAP, which has been described as an excellent example of best practice, has been particularly innovative in the provision of mechanisms to ensure millions of Euro worth of Community Linkage funding to the adjoining residential area of West Tallaght and in the provision of Local Employment and Training aspects.

The second Commendation, for Participatory Planning, was awarded for the Lucan Village Design Statement. The Design Statement was the result of a joint initiative by South Dublin County Council, the Heritage Council, together with the local community of Lucan and Consultants Soltys Brewster and Laurence Manogue.

In presenting Award, Minster Gormley said that the bottom-up approach adopted in formulating this publication has highlighted and documented the many features of heritage value, which can make a significant contribution to the future development of Lucan, and the comprehensive stakeholder involvement is to be commended.

In response, South Dublin County Council Manager Mr. Joe Horan said that We are delighted with the IPI Awards and in particular that for the Tallaght IAP where the cooperation between South Dublin County Council and its partners in the local development, business, statutory and community sectors has allowed the opportunity to progress the shared vision for the area and to do so in an innovative manner. We look forward to continuing this work in both Tallaght and Lucan in the future.