Architectural Conservation Areas
What is an Architectural Conservation Area?
An architectural conservation area (ACA) is a place, area, group of structures or townscape, taking account of building lines and heights, that is of special architectural, historical, archaeological, artistic, cultural, scientific, social or technical interest or that contributes to the appreciation of a protected structure, and whose character it is an objective of a development plan to preserve.
(1) An area of special planning control (ASPC) is all, or part, of an ACA which a planning authority considers of special importance to, or as respects, the civic life or the architectural, historical, cultural or social character of a city or town in which it is situated.
(2) A planning authority recognises, by making provision in the development plan for the protection of these areas, that in many cases, the protection of the architectural heritage is best achieved by controlling and guiding change on a wider scale than the individual structure, in order to retain the overall architectural or historic character of an area.
ACA policies should be supported by, and be consistent with, other policies of the development plan especially those relating to development control. An objective to preserve the character of an ACA, once approved by the elected members of a council, carries through from development plan to development plan and remains an objective of the planning authority unless subsequently modified by the members.
There are presently five Architectural Conservation Areas in the South County Dublin’s Administrative Area. Clondalkin, Lucan, Palmerstown, Rathfarnham and Tallaght were designated as Architectural Conservation Areas in the South Dublin County Development Plan 2004-2010. All five documents are available in related documents below.
The legislation relating to ACA’s and is contained in Chapter II of Part IV of the Planning and Development Act 2000 available in related documents below.