Development plan · Clare County Council
Clare County Development Plan 2023–2029 (as varied)
The council's development plan written statement: its strategy, policies, objectives and development standards.
Clare County Council · 2023–2029 · 568 pages
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- VOLUME 1 Written Statement Incorporating Variation No.1 (June 2026) Clare County Development Plan 2023–2029
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- __________________________________________________________________________________ Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029 Volume 1 Clare County Development Plan 2023- 2029 Volume 1 Table of Contents Chapter 1 Introduction and Vision 3 Chapter 2 Climate Action 18 Chapter 3 Core Strategy 53 Chapter 4 Urban and Rural Settlement Strategy 77 Chapter 5 Housing 108 Chapter 6 Economic Development 125 Chapter 7 Retail 153 Chapter 8 Rural Development and Natural Resources 170 Chapter 9 Tourism 185 Chapter 10 Sustainable Communities 214 Chapter 11 Physical Infrastructure, Environment and Energy 235 Chapter 12 Shannon Estuary 298 Chapter 13 Marine and Coastal Zone Management 323 Chapter 14 Landscape 344 Chapter 15 Biodiversity, Natural Heritage and Green Infrastructure 360 Chapter 16 Architectural and Cultural Heritage 391 Chapter 17 Towns and Villages 405 Chapter 18 Design and Placemaking 417
- __________________________________________________________________________________ Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029 Volume 1 Chapter 19 Land Use and Zoning 433 Chapter 20 Implementation and Monitoring 442 Appendix 1 Development Management Guidelines 446 Appendix 2 Indicative Land Use Zoning Matrix 474 Appendix 3 Natural Heritage Sites in County Clare 481 Appendix 4 Architectural Conservation Areas 507 Appendix 5 Scenic Routes 517 Appendix 6 Public Rights of Way 518 Appendix 7 Plans, Policies and Guidelines 521 Appendix 8 Housing Supply Target 527 Appendix 9 Implementation and Monitoring 528 Glossary of Terms 549
- Acronyms AA Appropriate Assessment ABP An Bord Pleanála ACA Architectural Conservation Area BGI Blue Green Infrastructure CCC Clare County Council CSO Central Statistics Office CDP County Development Plan DES Department of Education and Skills GHG Green House Gas GNI Gas Networks Ireland HEP Hydro Electric Power HNDA Housing Need Demand Assessment IFI Inland Fisheries Ireland IWEA Irish Wind Energy Association LA Local Authority LAP Local Area Plan LAWPRO Local Authorities Water Programme LNDR Limerick Northern Distributor Road LSMATS Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy LTP Local Transport Plan LDA Land Development Agency MASP Metropolitan Area Strategic Plan MPDM Marine Planning and Development Management NBS Nature-based Solutions NHA Natural Heritage Areas NIR Natura Impact Report NIS Natura Impact Statement NPF National Planning Framework NTA National Transport Authority NWRM Natural Water Retention Measures OPW Office of Public Works OPR Office of the Planning Regulator ORE Offshore Renewable Energy RSES Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy RPS Record of Protected Structures RRDF Rural Regeneration and Development Fund SAC Special Area of Conservation SDG United Nations Sustainable Development Goals SDZ Strategic Development Zone SEA Strategic Environmental Assessment SFRA Strategic Flood Risk Assessment SSFRA Site Specific Flood Risk Assessment SFPC Shannon Foynes Port Company SIFP Shannon Integrated Framework Plan1
- SPA Special Protection Area SPPR Specific Planning Policy Requirement SRA Southern Regional Assembly SuDS Sustainable Urban Drainage Solutions TII Transport Infrastructure Ireland TFI Transport for Ireland URDF Urban Regeneration and Development Fund2
- __________________________________________________________________________________ Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029 1 | Introduction and Vision Chapter 1 Introduction and Vision This chapter sets out the background to the Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029 with regard to legal requirements, the profile of County Clare, the vision for the county and the goals established to realise that vision. Chapter 1 Table of Contents: 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Legislative Requirements of a County Development Plan 1.1.1 Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended 1.1.2 Strategic Environmental Assessment 1.1.3 Appropriate Assessment 1.1.4 Flood Risk Assessment 1.2 Preparation Process for the Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029 1.3 Format and Content of the Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029 1.4 Profile of County Clare 1.5 A Vision for County Clare 1.6 Goals 1.7 The Role of Local Government and the County Development Plan 1.8 Proper Planning and Sustainable Development 1.9 Monitoring and Progress 1.10 Office of the Planning Regulator3
- __________________________________________________________________________________ Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029 1 | Introduction and Vision 1.0 Introduction This Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029 sets out an overall strategy for the proper planning and sustainable development of the functional area of Clare County Council over a 6 year period. Development plans comprise a written statement supported by maps indicating the development objectives for the area in question, including a number of mandatory objectives. Clare County Council is required to prepare and adopt a county development plan every 6 years. Not later than 4 years after the adoption of the development plan, the Council is required to review its existing development plan and commence the preparation of a new one. The Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029 covers the functional area of Clare County Council. It replaces the Clare County Development Plan 2017-2023 (as varied) and is the eighth county development plan since 1964. The Local Government Reform Act 2014 established a Municipal District system of local administration. There are four Municipal Districts in County Clare, namely: Ennis, Shannon, Killaloe and West Clare. This system of local governance is reflected in the structure of this plan, most particularly in Volume 3 Settlement Plans, where settlements are ordered according to their relevant Municipal District. 1.1 Legislative Requirements of a County Development Plan The Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029 is prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, the Planning and Development (Strategic Environmental Assessment) Regulations 2004, as amended, and Article 6(3) of the Habitats Directive. 1.1.1 Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, The Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, requires a county development plan to set out an overall strategy for the proper planning and sustainable development of the county. It also requires the inclusion of a Core Strategy, which shows that the development objectives in the development plan are consistent, as far as practicable, with national and regional development objectives set out in the National Planning Framework, the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy and the Housing Supply Target Methodology. The plan must also include a number of mandatory objectives as prescribed in legislation. 1.1.2 Strategic Environmental Assessment Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is the process by which environmental considerations are required to be fully integrated into the preparation and adoption of plans and programmes, and in this case the preparation of the county development plan. Article 1 of the EU Directive 2001/42/EC states “The objective of the SEA process is to provide for a high level of protection of the environment and to contribute to the integration of environmental considerations into the preparation and adoption of specified plans and programmes with a4
- __________________________________________________________________________________ Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029 1 | Introduction and Vision view to promoting sustainable development, by ensuring that, in accordance with this Directive, an environmental assessment is carried out of certain plans and programmes which are likely to have significant effects on the environment”. It should be noted that results from the SEA process must be fully considered and integrated into the preparation and making of the county development plan by: • Carrying out consultations with the public and prescribed environmental authorities; • Preparing an Environmental Report in conjunction with the preparation of the draft development plan; • Integrating environmental considerations into policy formulation; • Publishing information on the decision in conjunction with the adoption of the development plan (SEA Statement); • Publishing information on the decision; • Monitoring the significant environmental effects of the implementation of plans/programmes. In accordance with the requirements of the SEA Regulations, this plan includes an SEA Environmental Report contained in Volume 10. 1.1.3 Appropriate Assessment The Habitats Directive (Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora) formed a basis for the designation of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs). Similarly, Special Protection Areas (SPAs) are legislated for under the Birds Directive - Directive 2009/147/EC on the conservation of wild birds (codified version). SACs and SPAs are also referred to as European sites. The EU Directive on Habitats (92/43/EEC), as transposed into Irish law through the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 (S.I. 477 of 2011) and Part XAB of the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2010, requires the assessment as to whether the implementation of a plan is likely to have significant effects on any sites designated under the European Commission’s Natura 2000 network of sites (hereafter ‘European sites’). These sites are designated based on the presence of certain habitats and species that are deemed to be of international importance. The Irish Government and local planning authorities have a legal obligation to protect these sites. Under Article 6(3) of the Habitats Directive, appropriate assessment must be undertaken for any plan or project that is likely to have a significant effect on the conservation objectives of a European site(s). This includes the preparation of the Clare County Development Plan 2023- 2029. Screening for Appropriate Assessment of the Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029 was carried out by the competent authority to assess, in view of best scientific knowledge, if the plan, individually or in combination with other plans or projects was likely to have significant5
- __________________________________________________________________________________ Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029 1 | Introduction and Vision effects on a European site. The screening indicated that appropriate assessment was required and therefore a Natura Impact Report was prepared. Appropriate assessment is an evaluation of the potential impacts of a plan on the conservation objectives of a European site, and the development, where necessary, of mitigation or avoidance measures to preclude negative effects. Principally the purpose of appropriate assessment is to identify the implications of implementing the Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029 for the conservation objectives of a European site within the plan area and whether there will be adverse effects on the integrity of that site. It is necessary to incorporate or assimilate any mitigation measures or measures proposed to avoid or ameliorate the (potential) adverse effects on European sites into the policy or detail of the Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029. More importantly, notwithstanding the proposed mitigation measures or other proposals to avoid impacts contained in the Natura Impact Report, if a development plan has the potential for a significant adverse impact on the integrity of a European site, it cannot be adopted unless it is established that there are imperative reasons of overriding public interest (IROPI), including those of a social or economic nature, and/or reasons of human health and public safety. The Natura Impact Report is contained in Volume 10 of this plan. 1.1.4 Flood Risk Assessment The Planning and Development Act, 2000, as amended, indicates that development plans may include objectives “for carrying out flood risk assessment for the purpose of regulating, restricting and controlling development in areas at risk of flooding (whether inland or coastal)”. ‘The Planning System and Flood Risk Management – Guidelines for Planning Authorities’ made flood risk assessment an integral and leading element of planning functions and requires development plans to establish the flood risk assessment requirements for their functional areas. Local authorities are required to take all practical steps to ensure the prior identification of any areas at risk of flooding in the plan area. In compliance with these requirements, Clare County Council has carried out a Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) as part of the process of preparing the Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029. The SFRA is contained in Volume 10 of this development plan. 1.2 Preparation Process for the Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029 The previous Clare County Development Plan 2017-2023 (as varied) was adopted by the Elected Members of Clare County Council on the 19th of December 2016. Formal notice (Section 11 Notice) of the commencement of the review of the Clare County Development Plan 2017-2023(as varied) and the preparation of a new Clare County Development Plan 2022-2028 was advertised in the Clare Champion on the 18th of September 2020. The Planning Authority also issued notifications via Clare County Council’s social media pages. A specific6
Source Clare County Council: Clare County Development Plan 2023–2029 (as varied) (2023–2029) · Licence the publisher's termsText read from the publisher’s PDF; tables, maps and drawings do not survive as text, and page numbers are the PDF’s (its first page is 1). Check the original before relying on a passage.