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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- __________________________________________________________________________________ Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029 10 | Sustainable Communities Development Plan Objective: Play Facilities CDP 10.14 It is an objective of Clare County Council: To support local communities in the provision of a range of play facilities across the county, including tot-lots, playgrounds, skate parks and other play areas in appropriate locations. 10.17 Educational Services Access to pre-school and childcare facilities, primary and secondary educational facilities, higher education, and adult learning is critical to the economic success and social progress of the county. In this regard rural depopulation is a significant challenge to the provision and ongoing retention of educational services and the Council will continue to work with local communities, education providers and all relevant stakeholders to address this issue. 10.17.1 Pre-School/Childcare Facilities The availability of sufficient childcare spaces to meet the needs of the population of the county is required to facilitate economic growth and participation in employment and education. Such provision is of particular importance for vulnerable or disadvantaged members of the community to encourage social integration. Childcare facilities are encouraged to locate near to residential areas, employment areas, retail centres and other areas as appropriate. Whilst the Council recognises the benefits of such facilities in residential areas this must be balanced with the protection of residential amenities and the retention of the residential character of the area. Development proposals for change of use of all or part of a dwelling house in a residential area to a childcare facility will be assessed having regard to the standards set out in Appendix 1 Development Management Guidelines. Development Plan Objective: Childcare Facilities CDP 10.15 It is an objective of Clare County Council: a) To encourage the provision of affordable and accessible childcare and pre-school facilities on well-located sites that are close to the populations they intend to serve throughout County Clare and in line with population and employment growth; b) To facilitate the development of additional childcare services for vulnerable or disadvantaged groups in the community; and,227
- __________________________________________________________________________________ Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029 10 | Sustainable Communities c) To have regard to Childcare Facilities – Guidelines for Planning Authorities (2001) or any updated version in the assessment of applications for childcare facilities. 10.17.2 Primary and Secondary School Facilities Schools are a key element of the social and community infrastructure of an area and in many instances act as anchors of wider social and community facilities. The county is currently wellserved in relation to primary and secondary school facilities. However, as per the Provisions for Schools and the Planning System – Code of Practice 2008, the Council must ensure that adequate serviced lands are available in appropriate locations, to facilitate the development of primary and secondary schools. There are a number of locations throughout the county, including Ennistymon, Killaloe and Kilrush where new schools are required, and suitable sites will be provided for in this plan. New residential developments and the natural growth of the population of an area can generate a demand for a significant number of new school places. To support sustainable communities the planning system must facilitate the timely expansion of existing schools and the development of new school buildings where required. Where a need for additional facilities has been identified, suitable lands are zoned in the relevant settlement plan. In addition to the 2008 Code of Practice, in the assessment of applications for school development the Planning Authority will also have regard to the Sustainable Residential Development in Urban Area – Guidelines for Planning Authorities (2009), the Department of Education and Skills technical guidance documents Identification and Suitability of Sites for Post primary Schools and General Design Guidance for Schools, and any other relevant guidance. A number of rural primary schools, located in close proximity to larger urban centres, have been progressively expanding, chiefly to accommodate children travelling from within the neighbouring urban areas. In the interest of promoting sustainable travel and transport patterns, the expansion of rural schools to accommodate children from neighbouring urban areas will be discouraged. Development Plan Objective: Primary and Secondary Education CDP 10.16 It is an objective of Clare County Council: a) To facilitate the provision of schools by zoning suitable lands in settlement plans and local area plans capable of meeting the demands of the projected populations and in line with the 2008 Code of Practice, The Provision of Schools and the Planning System; b) To ensure that all local area plans and SDZ planning schemes should ensure that access by walking, cycling and public transport is a key determinant in the location of new schools.228
- __________________________________________________________________________________ Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029 10 | Sustainable Communities c) To ensure that land developed for educational purposes is located as close as possible to the area experiencing population growth that it is intended to serve, are along public transport corridors where available and in close proximity to complementary services/facilities to allow for shared use; d) That new school sites in the Key Town of Ennis or within the Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area should maximise opportunities whereby students and staff can travel by walking, cycling or public transport; e) To ensure that the design of new schools and the expansion of existing schools maximises the priority for pedestrians and cyclists above that of vehicular traffic and addresses conflict between motorists and pedestrians and cyclists; f) To assess and ensure the adequacy of school capacity when dealing with planning applications for large residential developments; and, g) To ensure that planning applications for new schools or the expansion of existing schools should only be permitted where it is demonstrated that the road network in the vicinity of the proposed development can facilitate, or is planned to facilitate, safe walking and cycling, and where the promotion of behavioural change measures regarding active and safe travel to the school site are demonstrated as capable of being implemented through mobility management planning. 10.17.3 Third Level and Higher Education County Clare accommodates and/or is located in close proximity to a number of higher education institutes including the University of Limerick, the Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest (TUS), NUI Galway, the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, the Shannon College of Hotel Management, the Burren College of Art and the College of Further Education and Training Ennis Campus. As a result, Clare has a highly educated workforce and is an attractive location for research and development, business development and investment. The University of Limerick Clare Campus is continuing to evolve and grow, making a significant contribution to higher education, the progression of the knowledge economy and overall economic development of the county. The further development of higher education institutes in County Clare, through the direct development of new facilities such as the TUS and the Further Education and Training campuses in Ennis and through course delivery methods such as outreach/distance and blended learning is encouraged and supported by the Council. There are opportunities to develop stronger linkages between the county and universities located in the County’s twin229
- __________________________________________________________________________________ Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029 10 | Sustainable Communities cities and regions of Phoenix in Arizona and the Yunnan Province in China. In addition, there are also opportunities through changed education practices or the establishment of additional education facilities in the county to offer higher education facilities in rural areas of the county. Development Plan Objective: Third Level and Higher Education CDP 10.17 It is an objective of Clare County Council: a) To support the further development of higher education facilities in County Clare; b) To support the consolidation and expansion of the Technological University of Shannon Midlands Midwest in Ennis, the Shannon College of Hotel Management and the Burren College of Art; c) To collaborate with the higher education institutes and the Regional Skills Fora in the provision of a knowledge and innovation-based economy for the county and region, including off-campus research and development; d) To support investment in Higher Education Institutes, Education and Training Board, apprenticeships, and skills development in the county as an enabler of jobs growth; e) To establish the Kilrush Maritime Training Centre to manage, develop and promote the maritime facilities there, and to ensure the sustainability and success of this initiative through, in particular taking advantage of the emerging markets in renewable energy at this strategic location on the West Clare coastline, and, f) To support the delivery of a Regional Design Centre to provide a focus for linkages between third level institutes, private design companies and enterprise. 10.17.4 Further Education and Lifelong Learning Adult learning includes evening and part-time courses such as those offered by the Limerick Clare Education and Training Board (LCETB), Clare Local Development Company and by numerous secondary schools in the county. Opportunities for further education and adult learning are key elements of educational provision and social development and the Council will encourage groups and providers to examine mechanisms to increase the availability of all existing community educational facilities and training resources to a wider section of the population.230
- __________________________________________________________________________________ Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029 10 | Sustainable Communities Development Plan Objective: Further Education and Lifelong Learning CDP 10.18 It is an objective of Clare County Council: a) To facilitate a collaborative approach to regional skills development aligned to the needs and opportunities of regional economies and to encourage the consolidation and expansion of all tiers of educational services and associated educational and skills training programmes subject to compliance with Objective CDP 3.3; and, b) To collaborate with other agencies including the Limerick Clare Education and Training Board (LCETB) in the delivery of lifelong learning, skills training and post-secondary school education especially in areas of higher education and further education and training where skills gaps are identified. 10.18 Dual Use of Community Facilities Schools and other educational premises represent a valuable resource in terms of land and buildings, which generally are used on a partial basis only. The dual use of educational facilities, where it does not conflict with the delivery of the education service i.e., outside school hours and during school holidays, can contribute to meeting the wider needs of the community, by helping to accommodate a variety of activities. The DEHLG Childcare Facilities Guidelines for Planning Authorities (2001) recommend the use of school premises to cater for after school care and schools are encouraged to examine how they can cater for such activities. Where new schools and other community facilities are proposed, opportunities will be sought to ensure that they are designed in such a way as to facilitate dual use. Development Plan Objective: Dual Use Facilities CDP 10.19 It is an objective of Clare County Council: a) To encourage and promote the sharing of the use of school facilities with community groups where possible having regard to the Government’s guidelines on the use of School Buildings outside of School Hours, Department of Education and Skills; and, b) To encourage the shared use of all community facilities for use by all groups in the plan area. 10.19 Digital Hubs The development of co-working hubs in the form of digital, remote working, co-working or creative spaces has the potential to stimulate local economies, offer people more flexible work options, reduce commuting levels, and improve quality of life. The Council, through the Digi-Clare initiative, has provided remote working and hot desk facilities that are broadband231
- __________________________________________________________________________________ Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029 10 | Sustainable Communities enabled at a number of locations across the County including Ennis, Cross, Carron, Corofin, Ennistymon, Feakle, Inagh, Kilrush, Kilkee and Miltown Malbay. Future developments with regard to digital hubs will be guided by the Clare Digital Strategy 2023. See Section 6.13 in Chapter 6 for further information and detailed objectives relating to the Clare Digital Hub Network. 10.20 Healthcare and Wellbeing Healthcare is provided by a range of private, community and charitable service providers in the county which are essential to ensuring that the residents of the county have access to the medical care they need. Recent Health Service Executive (HSE) policy reflects a shift away from traditional hospital-based care, towards more community-based care which meets people’s needs at local level and is delivered by primary care teams. The Council will seek to facilitate the provision and expansion of these facilities and services to ensure accessible healthcare services are integrated into communities across Clare. Development Plan Objective: Health Services CDP 10.20 It is an objective of Clare County Council: a) To improve access to quality healthcare services through facilitating initiatives and projects under the National Development Plan 2018-2027 as well as facilitating public, private and community-based agencies to provide appropriate healthcare facilities including for mental health, hospital care and community-based primary care throughout the county; b) To encourage the integration of appropriate healthcare facilities within new and existing communities; c) To facilitate and encourage the accommodation of emergency services including fire services, rescue services, helipads, and acute care in locations that facilitate ease of access, effectiveness and safety; and, d) To support and facilitate the implementation of Sláintecare and to support the development of outreach and community services for an expanding and ageing population across the county. 10.20.1 Air Ambulance Facilities County Clare includes significant areas of coastline, lakelands and peripheral areas where air ambulance services play an important role in the provision of accessible emergency services. In order to facilitate the provision of these services in emergency situations it is essential that suitable landing areas are identified and agreed across the county.232
- __________________________________________________________________________________ Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029 10 | Sustainable Communities Development Plan Objective: Air Ambulance Facilities CDP 10.21 It is an objective of Clare County Council: To work in coordination with all relevant stakeholders to identify air ambulance landing locations in coastal, estuarine and lakeside locations in County Clare. 10.21 The Library Service There is a widespread network of branch libraries across the county which caters for all age groups and provide a wide range of services with extensive opening hours. These libraries are a valuable resource in terms of culture, heritage, and education, and they play an important role in the communities they serve. The County Library currently under construction as an extension to Glór in Ennis town centre will provide an excellent service to local residents. Development Plan Objective: Libraries CDP 10.22 It is an objective of Clare County Council: a) To support and promote the services provided by the branch libraries to local communities across the county; and, b) To support the completion and operation of the new library to serve the Ennis and environs area during the lifetime of this plan. 10.22 Burial Grounds and Crematoria The Council coordinates the operation of approximately 170 burial grounds in the county and maintenance works are carried out at these locations by both the Council and local voluntary groups. In addition, the Council provides financial assistance for the extension of existing burial ground facilities and the provision of new burial grounds. Ennis will require additional burial ground facilities in the coming years and the Council will work to identify suitable locations during the lifetime of this plan. The use of crematoria has increased significantly in recent years and the crematorium in Shannon currently serves the needs of the county. In recognition of the multicultural population of the county and the changing trends in end-of-life services, the Council support the provision of additional crematoria at appropriate locations in the county. Development Plan Objective: Burial Grounds/Crematoria CDP 10.23 It is an objective of Clare County Council: a) To provide extensions to existing burial grounds and facilitate the provision of new burial grounds in cooperation233
- __________________________________________________________________________________ Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029 10 | Sustainable Communities with local communities, at appropriate locations throughout the county; b) To ensure that burial grounds throughout the county are managed and maintained in a manner which respects their associated culture and heritage, having regard to the relevant bye-laws; c) To support the development of crematoria in county Clare, subject to normal planning considerations; and, d) To support the provision of new funeral homes which are designed to sensitively meet the needs of a diverse population.234
- __________________________________________________________________________________ Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029 11 | Physical Infrastructure, Environment and Energy Chapter 11 Physical Infrastructure, Environment and Energy Goal X: A county that supports strong economic growth and a high quality of life for all residents through the provision of efficient and robust physical infrastructure whilst having regard to environmental responsibilities and complying with European and National legislation. Chapter 11 Table of Contents: 11.0 Introduction 11.1 Strategic Aims 11.2 Access and Movement 11.2.1 Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy 11.2.2 Integrated Land Use and Transport Planning 11.2.3 Limerick-Shannon Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy (LSMATS) and Local Transport Planning 11.2.4 Active Travel Towns Programme 11.2.5 Walking and Cycling 11.2.6 Public Transport 11.2.7 Transport Assets and Multi-Modal Travel Integration 11.2.8 EV and CNG Infrastructure and Smart Mobility 11.2.9 Road Network 11.2.9.1 Motorway, National Roads and Strategic Inter-Urban Roads 11.2.9.2 Motorway Service and Rest Areas 11.2.9.3 Access onto National Roads 11.2.9.4 Strategic Regional Roads 11.2.9.5 Relief/Distributor Roads 11.2.10 Urban Roads and Streets 11.2.11 Shannon International Airport 11.2.12 Public Rights of Way 11.2.13 Coastal and Estuarine Transportation 11.2.14 Ports, Jetties, Harbours, Quays and Piers 11.2.15 Freight 11.2.16 Directional Signage 11.3 Water Resources 11.3.1 Water Framework Directive (WFD) 11.3.2 River Basin Management Plans 11.3.3 Water Resources235
- __________________________________________________________________________________ Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029 11 | Physical Infrastructure, Environment and Energy 11.3.4 Water Extraction from Lough Derg 11.4 Water and Wastewater Services 11.4.1 Water Supply 11.4.2 Water Supply in the Ennis and Environs Area 11.4.3 Wastewater Management 11.4.3.1 Environmental Assessment Criteria 11.4.4 Storm Water Management 11.5 Waste Management 11.5.1 Waste Management Plans 11.5.2 Waste Transfer and Recovery 11.5.3 Litter Management 11.5.4 Construction and Demolition Waste 11.5.5 Agriculture Waste 11.6 Noise, Air and Light Pollution 11.6.1 Noise Pollution 11.6.2 Air Quality 11.6.3 Light Pollution 11.7 SEVESO – Major Accidents Directive 11.8 Energy and Communications 11.8.1 Energy Strategy 11.8.2 Energy Security 11.8.3 Electricity Network 11.8.4 Gas Networks 11.8.5 Renewable Energy Sources 11.8.6 Energy Storage 11.8.7 Energy Efficiency and Conservation 11.8.8 Broadband Connectivity 11.8.9 Telecommunications Infrastructure236
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.