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 15 | Biodiversity, Natural Heritage and Green Infrastructure Development Plan Objective: Inland Waterways and River Corridors CDP 15.16 It is an objective of Clare County Council: a) To work with all relevant stakeholders to protect from degradation and damage and manage inland waters, river corridors and their floodplains, turloughs, lakes, fens and other water bodies, and to recognise and promote them as natural assets and key elements in the green infrastructure network in the county; b) To protect riparian areas, where appropriate, in the plan area; c) To ensure that, where development occurs within a riparian zone, it does not have a negative impact on associated habitats and species and to have regard for Inland Fisheries Ireland guidance ‘Planning For Watercourses In The Urban Environment’ and any updated versions; d) To work with all relevant stakeholders to protect and improve appropriate access to waterways and river corridors whilst ensuring their conservation and the protection of the resource and water quality; e) To encourage development proposals to: I. Maintain an appropriate width for the riparian zone to be protected; II. Improve appropriate access and compatible leisure activities;377
- __________________________________________________________________________________ Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029 15 | Biodiversity, Natural Heritage and Green Infrastructure III. Maintain and enhance the fishing potential for both local interests and tourism by protecting the natural spawning beds of trout and salmon; and, f) To protect the county’s valuable inland fishery resource and support its sustainable development through the protection of water quality and facilitation of ancillary infrastructure at appropriate locations. 15.2.15 Freshwater Pearl Mussels The freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera is an extremely sensitive species that can be damaged in a number of ways including by the removal of river boulders and gravels, building works such as bridges, weirs or bank reinforcements, land intensification, forestry activities, individual housing, removal of peat and particularly upgraded sheds or housing for animals and the subsequent slurry spreading. Such activities have the potential to exert a high level of pressure on the species and its catchment. This species is included on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Red List of Threatened Species and is rated as ‘critically endangered’ throughout Ireland. In County Clare there is one Special Area of Conservation (SAC) with a freshwater pearl mussel population for which the river catchment is protected. This is the Cloon River system. This is located on the north shore of the Shannon Estuary and feeds into the Estuary in Clonderalaw Bay at its downstream end. Unfortunately, the freshwater pearl mussel population in the Cloon is currently at unfavourable conservation status. It is currently ranked as 15th out of the 27 Freshwater Pearl Mussel SAC populations in the country based on population status, habitat condition and current pressures. There is an absence of juveniles and a rarity of small mussels throughout the Cloon where suitable habitat is found. The population is failing due to the deterioration in habitat quality which is evident from the high levels of siltation and macrophyte growth. In recent years, climate change is having a serious effect on the catchment. The impacts of low flows have reached crisis level, with the in-combination effects of uneven precipitation levels and ongoing catchment drainage. County Clare contains the following three catchments which are identified as Freshwater Pearl Mussel Sensitive Areas by the National Parks & Wildlife Service: • Doonbeg • Shannon – Graney/Scariff • Shannon – Woodford Development Plan Objective: Freshwater Pearl Mussels CDP 15.17 It is an objective of the development plan:378
- __________________________________________________________________________________ Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029 15 | Biodiversity, Natural Heritage and Green Infrastructure a) To have regard to the potential impacts of developments within or in close proximity to the Cloon River freshwater pearl mussel catchment including impacts arising downstream within the Shannon Estuary and Clonderalaw Bay; b) To have regard to the Cloon Freshwater Pearl Mussel Sub- Basin Management Plan in the assessment of planning applications; c) To ensure careful consideration is given to all proposed developments within the Doonbeg, Shannon – Graney/Scarriff and the Shannon – Woodford Freshwater Pearl Mussel sensitive areas; and, d) To ensure full compliance with objective CDP 3.3 in relation to any future developments in close proximity to a freshwater pearl mussel catchment or sensitive area. 15.2.16 Peatlands County Clare contains a number of blanket and raised bogs and many of these bogs are protected by both national and international designations i.e. Natural Heritage Areas and/or Natura 2000 sites. The Council recognises the importance of peatlands as major natural, archaeological and non-renewable resources and also their critical function as natural carbon sinks. The potential appropriate utilisation of protected peatland areas for amenity, educational, research and tourism purposes is also recognised. Development Plan Objective: Peatlands CDP 15.18 It is an objective of Clare County Council: To protect and enhance the valuable peatland resource in County Clare including protecting the heritage and environmental value of these peatland areas. 15.2.17 Woodlands, Trees and Hedgerows Woodland habitats in County Clare include oak, ash and hazel woodlands, wet woodlands, scrub and hedgerows. Small pockets of ancient woodland remain in the county such as at Mullaghmore in the Burren and in other small pockets throughout County Clare. Many of the woodlands of County Clare are protected areas for their habitat and amenity value, and these are listed in Appendix 3. The Council recognise the high amenity value of woodlands, their contribution to landscape diversity and habitat, and their carbon storage function.379
- __________________________________________________________________________________ Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029 15 | Biodiversity, Natural Heritage and Green Infrastructure Trees, forestry and hedgerows make a valuable contribution to the landscape, character and visual amenity of County Clare and also provide wider environmental benefits. They soften the public realm, provide scale to buildings, contribute to a sense of place, provide shelter, produce oxygen, act as noise, dust and pollutant filters, retain moisture and assist in flood prevention. They also provide habitats for many species and act as wildlife corridors for animals to move along for breeding and feeding. The Council will facilitate and encourage the replacement of trees and hedgerows where loss or breaches occur. Clare County Council have published some relevant guidance on trees suitable for local circumstances such as the Tree Design Guide for Towns and Villages in County Clare, Survey of Trees in Towns and Village of County Clare and The Buds of the Banner: A Guide to Growing Native Trees and Shrubs in Clare. Development Plan Objective: Woodlands, Trees and Hedgerows CDP 15.19 It is an objective of Clare County Council: a) To preserve and conserve individual or groups of trees identified in Volume 2 of this plan as ‘Trees for Preservation’ which will enhance the character and appearance of an area; b) To carry out tree survey work during the lifetime of this plan to identify future trees of importance in the county and facilitate their future protection; c) To protect individual or groups of trees within the plan area which are important for environmental, recreational, historical, biodiversity and/or aesthetic reasons or by reason of contribution to sense of place, including groups of trees which correspond with protected habitats, or which support protected species under the Habitats Directive;380
- __________________________________________________________________________________ Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029 15 | Biodiversity, Natural Heritage and Green Infrastructure d) To work with landowners, local communities and other relevant groups to promote the retention and conservation of existing trees and hedgerows and encourage development proposals that enhance the landscape through positive management and additional planting/sensitive replanting of native tree species; e) To protect woodlands and hedgerows from damage and/or degradation and to prevent disruption of the connectivity of woodlands and hedgerows of the county; f) To ensure, where required, applications for development include proposals for planting / leave a suitable ecological buffer zone, between the development works and areas/features of ecological importance; g) Where hedgerows are required to be removed in the interests of traffic safety or where breaches to hedgerows occur due to river drainage/maintenance works and flood repair, to require the applicant/developer to reinstate the hedgerows with a suitable replacement of native species to the satisfaction of the Council; h) To require each green space in new residential developments to have at least one native oak tree, or other naturalised tree species of similar stature and lifespan, integrated into the agreed planting/landscaping scheme; and, i) To require, where possible, that all trees felled as a result of development proposals be replaced at a minimum ratio of 10 new native species per 1 tree felled. Development Plan Objective: Natural Resources and Climate Change CDP 15.20 It is an objective of Clare County Council: a) To develop a strategy to undertake and implement an active native tree planting programme in suitable and appropriate locations in the context of climate adaptation in conjunction with an awareness campaign that informs communities of the benefits of tree planting; b) To ensure that adverse risks from climate change are considered in the assessment of development proposals and measures are employed to appropriately address these risks; and, c) To ensure that any tree planting scheme is subject to appropriate ecological assessments and to ensure that areas selected for tree planting are suitable, will provide381
- __________________________________________________________________________________ Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029 15 | Biodiversity, Natural Heritage and Green Infrastructure enhancement and positive benefits for biodiversity and will not impact on European sites. 15.2.18 Grasslands Grasslands cover much of County Clare including wet grasslands and dry calcareous grasslands. Orchid rich dry calcareous grasslands are an internationally important habitat, supporting a high diversity of plants and animals, including insects. Wet grasslands support many plant and animal species and are also very important for many bird species. Development Plan Objective: Grasslands CDP 15.21 It is an objective of Clare County Council: To complete the habitat mapping of the county (in accordance with A Guide to Habitats in Ireland, The Heritage Council) in order to identify and record the different grasslands of the county at a detailed level and to use the collected data to ensure that the necessary protection is afforded to areas of importance. 15.2.19 Wetlands Wetlands include a wide range of habitats including watercourses, marshes, fens, bogs, turloughs, wet woodlands and estuaries. They support a variety of habitats and species, assist in the protection of water quality and flood control, contribute to climate resilience by functioning as carbon sinks, and provide open space and recreational opportunities. The County Clare Wetlands Survey (2008) identified 34 different wetland types in the county, covering an area of over 23,000 hectares. These wetlands are a significant resource for the county and the Council will work to manage, enhance and protect these wetlands throughout the lifetime of this plan. National planning legislation requires that work or development involving the drainage or reclamation of a wetland greater than 0.1 hectares requires planning permission. For drainage or reclamation of wetlands greater than 2 hectares an Environmental Assessment is required. Development Plan Objective: Wetlands CDP 15.22 It is an objective of the Development Plan: To manage, enhance and protect the wetlands in County Clare having regard to the County Clare Wetlands Survey 2008, the map of Irish Wetlands (www.wetlandsurveyireland.com); the Irish Wetland Types – An Identification Guide and Field Survey Manual (EPA 2018); the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended; and Drainage and Reclamation of Wetlands –382
- __________________________________________________________________________________ Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029 15 | Biodiversity, Natural Heritage and Green Infrastructure Draft Guidelines for Planning Authorities 2011, and any subsequent guidance documents. 15.2.20 The Burren The Burren is renowned for its unusual and diverse flora and for its rich archaeological and historical heritage. It is one of the most distinctive landscape regions in Ireland and its features include limestone pavements and terraced hills, and a dense network of caves, turloughs and disappearing streams. Its varied coastline which extends southwards to the Cliffs of Moher is one of the most dramatic coastlines in Ireland. The Burren contains the remnants of over 6,000 years of human habitation and has been described as ‘one vast memorial to bygone cultures’. Today, it is home to villages, farmsteads and single rural houses and its culture is a vibrant mix of recent and ancient. The Burren has been described as ‘an archaeological landscape fossilised in time’ and is considered one of the best preserved agricultural landscapes in Europe. The region contains architectural remnants and settlement patterns from all of the significant archaeological periods in Western Europe and presents a tangible record of continuity between each period. 15.2.20.1 The Burren National Park The Burren National Park, which was established in 1981, is located in the south-eastern corner of the Burren. It is managed as a Category II Protected Area, as defined by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and it has the same international status as sites such as Yellowstone, Yosemite and the Great Barrier Reef national parks. The area of the park is currently 2,091 hectares but the ultimate goal is to expand the park to over 7,000 hectares. Development Plan Objective: The Burren National Park CDP 15.23 It is an objective of Clare County Council: a) To work with the National Parks and Wildlife Service and other key stakeholders to develop a plan for Corofin to realise the potential of the village as a gateway to the Burren. The plan shall take into account the objectives within the Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029 and shall consider the conservation objectives of all relevant European sites, ensuring compliance with appropriate environmental assessments; and, b) To protect the amenity of the Burren National Park, to encourage the expansion and development of the national park as a world-class area for conservation and visitors and to support sustainable visitor management at the park.383
- __________________________________________________________________________________ Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029 15 | Biodiversity, Natural Heritage and Green Infrastructure 15.2.20.2 Limestone Habitats The limestone landscape of the Burren and its associated orchid-rich grasslands are of international importance and are exclusive to County Clare and parts of South Galway. Issues for the protection of limestone pavements and associated plant and animal species include scrub encroachment, land reclamation for agriculture, new developments and the abandonment of land. In addition, water pollution and the alteration of hydrology in limestone areas can affect plant and animal species and their associated wetlands, turloughs, fens and lakes. Limestone caves provide an important habitat for bat species and some plant species and there is almost 100 kilometres of accessible cave passages in County Clare, most of which are in the Burren. The Council will continue to work to conserve the rare limestone habitats in the county. Development Plan Objective: Limestone Habitats CDP 15.24 It is an objective of Clare County Council: To encourage, support and promote farming for conservation in the Burren area in order to support the conservation of the limestone habitats in the area and to seek, on an ongoing basis, new funding mechanisms for this work. 15.2.20.3 Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark A Geopark is a unified area with geological heritage of international significance, which is used to promote awareness of key issues facing society in the context of the dynamic planet we all live on. The Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark is a designated UNESCO Global Geopark and forms part of both the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network and the European Geoparks Network. The Geopark supports greater interpretation of the geological landscape, climate change awareness and the achievement of sustainable tourism and land use. It also works towards scientifically sound and sustainable visitor management and monitoring practices at key natural sites and cultural monuments in the Burren. The Burren Ecotourism Network comprises businesses that adhere to the Geopark Code of Practice. This Code of Practice for Sustainable Tourism programme, which enables tourism businesses to monitor and improve their environmental impact, has received numerous awards including the 2018 Chamber Ireland Excellence in Local Government Award for Sustainable Tourism. Heritage trails are also being developed in collaboration with local communities and landowners in the area.384
- __________________________________________________________________________________ Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029 15 | Biodiversity, Natural Heritage and Green Infrastructure Development Plan Objective: Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark CDP 15.25 It is an objective of Clare County Council: a) To continue to work in partnership with all relevant stakeholders to support the on-going work of the Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark and to secure the retention of the ‘Geopark’ status into the future; and, b) To seek, on an ongoing basis, new funding mechanisms for the work of the Geopark including from national and EU sources. 15.2.21 UNESCO World Heritage The protection of the world’s cultural and natural heritage is of high importance for present and future generations, and to this end, the State is committed to the identification, management, protection, conservation, presentation and transmission of its World Heritage Properties in accordance with Article 4 of the World Heritage Convention. A World Heritage Tentative List site is a proposed site that may (or may not) have potential Outstanding Universal Value, and a World Heritage Tentative Property is actually inscribed on the World Heritage List. The ultimate goal is inscription, and the Tentative List is only one step in the journey. Development Plan Objective: World Heritage Status CDP 15.26 It is an objective of Clare County Council: a) To collaborate with landowners, local communities and other relevant stakeholders to identify sites of global significance in County Clare that may be added to Ireland’s World Heritage Tentative List*, and in due course achieve full world Heritage status by being inscribed onto the world Heritage List. b) To protect the attributes that convey the potential Outstanding Universal Value of sites that are included on Ireland’s Tentative List. c) To protect the attributes that convey the Outstanding Universal Value of World Heritage Properties inscribed on the World Heritage List, and d) To engage with other national and international initiatives which promote the special built, natural and cultural heritage of places in the county. *The Tentative List is an inventory of those sites which a country considers having potential Outstanding Universal Value and intends to nominate for inscription onto the World Heritage List.385
- __________________________________________________________________________________ Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029 15 | Biodiversity, Natural Heritage and Green Infrastructure In the event that sites in County Clare are included on Ireland’s Tentative List of inscribed on the Word Heritage list, the following objective will apply when assessing proposals for development within the proposed and designated World Heritage areas/landscapes. Development Plan Objective: Development Proposals in Designated World Heritage Properties CDP 15.27 It is an objective of Clare County Council: a) To ensure that proposals for development in Tentative List Sites and their proposed buffer will be assessed having regard to the contribution of the development to the preservation, conservation, management and enhancement of the special qualities of these areas and their impact on the potential Outstanding Universal Value of the designated site; b) To ensure that proposals for development in World Heritage Properties and their buffer zones will be assessed having regard to the contribution of the development to the preservation, conservation, management, and enhancement of the special qualities of these areas and their impact on the Outstanding Universal Value of the designated property 15.2.22 Dark Sky Reserves Dark sky reserves are areas recognised as possessing an exceptional or distinguished quality of starry nights and nocturnal environment specifically protected for scientific, natural, educational, cultural, heritage or public enjoyment. International Dark Sky Reserves are designated by the International Dark Sky Association and Ireland has dark sky reserve designations in Kerry and Mayo. Dark sky reserves and parks offer rural communities sustainable tourism opportunities during out-of-season periods and are sanctuaries of tranquillity for the public to enjoy the benefits of a natural night sky. There are a number of areas in County Clare that lend themselves to such a designation and the Council will explore the possibility of achieving the designation in locations in the county. Development Plan Objective: Dark Sky Reserve Designations CDP 15.28 It is an objective of Clare County Council: a) To identify areas within the county that possess starry nights and a nocturnal environment of exceptional quality and to explore the potential of establishing a Dark Sky Reserve in the county; and, b) Subject to resources, to replace public lighting systems throughout the county with more energy efficient, money saving, dark-sky compliant lighting.386
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.