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
Ask this document
Answers come only from the text of Clare County Development Plan 2023–2029 (as varied), each claim linked to its page. They are not advice; check the page itself.
Free, with a daily limit.
- __________________________________________________________________________________ Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029 4 | Urban and Rural Settlement Strategy Chapter 4 Urban and Rural Settlement Strategy Goal III: A county with strong and balanced urban and rural areas providing key services and a good quality of life and where people with social or economic requirements to live in the countryside are accommodated. Chapter 4 Table of Contents: 4.0 Introduction 4.1 Development Plan Aims 4.2 Settlement Strategy 4.2.1 Introduction 4.2.2 Compact Growth 4.2.3 Settlement Hierarchy and Strategy 4.2.4 Linked Settlements & Settlement Networks 4.2.5 Managing the Growth of Settlements 4.2.6 Single Houses in the Countryside 4.2.7 Site Suitability 4.3 Implementation and Monitoring of Settlement Policy77
- __________________________________________________________________________________ Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029 4 | Urban and Rural Settlement Strategy 4.0 Introduction The Settlement Strategy for County Clare seeks to ensure a good quality of life for those who live and/or work in the county through the achievement of a network of vibrant settlements, strong rural areas which sustain and increase population levels, and job/service provision. The Strategy guides where, when, and how new development should take place in a manner, scale and form that is appropriate, having regard to national policy, the settlement hierarchy, the housing supply targets and target populations (outlined in Chapter 3), and the local characteristics and physical constraints of individual areas within the county. This chapter sets out Clare County Council’s approach to distributing the housing supply and population targets in a balanced manner and in line with the requirements of the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy for the Southern Region. A synopsis of the planning and development strategies for rural areas and each of the settlement types in the county is also set out. This chapter builds on the objectives set out in the Core Strategy of Chapter 3. 4.1 Development Plan Aims The development objectives necessary to sustain a healthy network of towns and villages in a range of urban and rural locations throughout the county are set out in this chapter. In accordance with the overall vision of the plan, it is based on the following strategic aims: • To provide an Urban and Rural Settlement Strategy to manage population and housing unit growth/targets and to achieve balanced development within the county; • To promote an appropriate balance of development across the county by developing a hierarchy of high quality and vibrant settlements and the sustainable growth of these settlements proportionate to their scale and appropriate to their function and location within the county; • To ensure that Ennis ‘Key Town‘ and Shannon ‘Metropolitan Town’ are drivers of growth and development in both County Clare and the Southern Region; and, • To ensure that the specific needs of rural communities are identified and that the objectives of the development plan seek to sustain and renew established rural communities. 4.2 Settlement Strategy 4.2.1 Introduction The Settlement Strategy aims to ensure that future development is directed in a balanced, sustainable and plan-led manner across the county. It recognises the roles of the countryside and of each of the designated towns, villages and clusters in Clare in achieving a balanced settlement strategy for the county. The settlement statements and plans contained in Volume 3 of this plan set out detailed policies, objectives and land use zonings for every settlement in accordance with their78
- __________________________________________________________________________________ Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029 4 | Urban and Rural Settlement Strategy position and role in the county’s Settlement Hierarchy. The position of a settlement within the Settlement Hierarchy provides an indication of the potential scale of population and housing unit growth permissible over the lifetime of the plan and therefore plays a key role in the appropriate delivery of the population and housing unit targets outlined in Chapter 3. The Settlement Strategy aims are linked with and support relevant policies and objectives elsewhere in the plan to ensure that in addition to being centres of population the settlements also deliver on their roles as employment and service centres. 4.2.2 Compact Growth The National Planning Framework’s National Strategic Outcome of Compact Growth is fundamental for achieving the sustainable growth of our urban settlements. Clare County Council acknowledges the social and economic benefits of more compact settlements and is committed to delivering compact growth, through active land management and initiatives to revitalise urban settlements. The policies and objectives in this plan promote the efficient use of urban lands to achieve compact growth, through the intensification, consolidation and positive revitalisation of our towns and villages throughout the county. The compact growth concept requires the provision of higher densities and mixed-use developments in urban settlements, to ensure a more efficient use of scarce lands and to optimise public investment in infrastructure. This requires the integration of land use and transport, an intensification of use of existing underutilised lands and the consolidation of the built environment through the development of brownfield and infill lands, as well as the reuse of vacant and derelict buildings in urban settlements. In conjunction with the provision of social and green infrastructure, the principles of compact growth set the foundations for a higher quality of life, through the promotion of mixed-use settlements, served by sustainable modes of transport and the creation of an attractive environment in which to live, work and do business. Successful compact growth requires enhanced connectivity and accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists, as well as the provision of viable public transport services through the concentration of higher density developments at strategic employment locations and along public transport nodes. There are many sustainability benefits of the compact growth concept compared to that of urban sprawl or greenfield developments at the edge of settlements. Such benefits include maximising the viability and cost efficiency of providing public transport and other infrastructure, as well as reduced car dependency and commuting times, which will facilitate the mitigation of climate change through a reduction in traffic congestion, energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. In accordance with the National Strategic Outcome of Compact Growth, the National Planning Framework requires 50% of all new housing in Limerick City suburbs (in Clare) be within the existing City and Suburbs built-up footprint, through the development of brownfield and infill sites and revitalisation. Across the rest of the county, 30% of all new homes are to be provided within the existing built-up footprints of settlements.79
- __________________________________________________________________________________ Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029 4 | Urban and Rural Settlement Strategy The Local Authority acknowledges the social and economic benefits of more compact settlements as outlined above. Therefore, this plan will continue to support the sequential approach to the delivery of development, with priority given to the revitalisation of settlements and the consolidation of the existing built environment, through the development of brownfield, infill and backland urban sites. 4.2.3 Settlement Hierarchy and Strategy Ennis Ennis, with a population of 27,923 (Census 2022) people is the largest settlement in County Clare, is the largest town in Munster, and is the fifth largest settlement in the Southern Region. The population of Ennis grew by 10.5% between 2016 and 2022. It is designated as a ‘Key Town’ in the RSES, and as both the County Town for Clare and a University Town it is an important residential, educational, service and commercial centre which provides significant levels of employment. Ennis has a strong community focus, a young and well-educated population, a dynamic business and commercial sector and a tourism sector based on its national and international renown for heritage and cultural excellence. It is recognised in the RSES as a critical element of the Limerick-Shannon-Ennis triangle which is the economic engine of the Mid-West. Ennis is at the top of the Settlement Hierarchy for the county. The RSES identifies Ennis for significant population growth of a greater than 30% increase by 2040. ‘Ennis 2040 An Economic and Spatial Strategy’ is a long-term strategy for the sustainable development of the Key Town and addresses the measures required to manage economic, infrastructural, environmental and physical challenges including transportation, demographic and population change, retail vitality and viability, availability of modern office and employment accommodation, environmental considerations and town centre accessibility. Development Plan Objective: Ennis CDP 4.1 It is an objective of Clare County Council: a) To support Ennis as a self-sustaining, regional economic driver and as a key location for investment choice in the county and the Southern Region, and to support its enhanced development based on its strategic location relative to Limerick and Galway Cities, Shannon International Airport and the Atlantic Economic Corridor as well as its role as a centre of employment and economic activity; b) To support the implementation of Ennis 2040 An Economic and Spatial Strategy to set the long-term economic and spatial strategy for the County Town with an agreed focus on an economic future and spatial pattern to 2040 and beyond; c) To support the implementation of Ennis Local Transport Plan, Volume 3a (iv) of this plan, which aims to reduce car dependence, improve sustainable transport, reduce traffic congestion, promote sustainable growth and meet climate targets;80
- __________________________________________________________________________________ Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029 4 | Urban and Rural Settlement Strategy d) To actively work to strengthen cross sectoral collaboration with neighbouring towns and cities, strengthening physical, social and economic links with Limerick and Galway in particular; e) To seek investment and to support the delivery of holistic infrastructure that will facilitate and accommodate sustainable growth in Ennis, subject to the outcome of the planning process and environmental assessments; f) To develop Ennis into a centre for lifelong learning and to support the further development of higher education facilities in the town; g) To support initiatives which seek to strengthen and develop niche retail and mixed-use services in Ennis town centre; h) To support and promote placemaking in Ennis which would include public realm regeneration and urban renewal initiatives which incorporate SuDs and public private partnership approaches for town centre regeneration; i) To seek the sustainable development of tourism facilities that enhance diverse tourism roles for Ennis and to seek investment in services to cater for increased visitor numbers; j) To integrate land use and transport planning such that new employment and residential development should be consolidated in a manner which renders it serviceable by public transport and accessible, at the local level, by walking, cycling and public transport; k) To promote and encourage sustainable transport, and in particular to make it convenient and attractive to walk, cycle or use public transport. l) To support climate adaptation initiatives within Ennis town and surrounding areas to deliver on the objective of Ennis becoming Ireland’s first Climate Adaptive Town; m) To monitor the cumulative effect of grants of planning permission on available wastewater capacity where connection to a public wastewater treatment plant is included as part of a development proposal; n) To support Ennis in realising its full potential in grey, green, and blue infrastructure; o) To promote appropriate measures from the ‘Biodiversity for Low and Zero Carbon Buildings; A Technical Guide for New Builds’ to all regeneration and urban renewal projects; p) To support the Purple Flag accreditation, and any subsequent initiative for the promotion/development of Ennis as a quality town; and, q) To support increased levels of town centre living and to assess the potential of the development of a modern family-oriented town centre living pilot project during the lifetime of the plan.81
- __________________________________________________________________________________ Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029 4 | Urban and Rural Settlement Strategy Limerick-Shannon Metropolitan Area (LSMA) The Limerick-Shannon Metropolitan Area includes Limerick City Centre at the core and the continuous built-up area of Limerick City and Suburbs (as defined by the Central Statistics Office). Shannon in County Clare is the largest metropolitan town with a population of 10,256 in 2022. The Limerick-Shannon Metropolitan Area Strategic Plan (MASP) area which is almost evenly split between Limerick and Clare (with 49% located in Co. Clare), includes the following settlements in County Clare: • Ardnacrusha • Athlunkard • Ballycannon North • Bunratty • Clonlara • Cratloe • O’Briensbridge • Parteen • Sixmilebridge • Shannon The overall population of the MASP as of the 2016 census was 132,420 with 27,468 in County Clare and the remainder in Limerick City and suburbs. The Regional Policy Objectives as set out in the RSES have informed the objectives of the development plan for the MASP areas and the future development of the MASP area is a cross-cutting theme of the Development plan. Development Strategy The policies of this development plan support the delivery of key growth for the Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area in the NPF, RSES and MASP, having regard to the constraints in place, particularly in the Limerick suburbs area of Clare, in relation to wastewater and road infrastructure. To achieve appropriate growth in the Clare LSMA area, the Core Strategy revised by Variation No.1 to this plan in 2026 (on foot of the ‘NPF Implementation: Housing Growth Requirements’ of July 2025) identifies a growth target of 1,318 housing units for the remainder of the plan period. The Limerick Suburbs area is currently constrained by a lack of wastewater treatment in Ardnacrusha, the lack of commitment on the LNDR and severe traffic congestion in Athlunkard, and also by the need to maintain the identity of Parteen as a separate settlement from Athlunkard. The housing allocation to the Limerick suburbs is deemed the maximum possible allocation, given the constraints in place for this plan period. The population and housing allocation will be reviewed in future plan cycles.82
- __________________________________________________________________________________ Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029 4 | Urban and Rural Settlement Strategy The emphasis for the development of the Limerick-Shannon Metropolitan Area is on compact growth, which requires the provision of higher densities and mixed-use developments in urban settlements, in order to ensure a sufficient use of zoned lands and to optimise public investment in infrastructure. This requires the integration of land use and transportation planning, the intensification of use of existing underutilised land and the consolidation of the built environment through the development of brownfield and infill lands, as well as the reuse of vacant and derelict properties. To support the economic growth of the Metropolitan Area, Clare County Council, in partnership with University of Limerick, are currently seeking designation of the University of Limerick – Clare Campus lands as a Strategic Development Zone (SDZ). The scale of the site at 110 hectares and its integrity as an entity dictates that the site is best master-planned and developed in a plan-led manner as an SDZ. In addition, Shannon is an established centre of both foreign direct investment and indigenous enterprise. The Shannon Free Zone, Smithstown and Westpark Business Campus accommodate companies that make a significant contribution to the local and national economy each year. Further details and policy support for these locations, as employment generators, and as locations critical to the realisation of the vision of the MASP, can be found in Chapter 6 Economic Development and Enterprise. The Joint Retail Strategy for the Metropolitan Area creates the appropriate conditions necessary to foster a healthy and vibrant retail environment, enhancing the vitality of urban areas and effectively managing and supporting change. The Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy (LSMATS) is a cross-county Metropolitan scale document, which sets out the policies and objectives of the National Transport Authority, Limerick City and County Council, Clare County Council and Transport Infrastructure Ireland, at a level appropriate to that scale. The function of the LSMATS is to provide a long-term strategic planning framework for the integrated development of transport infrastructure and services for the Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area (LSMA). LSMATS will enhance active and public modes of transport and provide opportunities to improve health and wellbeing, reducing carbon emissions and traffic congestion.83
- __________________________________________________________________________________ Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029 4 | Urban and Rural Settlement Strategy Figure 4.1 Limerick-Shannon Metropolitan Area Figure 4.2 Limerick-Shannon Metropolitan Area in County Clare84
- __________________________________________________________________________________ Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029 4 | Urban and Rural Settlement Strategy Development Plan Objective: Limerick-Shannon Metropolitan Area CDP 4.2 It is an objective of Clare County Council: a) To strengthen the role of the Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area as an international location of scale, a complement to Dublin and a primary driver of sustainable economic and population growth in the Southern Region; b) To promote and to seek investment to sustainably develop the Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area as a cohesive metropolitan area with: i) Compact and sustainable growth and regeneration of Shannon; ii) Active land management initiatives to deliver housing and employment locations in a sustainable, infrastructure-led manner. c) To seek co-ordinated investment and delivery of holistic infrastructure packages across State Departments and infrastructure delivery agencies as they apply to the Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area and seek further investments to deliver on the Metropolitan Area Goals set out in the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy for the Southern Region and the National Development Plan; d) To protect, manage and improve the coherence of the Natura 2000 Network through enhanced ecological connectivity; e) To support the sustainable delivery of the Strategic Investment Priorities identified by the National Development Plan for the Limerick-Shannon Metropolitan Area and progress co-ordination between the principal stakeholders for delivery to achieve the vision and objectives identified in the MASP; (f) To cooperate with the NTA, TII and Limerick City and County Council in the delivery of the LSMATS; g) To promote the sustainable implementation of innovative, collaborative projects through the Urban Regeneration and Development, Rural Regeneration and Development, Climate Action and Disruptive Technologies funds for the Limerick-Shannon Metropolitan Area; h) To ensure the investment in and the delivery of the Sustainable Place Framework delivering quality of place attributes as an incentive to attract people to live, work and visit; i) To carry out a site selection process which considers all environmental issues and which identifies suitable sites for regeneration and development; j) To sustainably manage future development within the Limerick- Shannon Metropolitan Area, taking account of its environmental, ecological, heritage and landscape values with a particular focus on building a climate resilient growth area.85
- __________________________________________________________________________________ Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029 4 | Urban and Rural Settlement Strategy Development Plan Objective: Compact Growth in the Limerick-Shannon Metropolitan Area CDP 4.3 It is an objective of Clare County Council: To achieve compact growth in the Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area through: a) Supporting the creation and role of an Active Land Management Unit, with a remit to focus on the Metropolitan Area and compact growth targets; b) Working with the Land Development Agency to progress housing and employment delivery in existing centres, and focusing on coordinating and developing large, strategically located publicly owned land banks, to reduce vacancy and to regenerate key sites; c) Supporting initiatives that facilitate the regeneration of derelict buildings and vacant sites for the provision of high-quality, environmentally friendly Near Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB) affordable housing; d) The implementation of strategic land reserve initiatives; e) The preparation of design briefs for strategic sites; f) Seeking design competitions for key strategic sites that deliver greater density, mixed uses where appropriate, sustainable design, smart technology, green infrastructure and public gain through good design; g) Implementing active land management within areas designated as site specific regeneration areas under the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015 and other locations in need of renewal, including the use of site briefs and masterplans for a design-led approach to renewal; h) The identification of public realm and site regeneration initiatives which combine, on an area-wide basis, opportunities for regeneration of privately-owned underutilised sites, publiclyowned underutilised sites, private and public buildings and upgrade of parks, streetscapes and public realm areas; i) The creation of continually updated databases identifying brownfield, infill sites, regeneration areas and infrastructure packages to enable progress towards achieving compact growth targets; and, j) Through active land management initiatives, identifying strategic locations for residential growth, responding to the growth targets and achievement of compact growth and employment growth. Shannon Shannon Town was developed from the 1960’s onwards, in response to the growth and development of Shannon International Airport and the Shannon Free Zone Industrial Estate. With a population of 10,256 people in 2022, Shannon has developed as a world leader in86
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.