Development plan · Donegal County Council
County Donegal Development Plan 2024–2030 (As Varied)
The council's development plan written statement: its strategy, policies, objectives and development standards.
Donegal County Council · 2024–2030 · 783 pages
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- County Donegal Development Plan 2024-2030 (As Varied) 238 Chapter 12 Community Development Policies CC-P-4 Development proposals adjoining existing public educational facilities shall not hinder the planned future expansion of such facilities and any associated ancillary infrastructure. CC-P-5 Require that the layout and design, and any grant of permission, for new public education facilities enables the use of any associated social and sporting facilities (e.g. playing pitches sports halls) for wider community uses. 12.4 Recreational and Sporting Infrastructure The provision of high quality green, active, and recreational infrastructure such as parks, playgrounds, sporting facilities, walking and cycling facilities, and greenways, in sustainable locations are key components in creating healthy, active and socially inclusive communities with a high quality of life and a strong sense of place and identity. The NPF seeks the achievement of Enhanced Amenities and Heritage, highlights the link between the design of our built environment and healthier lives, and the need to design communities in a manner which supports physical activity and prioritises walking and cycling accessibility (NPO 27 refers). The NWRA Regional and Spatial Economic Strategy highlights the need to provide safe walking and cycling infrastructure in urban and rural areas (RPO 6.26 refers). The Healthy Ireland Strategic Action Plan identifies good planning and design practice to support and encourage active travel (walking and cycling) in urban areas as a priority focus area. The Strategy for the Future Development of National and Regional Greenways (2018) highlights the significant health/wellbeing benefits of greenways as recreational amenities and the need for Greenways to be strategic, scenic, sustainable, segregated and offer lots of things to see and do. New public open space needs to be appropriately located, well designed, and maintained to maximise its usability and value to the community. Different types of public open space are also required to fulfil distinct functions ranging from larger urban parks (a distinct destination with high quality open space/landscaping, a diverse range of facilities and functions, accessible by public transport, walking/cycling and cars), neighbourhood parks (to serve individual neighbourhoods with active and passive open space, play equipment and accessible by pedestrians) and pocket parks (small parks with landscaping/seating to serve immediate communities). Moreover such open space should be: designed to meet a range of needs, both, active and passive recreation, promote safety, accessible by pedestrians and/or public transport depending on park type, have a variety of open spaces, and enable shared use of facilities (e.g. sports facilities). In addition, there is a symbiotic opportunity for public spaces to incorporate nature-based water management solutions and protect/enhance biodiversity. Furthermore, community gardens/allotments can play an important role in promoting physical and mental wellbeing, social interaction, climate/environment friendly food production, education, and biodiversity. Currently Donegal has a significant network of recreational and sporting infrastructure including dedicated community leisure facilities (e.g. Aura Leisure Centre Letterkenny, the Finn Valley Centre Ballybofey), urban parks/parklands (e.g. Swan Park Buncrana, Letterkenny Town Park, Drumboe Woods), and an extensive network of 51 playgrounds and 4 multi use games areas, 1 skate park and 7 outdoor gyms managed by the Council. The county also boasts a range of dedicated recreational walkways (e.g. Glenveagh National Park, Ards Forest Park, Muckish Railway Walk, Burtonport Old
- County Donegal Development Plan 2024-2030 (As Varied) 239 Chapter 12 Community Development Railway, Dungloe River Walk, Walk, Rougey Cliff Walk) and a variety of other on and off road walking and cycling routes (Slí Cholmcille, Slí Na Finne, and the Donegal Cycle Route) which provide significant recreational amenity. In addition, Donegal has a vibrant and spatially extensive network of organisation-based sports infrastructure (e.g. GAA, Football, Rugby, and Athletic Clubs) which play an integral part in the community and sporting life of the county. Moving forward, the completion of the North West Greenway Network including the Bridgend to Buncrana and Newtowncunningham, Muff to Quigleys Point and Lifford to Castlefinn Greenways will provide strategic recreational assets. The Donegal Outdoor Recreational Strategy aims to put in place a framework for the sustainable development and management of outdoor recreation over the next 5 years with a vision to 2040. In addition, the National Cycle network plan which aims to link towns, cities and destinations across Ireland with a safe, connected and inviting cycle network is also currently under preparation. Consequently, this development plan will reserve and protect land for recreation and amenity purposes at sustainable locations, and support and facilitate: the provision of new public amenity and outdoor recreation facilities having regard to the outdoor recreation strategy, the delivery of new greenways in a strategic, systematic and geographically flexible manner (see Transport section), the provision of new/enhanced walking and cycling infrastructure in both urban and rural location, and the expansion of existing and provision of new sporting facilities at sustainable locations. Objective CC-O-2 To provide a network of high-quality green, active and recreational infrastructure at sustainable and socially inclusive locations throughout the county
- County Donegal Development Plan 2024-2030 (As Varied) 240 Chapter 12 Community Development Policies CC-P-6 CC Ensure that the siting, layout, and design of community development proposals facilitate and promote active travel modes (e.g. walking and cycling) and reduce car dependency. CC-P-7 Support and facilitate community-based gardens/allotments at sustainable, accessible, and socially inclusive locations. 12.5 Religious Facilities, Burial Grounds and Crematoria Donegal has an extensive network of existing religious facilities (e.g. churches, chapels, parochial halls) which continue to play a significant role in local communities. Burial grounds/graveyards are also a fundamental part of community infrastructure which have traditionally been provided and managed on a denominational basis. As existing graveyards reach capacity there will be a need to extend them or to provide new burial grounds. It is also recognised that as Donegal’s population diversifies and changes that there is growing demand for; new places of worship for emerging faith communities, multi-denominational/non-religious burial, and crematorium type facilities. Overall accessibility, vehicular access and parking, and integration with adjoining lands uses, and in the case of burial grounds water table and soil depth, will be key considerations for such development proposals. Policies CC-P-1 and CC-P-2 explicitly make provision allowing for the investigation of potential sites across the County at suitable locations and enables respective denominations to seek to identify locations for their own places of worship. 12.6 Healthcare Access to quality health services is a stated National Strategic Outcome of the NPF. Currently Donegal has range of health facilities including Letterkenny University Hospital which is an acute general and maternity Hospital, community hospitals and primary care centres. The Government’s Slaintecare Health Programme places a particular emphasis on developing primary and community health services. In turn it is an objective of the RSES to support the objectives of Slainte Care including the advancement of primary care centres in our urban places (RPO 7.8) and the provision of healthcare facilities to all sections of the community at appropriate locations with good public transport links, parking and accessible facilities (RPO 7.10). Consequently, this plan will support and facilitate the provision of new and the expansion of existing healthcare facilities at sustainable and socially inclusive locations. 12.7 Age and Disabled Friendly Communities ESRI population projections indicate that by 2040 the number of older people aged 65 and over will double to 1.3m (to representing 23% of the population) and the number of people over 85 will quadruple. Furthermore, census figures indicate that many rural and peripheral areas in Donegal have a high age dependency ratio. In terms of disability Census 2016 found that 14% of Donegal’s Population (22,955 persons) had at least one disability (including pain, physical activity, learning
- County Donegal Development Plan 2024-2030 (As Varied) 241 Chapter 12 Community Development difficultly, hearing, mental health, intellectual, visual) and disabled persons in Donegal had significantly lower education attainment, workforce participation, and access to private transport29. In this regard the NPF highlights the need for housing, transport/accessibility, and leisure policies to meet the needs of an ageing population (NPO 39 refers). The NWRA RSES aims to make the region age-friendly, to provide facilities and services for older people at appropriate locations (RPO 7.13 refers) and seeks the designation of specific lands for nursing homes/sheltered housing integrated within communities (RPO 7.14 refers). Furthermore, it is goal of the Donegal Local Economic and Community Plan to develop Donegal as an Age Friendly county. This creation of age and disabled friendly communities and places requires the integration of universal design principles and due consideration for older people into both the spatial planning of communities and the design of homes, the urban environment, commercial and community buildings, the public realm/town centre environments, and public amenity areas etc., to allow everyone to live active, healthy and independent lives ideally within their own homes as part of accessible, inclusive, attractive and safe communities. The publication Age Friendly Principles and Guidelines for the Planning Authority (Age Friendly Ireland 2021) highlight the need to: provide for nursing home/step down facilities/independent living units, facilitate housing for older people, seek universal design for housing to provide age friendly occupancy, age friendly policies in the refurbishment of existing housing stock, increase intergenerational interaction opportunities, ensure healthcare facilities are located close to population centres and public transport, improve public transport for older people, integrate universal design into urban/rural regeneration, and take into account older peoples needs in the design of public/recreational spaces. The Age Friendly Strategy Donegal (DCC) also stresses the need for safe and accessible outdoor spaces/physical environments with adequate seating for older people, the provision of more age friendly public transport services, the need to support independent living in the community, increased participation by older people in community/sports activities, and age friendly health facilities. The National Disability Authority’s Building For Everyone A Universal Design Approach Booklet 9 Planning and Policy recommends: mixed use neighbourhoods, universal designed lifelong adaptable housing, a universally accessible urban environment designed to be pedestrian/vulnerable road user friendly with easily accessible public transport, accessible parking in accordance with NDA standards, accessible locations and design for new economic developments and public buildings, universal design in the public realm, amenity areas and town centre environments. (e.g. seating, wide pavements, level access, tactile paving, control of street furniture, clear signage). Consequently, to create more age and disabled friendly communities this development plan will: require the incorporation of universal design principles in the location siting and design of all development proposals including proposals within the public realm and the urban environment, ensure that new community facilities (e.g. parks, healthcare facilities, sheltered housing, residential care/nursing homes etc) are provided in accessible locations and spatially integrated into local communities (See Policy CC-P-1), facilitate lifetime adaptable housing and improved age friendly housing options (see housing section) and support the improvement of public transport options for older and disabled persons. 29 https://www.disability-federation.ie/publications/disability-profile-donegal/
- County Donegal Development Plan 2024-2030 (As Varied) 242 Chapter 12 Community Development Policies CC-P-8 Ensure that the siting and design of development proposals (including housing, retail, commercial, community, public realm/urban environment and public amenity spaces) comply with best practice in universal design including in particular the guidance set out in Building For Everyone A Universal Design Approach Booklet 9 Planning and Policy (National Disability Authority) including the associated parking standards set out in section 9.4.14 therein and otherwise provides for lifetime adaptability. The application of other best practice documents including United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities, Universal Design, Whole Journey Approach, and the ‘Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets Interim Note will be applied as considered appropriate. CC-P-9 Ensure that the needs of older and disabled persons are integrated into the provision of public transport services and associated physical infrastructure. 12.8 Culture Donegal’s rich, diverse, and unique culture represents one of our strongest assets, it provides a strong sense of identity, affords important quality of life, recreational, tourism, and economic benefits, and is an intrinsic part of the wider Donegal brand. Key elements of Donegal culture include theatre, music, public art, the Irish language, and island culture.
- County Donegal Development Plan 2024-2030 (As Varied) 243 Chapter 12 Community Development The National Cultural Policy Framework Culture 2025 is based on the premise that culture is intrinsic to both individual and communities, seeks to support creative practice and cultural participation and cherish our cultural heritage. It highlights that creative activities can enhance sense of place, improve the attractiveness of both urban and rural areas and that cultural vitality is a key instrument in attracting inward investment and tourism and fostering sustainability. The strategy also emphasises the importance of high-quality cultural infrastructure, the need to protect existing infrastructure and target new investment at projects that align with the National Planning Framework. The document further states the importance of the Irish Language, natural habitats, and landscapes, built and archaeological heritage to our cultural identity and legacy. It is recognised that high quality and sustainably located cultural infrastructure facilities are an essential part of wider of social and community infrastructure and wellbeing. In this regard the Donegal Culture and Creativity Strategy 2018-2022 details a number of Cultural Infrastructure Priorities including: supporting cultural venues funded by the Arts and Culture Capital Scheme (ACCESS), establishing creatives hubs, re-using historic/vacant building for cultural activities and establishing an incentive scheme for the conservation of vernacular buildings (Strategic Priority 5). Furthermore, the provision of a Donegal Town Library, a County Archives Centre and the redevelopment of the County Museum are also considered key ongoing strategic infrastructure priorities. In addition, whilst the County generally boasts a strong network of performing arts spaces (e.g. An Grianan Theatre Letterkenny, the Balor Arts Centre Ballybofey, Amharclann Ghaoth Dobhair, and the Abbey Ballyshannon) it is specifically recognised that Inishowen lacks a performing arts facility. Furthermore, the Council also recognises that urban regeneration, new amenity spaces, and creative placemaking provide significant and symbiotic cultural opportunities in terms of providing public spaces for arts and cultural events, revitalising/reutilising vacant and derelict buildings to create artists workspaces, creative hubs and exhibition space and the provision of both permanent and temporary art in the public realm. It is also acknowledged that the intrinsic cultural and linguistic resource of Donegal’s Gaeltacht and Islands must be protected and enhanced and policies to achieve same are contained within the Gaeltacht and Islands sections of this plan.
- County Donegal Development Plan 2024-2030 (As Varied) 244 Chapter 12 Community Development Consequently, to protect, support and sustainably develop Donegal’s rich culture this development plan will: support and facilitate the delivery of the abovementioned key Cultural Infrastructure Priorities, ensure that cultural facilities are provided at sustainable and socially inclusive locations, support the provision of new performing arts facilities in Inishowen subject to a needs based assessment, ensure that new urban placemaking/regeneration projects provide space for arts and cultural events where practicable, facilitate the refurbishment of vacant and derelict properties for artist workspaces, creative hubs and exhibition spaces, and facilitate both permanent and temporary art in the public realm.
- County Donegal Development Plan 2024-2030 (As Varied) 245 Chapter 12 Community Development
- County Donegal Development Plan 2024-2030 (As Varied) 246 Chapter 12 Community Development Objective CC-O-3: To protect and enhance the vibrancy of Donegal’s cultural resource in a sustainable and socially inclusive manner including providing new arts and cultural infrastructure, new spaces for arts and culture in the public realm, quality public art, and enhanced creative/artistic spaces. Policies CC-P-10 Support and facilitate: a. strategic cultural infrastructural projects including: the Donegal Town Library, the provision of an Archives Centre and the redevelopment of the County Museum, and other projects identified within Cultúr Le Chéile, the Libraries Capital Programme, or the Cultural Capital Scheme; b. the provision of large-scale cultural facilities (e.g. Libraries, Theatres, Museums, Galleries, Large Scale Visitor Centres etc) at sustainable, socially inclusive, and other functionally appropriate locations in accordance with Policy CC-P-1; c. small scale Cultural developments (e.g. artist’s studios, small scale visitor centres etc) throughout the county excluding areas of Especially High Scenic Amenity; d. the provision of a performing arts facility in the Inishowen peninsula subject to a carrying out of an evidence-based needs assessment in consultation with relevant stakeholders. CC-P-11 Ensure that new urban placemaking/regeneration and public realm projects provide space for arts and cultural events and incorporate creative public art where practicable to do so. CC-P-12 Facilitate the reuse/refurbishment of underutilised, vacant, or derelict buildings as artist workspaces, creative hubs and and/or exhibition spaces and other cultural facilities (e.g. libraries). CC-P-13 Seek the protection of stone wall boundaries where they are shown to play a significant heritage role. Where the demolition of such stone walls is unavoidable, the reinstatement of stone walls at revised location/set back within the site using agreed local materials and techniques, will be required.
- County Donegal Development Plan 2024-2030 (As Varied) 247 Chapter 12 Community Development
Source Donegal County Council: County Donegal Development Plan 2024–2030 (As Varied) (2024–2030) · 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.