County Donegal Development Plan 2024–2030 (As Varied)

1. Page 461

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   County Donegal Development Plan 2024-2030 (As Varied) 459 Chapter 19 Ballybofey/Stranorlar Area Plan • Traffic Congestion/Strategic Roads: The completion of the TEN-T PRIPD strategic road project, improved local access between the Glenfinn Road and the N15 and other road improvements are required in order to tackle traffic congestion in the Twin Towns. • Sustainable Mobility: The provision of new and enhanced walking and cycling infrastructure including extending the existing footpath network, providing new pedestrian crossings and cycle lanes and off road pedestrian and cycling connections • Community/Recreational Infrastructure: The protection and enhancement of existing community/recreational assets (e.g. Drumboe Woods), the provision of new green spaces and recreational corridors and the completion of the Donegal Community Stadium. • Flooding: The management of development having regard to the flood risk located along the River Finn corridor and tributaries in accordance with the Flood Risk Management Guidelines. • Economic: The need to strengthen and diversify the economic/employment base of the Twin Town’s including enabling expansion of existing, and the attraction of new, employment generating activities. 19.3 Core Strategy Population and Housing Targets The Core Strategy sets out an overall settlement hierarchy including population and housing targets and associated residential land zonings allocations for settlements (or groups of settlements) within the county. It identifies Ballybofey/Stranorlar as a second-tier ‘County Growth Driver’ which occupies a strategic position in the County, offering both opportunities and services for those living and working locally but also a base for those working elsewhere. It also highlights the benefits that the SEED urban regeneration and the TEN-T PRIPD strategic roads projects will bring to the Twin Towns in terms of both a revitalised town centre and easing traffic congestion. The relevant Core Strategy data for Ballybofey/Stranorlar is detailed in the Core Strategy. In summary, the Core Strategy allocates 681 units or 7.98% of the overall housing target in the county to the Twin Towns. On the basis of a residential density of 35 units per ha this means that there is a gross requirement of 19.46 hectares to fulfil the core strategy housing targets for Ballybofey/Stranorlar. 19.4 Zoning Matrix As indicated in Section 15.2 development proposals in Ballybofey/Stranorlar will be considered in the context of the Zoning Objectives detailed in Table 15.1, the Ballybofey/Stranorlar specific zoning matrix below, the policy framework in this plan and the policy framework in the wider CDP. The Zoning Matrix illustrates a range of land uses together with an indication of their broad acceptability in each of the land use zones. Please note that the broad acceptability of uses on designated Opportunity Sites is set out in specific policies contained in Section 17.8 of this Plan Y= Acceptable in Principle; O=Open for consideration; N= Not acceptable For Masterplan areas please see relevant masterplan policies.

2. Page 462

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   County Donegal Development Plan 2024-2030 (As Varied) 460 Chapter 19 Ballybofey/Stranorlar Area Plan Table 19.1 - Land Use Zoning Matrix for Ballybofey/Stranorlar Land Use Urban Core New Residential (Phase 1) New Residential (Phase 2) Established Development 1 Established Development 2 Opportunity Site Business/Enterprise Community Infrastructure Open Space and Recreation Local Environment 1 Local Environment 2 Amusement Arcade/Casinos O1 N N N N N N N N N N Agricultural Buildings N N O2 N O21 N N N N Y O22 Car Park (Standalone) O3 N N N O21 N N N O4 N O22 Betting Office O5 N N N N N N N N N N Café Y N N O O21 N N N N N O22 Caravan Parks N N N N O21 N N N N N O22 Cemetery N N N N O21 N N O N N O22 Cinema Y N N N O21 N N N N N O22 Community/Recreational /Sports O O O O O21 O N O O6 N O22 Creche/Playschool Y O N O O21 O N O N N O22 Cultural Uses/Library Y N N O O21 N N N N N O22 Dancehall/Disco Y7 N N N O21 N N N N N O22 Data Centre N N N N O21 O Y N N N O22 Funeral Home Y N N O O21 O N O N N O22 Garage/Car Repair O N N O8 O21 O Y N N N O22 Guesthouse / Hotel / Hostel Y N N O O21 N N N N O9 O22 Hot Food Takeaway O10 N N N N N N N N N N Industry (light) N N N O O21 O11 Y N N N O22 Industry (General) N N N N O21 O11 Y N N N O22 Medical/Consultancy/Healthcare Y N N N O21 N N Y N N O22 Motor Sales N N N O O21 O12 N N N N O22 Nursing Home Y N N O O21 O N Y N N O22 Offices Y N N O13 O21 O13 O13 N N N O22 Park/Playground Y O O O O21 N N Y Y O O22 Petrol Station O N N O O21 N N N N N O22 Place of Worship Y N N O O21 N N Y N N O22 Playing Fields N O O O O21 N N Y N N O22 Pub Y N N O O21 N N N N N O22 Restaurant Y N N O O21 N N N N N O22 Residential Y Y Y O O21 O14 N N N O15 O22 Retail Y N N O16 O21 O17 N N N O18 O22 School/Education Y N N O O21 O N Y N N O22 Solar Energy Generation (other than exempted dev. or microgeneration19) O N N O O21 O O N N O20 O22 Tourist Related Facilities Y N N O O21 N N N N N O22 Warehouse/Store/Depot O N N O O21 Y Y N N N O22 Water/Wastewater Services O O O O O O O O O O O

3. Page 463

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   County Donegal Development Plan 2024-2030 (As Varied) 461 Chapter 19 Ballybofey/Stranorlar Area Plan Footnotes to accompany land-use zoning matrix 1 Refer to Policy TC-G-P-4. 2 Proposals for agricultural buildings within lands zoned as New Residential (Phase 2) must be designed and located so as not to compromise the future residential development potential of said lands. 3 Standalone car parks will only be considered in the urban core where they are not contrary to Urban Regeneration and Town Centre objectives of the LAP. 4 Standalone car parks will only be considered in areas zone Open Space and Recreation where they would serve as ancillary infrastructure for recreational amenity. 5 Betting offices will be open to consideration on lands zoned Urban Core in accordance with Policy TC-G-P-4 6 Prospective applicants are advised to have due regard to the flood risk management policies of the wider development plan. 7 Dancehalls/discos will not be permitted where it is considered that they may have a detrimental impact on the established character or residential amenities of an area. 8 Garages/car repair will not be permitted where it is considered that they may have a detrimental impact on the established character or residential amenities of an area. 9 Guest houses of a limited scale may be considered on existing developed sites within lands zoned Local Environment 1 provided they are compatible with the Local Environment 1 zoning objective. 10 Hot food takeaways will be open to consideration on lands zoned Urban Core in accordance with Policy TC-G-P-4. 11 Motor sales are considered bulky retail and therefore shall be considered on Opp Sites 1 and 2 (See Policies BS-OPP-P-1 and 2). 12 Excluding Opp. Site 3 refer to policy BS-OPP-P-3. 13 Developers are advised to note that professional services which provide services principally to visiting members of the public will be directed to the defined urban core in accordance with Objective GEN-ED-1 14 Excluding Opp. Site 3 refer to policy BS-OPP-P-3. 15 Only proposals for single dwellings will be considered on lands zoned Local Environment 1 in accordance with GEN-H-P-2 16 Proposals for retail development in areas zoned Established Development 1 shall be assessed in accordance with the provisions of the Retail Strategy as set out in the wider County Development Plan. 17 Bulky retail shall be considered on Opp Sites 1 and 2 (See Policies BS-OPP-1 and 2). Otherwise retail developments shall be assessed in accordance with the provisions of the Retail Strategy as set out in the wider County Development Plan. 18 Proposals for retail development on lands zoned as Local Environment 1 shall only be considered where they comprise proposals for a farm shop selling goods that are produced on the subject landholding. Other types of retail shall not be permitted at these locations. 19 Proposals for microgeneration shall be dealt with on a case-by-basis having regard to all relevant policy provisions of this Plan, the CDP and other statutory guidance. 20 Proposals for solar energy generation on lands zoned Local Environment 1 may be considered where, inter alia, it can be definitively demonstrated that such proposals would have no significant negative impact on the landscape setting or the biodiversity quality of the area. 21 Only proposals for minor developments such as small extensions to houses and most changes of use to existing buildings and/or extensions and additions to existing commercial and industrial enterprises shall be considered within land use zoning ‘Established Development 2’ in accordance with Policy Gen-F-P1. 22 Only proposals for minor agricultural, residential and commercial buildings such as small extensions to existing buildings will be considered in ‘Local Environment 2’ in accordance with Policy Gen-F-P-2.

4. Page 464

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   County Donegal Development Plan 2024-2030 (As Varied) 462 Chapter 19 Ballybofey/Stranorlar Area Plan 19.5 Housing Background and Core Strategy Requirements. There has been a severe shortage of new housing completions in the Ballybofey/Stranorlar area over the last decade, particularly on zoned residential lands43. There is also a considerable local social housing waiting list. The CDP Core Strategy has set an ambitious gross target of 681 units and an associated ‘gross’ zoned land requirement of 19.46ha for Ballybofey/Stranorlar over the plan period 2024-2030. In line with the Development Plan Guidelines, the Authority has calculated the potential yield from brownfield sites as being of the order of 85 units. As also required in the Guidelines, this estimated brownfield yield must be deducted from the gross greenfield housing target. The nett required housing target is therefore 596 units (681 minus 85) resulting in an adjusted greenfield/nett housing land requirement of 17.02 hectares as set out in the table below. Table 19.2: Summary of Core Strategy Target Allocation for Ballybofey/Stranorlar Adjusted for Brownfield Capacity Gross Housing Target 681 Units Minus potential yield from brownfield sites 85 Units Adjusted/Nett Housing Target 596 Units Housing Land Allocation (Greenfield) @ 35 units per Ha 17.02 Ha Overall, there is a need to facilitate an adequate supply, range and mix of high-quality housing at compact, serviced, sustainable, accessible, and socially inclusive locations in the twin towns. The approach has therefore been to identify new residential land use zonings to achieve this objective. In this regard, these residential zonings exceed the Core Strategy zoning requirement in order both to allow sufficient flexibility to allow residential sites to come forward and to retain pre-existing residential zonings on a phased basis in accordance with the Development Plan Guidelines. The site areas are set out in the table below. In this regard Opp Sites 1, 2, 4 and 5 are zoned for a mixture of uses including housing. 43 There were no housing completions on zoned residential lands during the period 2018-2024.

5. Page 465

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   County Donegal Development Plan 2024-2030 (As Varied) 463 Chapter 19 Ballybofey/Stranorlar Area Plan Table 19.3: Greenfield Residential Zonings And Associated Site Area Site Ref Zoned as ‘New Residential Phase 1’ or ‘Opportunity Site’ (With Residential Potential) Site Area (ha) NR 1.4 New Residential Phase 1 1.466 NR 1.5 New Residential Phase 1 1.095 NR 1.6 New Residential Phase 1 1.335 NR 1.7 New Residential Phase 1 1.114 NR 1.8 New Residential Phase 1 3.402 NR 1.10 New Residential Phase 1 1.503 NR 1.11 New Residential Phase 1 2.131 NR 1.12 New Residential Phase 1 3.402 NR 1.13 New Residential Phase 1 5.279 NR 1.14 New Residential Phase 1 0.113 NR 1.15 New Residential Phase 1 0.763 NR 1.17 New Residential Phase 1 3.32 Subtotal 21.521 Opp Site 1 Opportunity Site (30% Weighting) 5.274 Opp Site 2 Opportunity Site (50% Weighting) 5.425 Opp Site 6 Opportunity Site (50% Weighting) 1.701 Opp Site 7 Opportunity Site (100% Weighting) 0.4516 Subtotal 12.85 Total Greenfield Lands Zoned as ‘New Residential Phase 1’ or ‘Opportunity Sites’ (With Residential Potential’) 34.373 Notes: 1. This table does not include sites NR 1.1, NR 1.2 and NR 1.3, Opp Site 4 and Opp Site 5 as they are brownfield sites. Opp Site 3 does not otherwise facilitate residential development. 2. Relevant site specific policies allow for other uses on Opp Site 1,Opp Site 2 and Opp Site 7 and consequently site weightings of 30% and 50% have been applied to these sites respectively. 3. The total area of Residential Phase 1 zoned lands meets, and is in excess of, the Revised NPF Implementation Housing Growth Requirements Targets, 2025 (including the Additional Provision of up to 50% set out in Policy and Objective 2 of same). Note: Residential related sites NR 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3 and Opportunity Sites 4 and 5 are Brownfield Sites located within the Urban Core/Established Development Zonings and are therefore not included in the above Table 19.3 Greenfield Residential Sites and Associated Site Areas. However, the housing yield from said sites has been accounted for in the potential yield from brownfield sites (85 units) detailed in Table 19.2 above. Please refer to Ballybofey/Stranorlar Area Plan Appendix A for Settlement Capacity Audit/Infrastructural Assessment prepared having regard to the provisions of the National Planning Framework and the Development Plan Guidelines)

6. Page 466

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   County Donegal Development Plan 2024-2030 (As Varied) 464 Chapter 19 Ballybofey/Stranorlar Area Plan In addition to the identification of residential zonings, a range of site-specific housing policies were also formulated in order to: respond to local challenges and opportunities, ensure high quality properly serviced, well connected, residential development, provide important transport link and safeguard environmental amenities (See housing policies below and site-specific policies for Opp. Site 1, 2,4 and 5) detailed in the Economic development chapter) Policies BS-H-P-1 Facilitate residential development proposals which accord with the district level placemaking objectives and principles set out in Section 5.0 of the Ballybofey/Stranorlar Regeneration Strategy and Action Plan within Districts 1,2 and 4 (inclusive) of said publication. BS-H-P-2 a. Ensure that the development of sites Opportunity Site 6, NR 1.11, and NR1.12 provides: (i.) Provides high quality, safe, attractive direct and continuous pedestrian and cycling permeability links to both the N13/Letterkenny Road and the local road leading to Ballybofey/Stranorlar Golf Club and Lough Alaan. (ii.) Incorporates, where feasible the pre-existing field boundaries and watercourses as part of the site boundaries for, or within any development. b. Ensure that any residential development of NR 1.3 provides for: high quality, safe, attractive direct and continuous pedestrian and cycling permeability links between the Glenfinn Road and the Donegal Road and otherwise require, or facilitate the provision of, a vehicular link through the site between said roads if the site is selected as the preferred link between Donegal Road and Glenfinn Road. c. Require that any residential development proposals on residential site NR 1.6 provides for vehicular access solely via any proposed Glenfinn Street to Donegal Road Link Road (on Site NR 1.3) in the event that said link is selected as the preferred link option between Donegal Road and Glenfinn Road. d. Ensure any development of NR 1.7 provides for high quality, safe, attractive, direct and continuous pedestrian and cycling permeability links between the L- 3044-2 local road to the northwest and the L-2864-2 local road to the east. e. Ensure any development of NR1.10 provides for high quality, safe, attractive direct and pedestrian and cycling permeability links between the Glenfinn road and the railway road/the old railway line to the north of same. f. Ensure that any development proposals of NR 1.4 supports the overall place shaping strategy for District 1 of the Ballybofey Regeneration Strategy and Action Plan. including: (i.) The provision of a significant public open/green space including the retention of existing natural heritage features (e.g. mature trees and built heritage features) therein. (ii.) A direct pedestrian/cycling link between the Woodlawn and Ard McCool residential estates. g) Require that any development proposal on site New Residential 2.2 is accompanied by a detailed site specific flood risk assessment, does not provide for any residential development within any areas identified as High End Future Scenario Flood Zone A or B and does not otherwise exacerbate flood risk on the site or elsewhere. h) Ensure that any residential development on Site NR1.2 is setback at minimum of 100m from the Ballybofey/Stranorlar Wastewater Treatment Plant. i) Require the provision of safe and continuous pedestrian connectivity (either publicly provided or developer led) between site NR 1.17 and Stranorlar Town Centre prior to the commencement of development on said site.

7. Page 467

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   County Donegal Development Plan 2024-2030 (As Varied) 465 Chapter 19 Ballybofey/Stranorlar Area Plan j) Require the provision of a footpath extension (either publicly provided or developer led) between site NR 1.16 and existing footpath Drumboe Road/L- 2784 prior to the commencement of development on said site. 19.6 Economic Development and Employment Ballybofey/Stranorlar is the 3rd largest urban area (Pop 4,85244) and employment centre (total jobs 1,87845) in Donegal, occupies a strategic location on the N15/N13 Atlantic Economic Corridor and acts the service hub for the Finn Valley. This strategic location and overall regional accessibility will be significantly enhanced with the completion of the TEN-T PRIPD Strategic Roads Project and associated link roads into the Twin Towns. Furthermore, recent upgrades to the Ballybofey/Stranorlar wastewater treatment plant have increased its overall treatment capacity of 9200 population equivalent which provides significant scope for additional economic development. McElhinney’s Department store acts as a destination retail outlet which attracts shoppers, sustains local employment and creates spin-offs for other hospitality and retail outlets. Mulrines is the twin town’s leading manufacturing business and employer producing soft beverages for the retail and foodservice at their Donegal Road facility. The Twin Towns also boasts 3 large hotels, a strong convenience retail offering with both national and local operators, a varied hospitality sector including 3 large hotels, café, restaurants and public houses and a variety of smaller retail outlets and services. Ballybofey/Stranorlar benefits from having a significant quantum of undeveloped serviced land in accessible locations close to the existing N15/Donegal Road, the future TEN-T PRIPD link road and the N15/Lifford Road which can provide appropriate opportunities for a wide range of new business and enterprise opportunities including: bulky retailing, logistics, light engineering/manufacturing, or larger service based employers. Furthermore, the continued importance of IT and financial services sector and the trend toward remote working presents opportunities to attract employers and employees to Ballybofey/Stranorlar as a highly liveable urban centre with a quality recreational, education, sporting, cultural, and environmental facilities/amenities. In this regard the SEED project aims to provide a new contemporary and flexible enterprise space to the rear of the Ritz cinema building, and the Regeneration Strategy and Action Plan has highlighted the future opportunity for a business innovation park on the Old Railway Station/existing bus depot site. Nevertheless, the latest Q2 2022 Geodirectory Commercial Building Report highlights that Ballybofey has the highest commercial vacancy rate in Ireland at 30.2% which is an increase of 0.9% from Q2 2022. This high vacancy rate is particularly evident around Glenfinn Street, Navenney Street, and parts of both Stranorlar and Ballybofey Main Streets and detracts from the physical appearance of the town and hinders inward investment. Furthermore, research from the Council’s economic development unit indicates that Ballybofey/Stranorlar’s ratio of total jobs to resident workers (1.227) actually lags behind smaller urban centres such as Donegal Town, and Carndonagh. Overall, there is also a significant need to strengthen and diversify the economic base of the towns by providing opportunities for existing employers to expand and to attract new employment generating activities to the town. Finally, it is considered that the urban core represents the most sustainable location for new professional services (e.g. financial, legal, architects, estate agents, accountancy) in terms of supporting sustainable mobility, town centre vibrancy and tackling commercial vacancy. Consequently, to capitalise on these strengths and opportunities, address the above issues and strengthen and diversity the employment base of the Twin towns this plan will: • Provide a sufficient quantum of serviced and accessibly located lands for a variety of new economic/employment generating/commercial developments (including light engineering/manufacturing, logistics, bulky retailing, or service based enterprises) namely on 44 Census 2016 45 Economic Development Unit, Donegal County Council.

8. Page 468

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   County Donegal Development Plan 2024-2030 (As Varied) 466 Chapter 19 Ballybofey/Stranorlar Area Plan Opportunity Sites 1-2 and on lands zoned Business/Enterprise (See Policies BS-OPP-P-1 to 2 and BS-ED-P-1). • Support and facilitate the provision of a social enterprise space to the rear of the Ritz Cinema building as integral part of the SEED Project (See Objective BS-TC-O-2 above). • Facilitate the future provision of a business innovation park on the Old Railway Station/existing bus depot site in accordance with the District 4 Placemaking Strategy of Ballybofey Regeneration and Action Plan. • Positively facilitate sensitive proposals for the refurbishment and reuse of vacant and derelict buildings for commercial and retail use (See Policy GEN-TC-P-2). • Facilitate professional services within lands zoned Urban Core in accordance with Policy GEN-ED- P-1. Objective BS-ED-O-1 To strengthen and diversify the economic and employment base of Ballybofey/Stranorlar and capitalise on its strategic economic location. Policies BS-ED-P-1 Facilitate business enterprise proposals (including light engineering/manufacturing, logistics/warehousing, service based enterprises) but excluding retail development on lands zoned BE1 which; (Policy BE 1 is the subject of Draft Ministerial Direction to rezone so as not to allow for Business/Enterprise - for more information refer to www.donegaldevplan.ie or consult.donegal.ie) BS-ED-P-2 Facilitate business enterprise proposals (including light engineering/manufacturing, logistics/warehousing, service based enterprises) excluding retail development on lands zoned BE2. • Provide access onto the N15/Donegal Road by means of the access points detailed on the land use zoning map. • Ensure the protection of residential amenity of the adjoining residential areas including the provision of environmental buffers with suitable landscaping/planting between commercial developments and adjoining residential areas. 19.7 Transportation and Sustainable Mobility 19.7.1 Introduction/Key Issues The provision of a safe, sustainable, functional, and convenient transportation system linking key sources to destinations is fundamental to the creation of an economically robust and socially vibrant town with a high quality of life. Currently transport provision in Ballybofey/Stranorlar is predominately road focused and suffers from a number of issues including: • Traffic congestion arising from strategic traffic traversing the town along the N15/N13 axes and high levels of car dependency. • Car dependency and low levels of walking and cycling. • Absence of pedestrian facilities on Drumboe Avenue and the Golf Course Road. • Lack of continuous footpaths in certain areas (e.g. Chapel Lane, Letterkenny Road, Trusk Road).

9. Page 469

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   County Donegal Development Plan 2024-2030 (As Varied) 467 Chapter 19 Ballybofey/Stranorlar Area Plan • Inadequate pedestrian crossing facilities at key junctions (e.g. N15/Town View Heights, N15/Glenfinn Road, N15/Chestnut Road and on the Lifford Road east of Millbrae). • A general lack of dedicated cycle lanes and bike parking. • Lack of intra urban public transport services. • Poor connectivity between the Glenfinn Road and Donegal Road and between Back Lane and Ballybofey Main Street. • Traffic bottlenecks/congestion at the N15/Glenfinn Road, N15/Chestnut road, N15/Drumboe Avenue, McClays Corner and Millbrae particularly at peak/school run times. • Traffic congestion associated with events at the Mart, and the Finn Valley Centre. • Lack of car parking in proximity to the north of Ballybofey Main Street. • Lack of bus parking/drop off facilities in general. • Lack of pedestrian facilities on Golf Course Road. • Traffic congestion/inadequate pedestrian cycling facilities and poor permeability within Navenny Road/Trusk Road Area. 19.7.2 TEN-T Priority Route Improvement Project, Donegal (TEN-T PRIPD) Section 1 of the TEN-T PRIPD strategic roads project will provide a new alignment of the N15/N13 to the NW and NE of the urban area and a link road into Ballybofey/Stranorlar. In doing so it will bring significant benefits including improved strategic and regional connectivity, road safety, removal of strategic traffic/easing of traffic congestion, enhanced opportunities for walking cycling and public transport, a more attractive urban environment and improved quality of life. Consequently, the wider development plan and this town Plan provides the necessary planning policy and spatial framework to support and deliver this vital project including the reservation of the necessary lands. 19.7.3 Sustainable Mobility Traditionally, transportation planning has focused on road based solutions to transportation issues (e.g. additional traffic lanes, right turning lanes, relief roads etc). However, government policy and best planning practice now proactively supports sustainable mobility and active travel modes (e.g. walking, cycling and public transport) as core transportation solutions. In this regard the NPF identifies sustainable mobility as a National Strategic Outcome and the RSES aims to improve active travel infrastructure, prioritise walking cycling and permeability in town and villages and maximise population in proximity to neighbourhood/district centres and public transport nodes. Smarter Travel: A Sustainable Transport Future A New Transport Policy for Ireland 2009-2020 emphasises the need to reduce overall travel demand through compact development and supporting walking cycling and public transport. In addition, it is generally acknowledged that to be successful active travel infrastructure must be safe, direct/convenient, legible and attractive and where possible segregated. It is also recognised that a modal shift to sustainable/active travel modes can also bring about tangible environmental (e.g. less noise and traffic pollution), health, social and recreational benefits. The new River Finn pedestrian bridge and the associated riverside walks demonstrate the potential of such active travel infrastructure. There are also significant new opportunities to sustainably connect sources and destinations (e.g. residential communities with areas of employment, education, retail, services and community/recreational infrastructure and amenities) through new/enhanced active travel infrastructure including the provision of new/enhanced footpaths, new cycling infrastructure, and off road active travel infrastructure, which are set out in the land use/transportation strategy detailed below. In particular the Ballybofey/Stranorlar Regeneration Strategy and Action Plan sets out a masterplan for the creation of interconnected green arteries including: along the old Donegal Town to Ballybofey railway line, part of the Ballybofey/Stranorlar Railway line, along the river corridor and through the Drumboe woods to Finn Valley College and a new pedestrian bridge over the River Finn to Drumboe Woods, which would significantly aid active travel. The 2012 Ballybofey and Stranorlar Walking and Cycling Strategy for the twin towns also highlighted the need to: provide a high quality walking and cycling network linking residents and destinations, improve pedestrian/cycling safety, and encourage more people to walk and cycle.

10. Page 470

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    County Donegal Development Plan 2024-2030 (As Varied) 468 Chapter 19 Ballybofey/Stranorlar Area Plan Furthermore, the Council has appointed consultants to examine the most appropriate option for a new link between the Glenfinn Road and the Donegal Road to enable pedestrian improvements on Glenfinn Street, improve local access between these roads and remove the existing traffic bottleneck at the Glenfinn Street/Donegal Road junction. In the interim the plan will continue to reserve the route of the approved Mulrines Link Project as a means of achieving such a link. The Council is also currently examining options to improve pedestrian and cycling infrastructure and traffic flow in the Navenny Road/Trusk road area which will improve overall permeability in this area. The necessary planning process have been completed for projects to provide a new footpath, pedestrian crossing and parking arrangements on Millbrae and a new pedestrian bridge and associated connecting footpaths over the Burn Daurnett on Trusk Road. It is also important that new residential areas provide direct/convenient, legible and attractive connections to adjoining existing and proposed developments and local services and amenities. In this regard future connections have been identified in the transport/sustainable mobility strategy, and on the accompanying land use zoning map for the LAP. In addition, it is acknowledged that the provision of both electric vehicle charging points for visitors at publicly accessible locations are essential for sustainable private transport and will therefore be supported by the plan. Notwithstanding the consultation and research undertaken to identify the transport priorities for this Plan the preparation of a more detailed Local Transport Plan for Ballybofey/Stranorlar would provide an additional important evidence based tool to inter alia: understand current travel patterns and services, provide a detailed analysis of key issues and opportunities, establish key transport objectives, identify and assess transport options, and formulate active travel, public transport and roads based strategies interventions to deliver these objectives. It is therefore an objective of this plan to prepare such a plan. Parking and Other Transport Issues It is increasingly recognised that the traditional development management approach to new parking provision related to development size/type has often lead to a low density/car dominated development pattern which is detrimental to the creation of compact/consolidated, pedestrian friendly and attractive town centre. It also noted that both Ballybofey and Stranorlar town centres currently benefit from spare capacity in existing publicly accessible car parks and that the centres are generally within walking and cycling distances of existing residential areas. Consequently, this informs a general approach of only considering parking proposal in areas zoned urban core in exceptional circumstances including secure and attractive parking for residential developments in accordance with the Urban Design Manual, and parking for commercial developments where such parking cannot otherwise be catered for by existing spare capacity in adjacent on-street or publicly accessible parking spaces and otherwise accords with the town centre objectives of the plan. Otherwise, outside of the urban core parking will be required for new developments in accordance with Policy T-P-13 of the wider development plan including disabled and cycle parking provision. Finally, as Ballybofey/Stranorlar has a significant quantum of undeveloped back lands in sustainable location the key access points into these lands have been reserved as part of plan (See land use zoning map) to ensure their future developability. Transport/Sustainable Mobility Strategy for Ballybofey/Stranorlar: The above context informs the following overall land use/transportation strategy for Ballybofey/Stranorlar in the following table and associated map:

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.