Galway City Development Plan 2023–2029

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   Comhairle Cathrach na Gaillimhe Plean Forbartha Cathrach 2023-2029 Galway City Council City Development Plan 2023-2029 Amended 7th September 2026

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   Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029 Foreword The City Development Plan 2023-2029 is centred on a vision for Galway City to be a successful, sustainable, competitive city of scale that creates prosperity and opportunity, supports a high quality of life, facilitates all forms of social inclusion, maintains its distinctive identity and supports a rich cultural experience. A central focus of the Plan is climate action, facilitating a just transition towards climate resilience and carbon neutrality. The Plan is set within the overall national and regional planning contexts, taking into account in particular, the National Planning Framework (NPF), the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES) and the Galway Metropolitan Area Strategic Plan (MASP). The plan is built around a number of strategic goals which represent the strategic priorities of the Council in respect of land use and development. These goals include the promotion of balanced and sustainable economic development to enable the city to fulfil its role as a Regional City providing sufficient employment opportunities, housing and appropriate services, provision of a high quality built and natural environment, provision of a good quality of life for residents and visitors and the availability of sustainable transportation opportunities. In tandem with policies for a competitive and compact city, the plan has a strong policy emphasis on the regeneration of brownfield land with the potential to create new mixed use urban districts and vibrant and attractive places for sustainable city living with a reduced carbon footprint. This Plan has had robust environmental examination, having undergone Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), Appropriate Assessment (AA) and Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA). These processes were undertaken in tandem with the preparation of the Plan and we are confident that the full integration and consideration of environmental issues have been considered throughout each stage of the Development Plan process. The preparation of the Plan also included for a significant level of public engagement, and we wish to acknowledge and thank all the contributors to this process. We would like to express our appreciation in particular to the Elected Members of the Council for their detailed deliberations over the past two years and their final adoption of the Plan. We would also like to thank the staff and in particular the Development Plan and Policy team for their expertise and commitment in producing a Development Plan for the City in which we are both proud and confident. The Elected Members and the Executive of Galway City Council will continue to work collectively to achieve the strategic vision of the Plan to shape this great, attractive and vibrant city of ours as a place where people want to live, work, visit and continue to invest. Galway City Chief Executive Mr. Brendan McGrath Galway City Mayor Councillor Clodagh Higgins

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   2 Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029 Contents Preface 8 Legislative Background 8 Strategic Policy Framework 9 Structure and Format of Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029 11 Local Planning 12 1. Introduction, Strategic Context & Core Strategy 1.1 Introduction 14 1.2 Strategic Vision for Galway City 14 1.3 Strategic Policy Context 16 1.4 Core Strategy Context 20 1.5 Settlement Capacity Audit 29 1.6 Employment Development 36 1.7 Retail Strategy 38 1.8 Supporting Strategic Policy Documentation 39 1.9 Core Strategy Map and Core Strategy Table 41 1.10 Implementation 43 1.11 Masterplans and Framework Plans 43 2. Climate Action 2.1 Context 2.2 Climate Change International and European Context 46 49 2.3 Planning & Sustainability – Achieving Sustainable Planning Outcomes 56 2.4 Integrating Climate Action into the City Development Plan 61 3. Housing and Sustainable Neighbourhoods 3.1 Context 65 3.2 Housing Strategy 66 3.3 Traveller Accommodation 71 3.4 Sustainable Neighbourhood Concept 72 3.5 Sustainable Neighbourhoods: Outer Suburbs 80

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   Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029 3 3.6 Sustainable Neighbourhoods: Established Suburbs 82 3.7 Sustainable Neighbourhoods: Inner Residential Areas 84 3.8 Sustainable Neighbourhoods: City Centre Residential Areas 86 3.9 Specific Objectives 90 4. Sustainable Mobility and Transportation 4.1 Context 92 4.2 Land Use and Transportation 96 4.3 Public Transport 98 4.4 Sustainable Mobility - Walk and Cycle 103 4.5 Transport Demand Management Measures 109 4.6 Road and Street Network 113 4.7 Galway Port 117 4.8 Specific Objectives 118 5. Natural Heritage, Recreation and Amenity 5.1 Context 123 5.2 The Green Network 124 5.3 Protected Spaces 5.4 Control of Invasive Alien Species 5.5 Blue Spaces 129 134 136 5.6 Green Spaces 139 5.7 Community Spaces 140 5.8 Open Spaces 145 5.9 Agricultural Lands 146 5.10 Specific Objectives 147 6. Economy, Enterprise and Retail 6.1 Part 1: Economy and Enterprise Context 152 6.2 Economic Activity 158 6.3 Employment Sectors & Clusters 160 6.4 Part 2: Retail Strategy Context 175 6.5 Retail Hierarchy 178

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   4 Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029 6.6 Retail Warehousing/Bulky Goods 6.7 Need and Location of Future Retail Floorspace 6.8 Retail Impact Assessments 184 184 185 6.9 Design Quality 185 6.10 Night-Time Economy 185 6.11 Climate Action 186 7. Community and Culture 7.1 Context 191 7.2 Creative City 192 7.3 Inclusive City 196 7.4 Bilingual City 199 7.5 Community Facilities 201 7.6 Institutional Lands 7.7 Specific Objectives 206 208 8. Built Heritage, Placemaking and Urban Design 8.1 Context 210 8.2 Record of Protected Structures 210 8.3 Architectural Conservation Area 212 8.4 Vernacular Heritage 215 8.5 Archaeology 216 8.6 Industrial Heritage 218 8.7 Galway City Walls 218 8.8 Architecture, Urban Design and Placemaking Policy 219 8.9 Public Realm 225 8.10 Specific Objectives 228 9. Environment and Infrastructure 9.1 Context 231 9.2 Flood Risk Assessment 232 9.3 Water Quality 234

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   Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029 5 9.4 Water Services 9.5 Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS) 235 238 9.6 Control of Major Accident Hazards (Seveso III Directive) 239 9.7 Air Quality 240 9.8 Noise 240 9.9 Light Pollution 241 9.10 Waste Management 242 9.11 Telecommunications 244 9.12 A Smart City 9.13 Energy and Associated Infrastructure 245 245 10. Compact Growth and Regeneration 10.1 Context 250 10.2 City Centre 251 10.3 Regeneration and Opportunity Sites 253 10.4 City Centre Regeneration 253 10.5 Ceannt Quarter Regeneration Site 254 10.6 Inner Harbour Regeneration Site 256 10.7 Headford Road Regeneration Sites 260 10.8 Sandy Road Regeneration Site 263 10.9 Nun’s Island Masterplan Area 264 10.10 Seamus Quirke Road Regeneration Site 266 10.11 Crown Square Regeneration Site 266 10.12 Corrib Great Southern Regeneration Site 267 10.13 Former Dawn Dairies Opportunity Site 267 10.14 Royal Tara China Opportunity Site 268 10.15 Shantalla Road Opportunity Site 268 10.16 Doughiska Road Opportunity Site 269 10.17 Former Connaught Laundry Opportunity Site 269 10.18 Eyre Square East Regeneration Site 270 10.19 Eastgate Regeneration Site 270

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   6 Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029 10.20 Knocknacarra District Centre (North) Opportunity Site 271 10.21 Knocknacarra District Centre (South) Opportunity Site 272 10.22 City Hall Opportunity Site 274 10.23 Salthill 273 10.24 Westside 274 10.25 Ardaun 277 10.25 Murrough 277 10.26 Doughiska 281 10.27 Castlegar 282 10.29 Specific Objectives 283 11. Land Use Zoning Objectives and Development Standards and Guidelines 11.1 Introduction 286 Part A - Land Use Zoning Policies and Objectives 286 11.2 Land Use Zoning General 286 Part B Development Standards 305 General Development Standards and Guidelines 306 Specific Development Standards 330 Appendices Appendix 1 – Implementation and Monitoring 339 Appendix 2 – Statement of Compliance with Ministerial Guidelines 344 Appendix 3 – List of Protected Structures in the Record of Protected Structures 349 Appendix 4 – Infrastructure Assessment 358 Appendix 5 – Glossary and Acronyms 361 Appendix 6 – Section 31 Ministerial Direction 368

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   PrefaceGalway City Development Plan 2023-2029 7 Preface Preface 8 Legislative Background 8 Strategic Policy Framework 9 Structure and Format of Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029 11 Local Planning 12

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    Preface8 Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029 Preface The Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029 provides a policy framework to guide the future growth of the City to 2029 and into the longer term. The Plan came into effect on the 4th of January 2023. The process of reviewing the Galway City Development Plan 2017-2023 and preparing the new Development Plan commenced on 7th January 2021 and culminated the adoption of a new plan by Elected Members on the 24th of November 2022. It was prepared following extensive consultation with members of the public, statutory bodies and relevant stakeholders by Elected Members this Development Plan was prepared. Legislative Background The Development Plan has been prepared in accordance with the provisions of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended), the Planning and Development (Strategic Environmental Assessment) Regulations 2004 (as amended) and Article 6 of the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC. The Planning and Development Act 2000 as amended sets out the mandatory requirements for content which must be included in the Development Plan. These include, inter alia, objectives for the zoning of land, the provision of infrastructure, the conservation and protection of the environment, and the integration of planning and sustainable development with the social, community and cultural requirements of the City and its population. The Act requires the preparation of a Core Strategy, consistent, as far as is practicable with the National Planning Framework (NPF) and the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES) for the Northern and Western Region 2020-2032. The legislative basis for the preparation and adoption of the Development Plan is set out in Sections 9-12 of the Act. Section 10 (1) of the Act provides that the Plan shall set out on overall strategy for the proper planning and sustainable development of the area and shall consist of a written statement and a plan or plans indicating objectives for the area. Section 10(2)(n) of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 (as amended) requires that Development Plans include objectives to promote sustainable settlements and transportation strategies in urban and rural areas, to reduce energy demand in response to the likelihood of increases in energy and other costs due to long-term decline in non-renewable resources, reduce anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, and address the necessity of adaptation to climate change through the location, layout and design of new development. The Planning Act also provides the statutory basis for protecting natural and cultural heritage and for the carrying out of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), a process by which the anticipated effects on the environment of a proposed development or project are measured. In making the Plan, the Act states that members shall be restricted to considering the proper planning and sustainable development of the area, the statutory obligations of any Local Authority in the area, and any relevant policies or objectives for the time being of the Government or any Minister of the Government. In accordance with European and national legislation, Galway City Council carried out a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), an Appropriate Assessment (AA) and a Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA), all of which informed the Plan and have ensured full integration and consideration of environmental issues throughout each stage to date in the Development Plan process. The SEA is the process by which environmental considerations are integrated into the preparation of plans and programmes. The results of the SEA were fully integrated into the preparation and making of the Plan. The Environmental Report details the SEA carried out for this Plan.

Source Galway City Council: Galway City Development Plan 2023–2029 (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.