Development plan · Galway City Council
Galway City Development Plan 2023–2029
The council's development plan written statement: its strategy, policies, objectives and development standards.
Galway City Council · 2023–2029 · 386 pages
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- PrefaceGalway City Development Plan 2023-2029 9 In accordance with requirements under Article 6 of EU Habitat Directive (43/92/EEC) and the EU Birds Directive (2009/147/EC) and Section 177 of the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2010, the impacts of the policies and objectives of all statutory land use policies on sites designated for the protection of nature under European legislation, the Natura 2000 network (referred to as European Sites), must be assessed as part of the process of drafting the Plan. The Appropriate Assessment (AA) is a focused and detailed assessment of the implications of the Plan on the integrity of relevant European Sites in view of their conservation objectives. The Natura Impact Report (NIR) has been produced to support the Appropriate Assessment of the Plan. The NIR finds that the Plan has the potential to result in impacts to the integrity of European Sites, if unmitigated. The risks to the safeguarding and integrity of the qualifying interest and conservation objectives of the European Sites have been addressed by the inclusion of mitigation measures that will prioritise the avoidance of impacts in the first place and mitigate impacts where these cannot be avoided. Having incorporated mitigation measures, it is considered that the Plan will not have a significant adverse effect on the integrity of European Sites. The City Council will ensure that any plan/project and any associated works in the City, individually or in combination with other plans or projects, are subject to AA Screening to ensure there are no likely significant effects on the integrity (defined by the structure and function) of relevant European Sites and that the requirements of Article 6(3) and 6(4) of the EU Habitats Directive are fully satisfied. Where a plan/project is likely to have a significant effect on a European Site or there is uncertainty with regard to effects, it shall be subject to Appropriate Assessment. The plan/project will proceed only after it has been ascertained that it will not adversely affect the integrity of the site or where, in the absence of alternative solutions, the plan/project is deemed imperative for reasons of overriding public interest, all in accordance with the provisions of Article 6(3) and 6(4) of the EU Habitats Directive. Strategic Policy Framework The Plan sets out a strategy for the city within the context of various national and regional level strategies, plans and guidelines that impact on proper planning and sustainable development. Those with the most direct effect on the formulation of the core development strategy are summarised hereunder. • UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as set out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development ‘Transforming our World’. It includes 17 SDGs reflecting economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development. Each chapter will include UN Sustainable Development Goals to show the alignment between the chapters and the goals. • Project Ireland 2040 establishes a spatial planning framework for Ireland and comprises of the National Development Plan (NDP) 2021- 2030 and the National Planning Framework (NPF) a high level strategy to guide development and investment up to 2040. • Climate Action Plan 2021 sets out Ireland’s commitment to achieve a 51% reduction in overall greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and to reach net-zero emissions by no later than 2050, as committed to in the Climate Act 2021. • Smarter Travel, A Sustainable Transport Future, 2009-2020, sets out government policy towards the development of sustainable transport and travel. Its implementation will also assist in meeting Ireland’s international obligations towards tackling climate change. This is in the process of being replaced by a Sustainable Mobility Framework Policy, but remains the primary policy at the time of this Plan.
- Preface10 Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029 • Northern and Western Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES), 2020-2032 sets out a strategic regional planning framework for the Northern and Western regions and reinforces the National Strategic Outcomes (NSOs) and the Regional Planning Objectives (RPOs). The RSES supports the role of the City as a Regional City and a key economic driver for the Northern and Western Region. • Galway Metropolitan Area Strategic Plan (MASP) 2020-2032, identifies the key infrastructure, services and facilities that will be required to support sustainable city growth and regeneration. It gives direction on how the NPF population targets can be met in accordance with the principles of sustainable development with the aim to deliver compact growth. • Galway City Council Climate Adaptation Strategy 2019-2024, sets out Galway City Council’s short and medium term objectives for the adaptation to climate change. The strategy is based on four main themes: critical infrastructure and buildings, natural and cultural capital, water resources and flood risk management and community services and sets out specific actions under each. • Galway Transport Strategy (GTS) 2016-2036, aims to address current and future transport requirements in the city and county catchment area. Investment projects over the lifetime of the plan are in line with good planning principles and aligned with the settlement and development strategy for the city. • Galway Public Realm Strategy (2019), sets out a vision and strategy for improvements to guide future investment and development in the network of public and green spaces in the centre of the city. It focuses on creating a high quality public realm in favour of pedestrians and cyclists. • Galway City Local Economic and Community Plan (LECP) 2015-2021, sets out objectives and actions to promote and support economic, local and community development both by Galway City Council itself and in partnership with other economic and community development stakeholders. • Ministerial Guidelines and Directives, including those on Core Strategies, sustainable urban housing, creation of sustainable residential developments, urban design, retail, apartment design, the provision of schools, childcare facilities, flood risk management, SEA, architecture conservation, appropriate assessment and Urban Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets. • Housing Supply Target Methodology for Development Planning’ (2020) and the follow up document ‘Guidance on the Preparation of a Housing Need and Demand Assessment’(2020) and the DHLGH methodology known as the HNDA Tool (2021).The output of the HNDA tool was used in the preparation of the Galway City Housing Strategy and Housing Need and Demand Assessment 2023-29. • UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD)- Irelands ratified the UNCRPD in 2018. The purpose of the Convention is to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity. • Healthy Ireland Strategic Action Plan 2021 – 2025 provides a clear roadmap of how we can continue to work together to bring about good health, access to services, healthy environments, and the promotion of resilience and to ensure that everyone can enjoy physical and mental, health and wellbeing, to their full potential. This action plan will build on the work and progress made to date and focus on the remaining years of the Healthy Ireland Framework from 2021-2025.
- PrefaceGalway City Development Plan 2023-2029 11 Volume 1: Main Policy Document Volume 2: Maps Volume 3: Environmental Assessments SEA, NIR & SFRA C o m h a i r l e C a t h r a c h n a G a i l l i m h e | G a l w a y C i t y C o u n c i l Phlean Forbartha Chathair na Gallimhe 2023-2029 Galway City Council Development Plan 2023-2029 11784 GCC Draft Main Development Plan Cover.indd 1 04/11/2021 16:39 C o m h a i r l e C a t h r a c h n a G a i l l i m h e | G a l w a y C i t y C o u n c i l Phlean Forbartha Chathair na Gallimhe 2023-2029 Measúnachtaí Timpeallachta Tuarascáil Tionchar Natura Galway City Council Development Plan 2023-2029 Environmental Assessments Natura Impact Report 11784 GCC Draft Environmental Development Plan Covers x 3.indd 3 04/11/2021 16:42 Structure of the City Development Plan Structure and Format of Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029 The Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029 is presented in three sections: 1. Main policy document, which is arranged in topicbased chapters intended to make policies on particular issues easier to find. It is arranged as follows: Volume 1 includes the written statement that consists of: • Introduction sets out the role of the City Development Plan, its statutory basis and incudes the Core Strategy. The Core Strategy sets out an overarching strategy for the spatial development of the city over the medium to longer term and will form the basis for policies and objectives throughout the Plan. It translates the strategic planning framework set out in the NPF and the RSES to city level. • Chapters 2 to 11 set out detailed policies and objectives under a range of specific topics. • Chapter 11 incorporates land use zoning objectives and development management standards and guidelines to be applied to future development proposals in the city. • Chapters set out the overall planning context for and framework for the related policies and specific objectives. Polices are the Council’s general objectives on a topic basis while specific objectives are more area/site specific relating to various land-uses and/or project proposals. • Appendices included in the policy document comprise of; 1) Implementation and Monitoring, 2) Statement of Compliance with Ministerial Guidelines, 3) List of Protected Structures in the Record of Protected Structures (RPS) 4) Infrastructure Assessment 5) the Glossary & Acronyms and 6) Section 31 direction. • There are also two separate supporting documents that accompany Volume 1, which are the Housing Strategy and the Housing Need Demand Assessment (HNDA) (August 2021) and the Urban Density and Building Height Study (September 2021).
- Preface12 Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029 2. Volume Two consists of the following maps and provides the graphic representation of the policies and objectives in the main policy document. These are: • City Centre Map - Land Use Zoning and Objectives, scale 1:2,500 • Overall City Map – Land use Zoning and Objectives, scale 1:10,000 3. Volume 3 consists of the associated Environmental Assessments of the Plan including, the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Environmental Report, Natura Impact Report (NIR) and the Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA). Local Planning Where appropriate, the policies of the Plan will be developed in more detail at a local level through Priority Area Plans, Area Plans or Framework Plans. Throughout this document these plans will be referred to as Area Plans. Statutory Area Plans are proposed for Headford Road, Castlegar, Doughiska and Menlough.
- Introduction, Strategic Context & Core StrategyGalway City Development Plan 2023-2029 13 Introduction, Strategic Context & Core Strategy11.1 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
- Introduction, Strategic Context & Core Strategy14 Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029 1.1 Introduction This City Development Plan has been prepared in a different context than its predecessor in 2017. There has been a number of significant legislative and policy changes in the area of planning in the interim, including the reframing of policy at both national and regional levels. In terms of the hierarchy of plans, the overall national plan is the National Planning Framework (NPF) which provides the structure to guide development and investment through a shared set of national objectives and principles. At regional level the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES) sets out the regional framework for implementation and delivery of the NPF. The RSES for the Northern and Western Region also includes the Galway Metropolitan Area Strategic Plan (MASP) which provides a 12 year strategic planning and investment framework for the Galway Metropolitan Area. The Development Plan preparation has been guided by this national and regional policy framework and investment strategy combined and balanced with the more detailed, local participatory level of planning. With a population growth target set by the RSES for the city to grow to a population of 120,000 over the next twenty years, Galway City will become a city of scale and a key driver of growth and prosperity for the Northern and Western Region. The Plan sets out the spatial framework as to how this targeted growth ambition will be enabled over the next six years and how it will build the foundation for further growth in the longer term. However this growth has to be linked with Ireland’s commitment to achieving the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular SDG 13 which calls on countries to ‘take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts’, by implementing commitments to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. It is recognised that effective climate action measures can be integrated into policies in development plans. These include pursuance of the NPF compact growth agenda, policies that integrate land-use and transportation and policies that ensure sustainable management of environmental resources including biodiversity. Climate action is therefore considered to be an important principle in the Plan and has been reflected by the inclusion of a new chapter specifically dedicated to Climate Action in addition to other climate action related policies and objectives which permeate throughout the Plan. 1.2 Strategic Vision for Galway City The Plan is underpinned by a strategic vision intended to guide the sustainable future growth of the city and is expanded on in the ten strategic goals. This is the vision for Galway that the City Development Plan 2023-29 aspires to achieve into the future and beyond the life span of the current plan. The vision for Galway City is to be a successful, sustainable, competitive, regional city that creates prosperity, supports a high quality of life and maintains its distinctive identity and supports a rich cultural experience. A city that is environmentally responsible, mobilised to combat climate change and resilient to challenge. A city that can develop, attract and retain talent and skills and fosters innovation and creativity. An inclusive, diverse city where civic engagement is valued and a shared vision is pursued through good governance and leadership. A city that offers sustainable and quality choices in housing, work, transport and lifestyle opportunities.
- Introduction, Strategic Context & Core StrategyGalway City Development Plan 2023-2029 15 Strategic Goals ■ Achieve a high quality of life for all citizens through the provision of a good quality, attractive, built environment, through the protection of the unique cultural heritage, including its linguistic heritage built heritage and natural environment and through facilitation of key economic, cultural and social supports. ■ Enable Galway to become a city of scale as envisaged in the NPF and a regional driver of development that can contribute to economic growth through the provision of balanced and sustainable economic opportunities for development, innovation and investment across all employment sectors and allow the role of the City and Metropolitan Area to harness the strengths and maximise the economic development for the whole Northern and Western Region. ■ Commit to climate action and pursue the national targeted reduction of greenhouse gas emissions through proactive measures in line with EU and national commitments to enable a just transition to a climate resilient, biodiversity rich and climate neutral economy and society, in particular through specific promotion, adaptation and mitigation measures. ■ Apply the principle of sustainability and integrate the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development particularly where they relate to the uses of land, buildings, water, energy, waste and through the encouragement of sustainable modes of transport and the integration of transportation with land use. ■ Aspire to make Galway an equal and inclusive city, particularly through facilitating all forms of social inclusion in the built environment, including in the public realm, housing, and community facilities and in the ability to access services, amenities, employment opportunities and public transportation. ■ Protect and enhance the distinctive and diverse natural environment in the city and strengthen the green and blue network and linkages, recognising the biodiversity value of the amenity, the range of recreational benefits this provides, the potential for facilitating active and healthy lifestyles, the effect it can have on the quality of general health and well-being and the value it has for providing good place making and an attractive city setting. ■ Encourage a sense of collective identity and a shared vision through civic engagement on plans and projects such as the development of a Local Economic and Community Plan for Galway and also on the promotion of specifically focused projects that will achieve community benefit, foster the indigenous culture and promote the unique form and character of the city, give opportunities for the development of cultural, community and other beneficial infrastructure and enhance and diversify the city economy. ■ Integrate land use and transport planning to maximise opportunities for active travel and public transport usage and enable key transport projects included in the Galway Transport Strategy which will deliver multi modal usage, smart mobility and accessibility for all. ■ Ensure efficient and sustainable use of all water services, environmental resources and infrastructure. ■ Develop a more urban compact form in the city that provides for attractive, integrated, and easily accessible neighbourhoods that are supported by appropriate levels of services and amenities.
- Introduction, Strategic Context & Core Strategy16 Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029 1.3 Strategic Policy Context 1.3.1 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDG’s) Sustainability is generally described as meeting our own needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. In addition to natural resources, sustainability extends to social and economic resources with a broad interpretation that includes for concerns in relation to social equity and economic development. Since 2015 Ireland has been a signatory to the 17 UN Sustainability Goals (SDG’s) which all UN Members have agreed to work towards achieving by the year 2030 through national agendas and policies. The goals recognise that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our natural environment. This global partnership represents a call for action by all countries and is relevant to all – poor, rich and middle-income to address these goals. In spatial planning sustainability is a key concept and the NPF recognises that there is a significant alignment between the UN SDG’s and the NPF National Strategic Outcomes (NSO’s). Development Plans in turn through policies and objectives can also support the achievement of the SDG’s as set out in the ‘Sustainable Development Goals National Implementation Plan 2018-20’ Dept. Climate Action and Environment. Figure 1.1 United Nations Sustainability Goals Source: United Nations Policy 1.1 United Nations Sustainability Goals 1. Through implementation of the Core Strategy and the policies and objectives of the Development Plan, advance the aims of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and contribute to the achievement of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
- Introduction, Strategic Context & Core Strategy Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029 17 1.3.2 National Policy The National Planning Framework – First Revision 2025 (Revised NPF) and the National Development Plan (NDP) combine to form Project Ireland 2040 (Revised). The Revised NPF updates Ireland's long-term spatial strategy to reflect significant demographic, environmental, infrastructural and housing changes since 2018. The Revised NPF sets the vision and strategy for the development of the country to 2040, with the NDP providing the investment programme to implement the Revised NPF strategy. This combined long term strategy is aimed at enabling all parts of Ireland to achieve their full potential and to provide for more balanced regional development and reduce the growing economic dominance of Dublin and its associated region. It seeks to plan for the anticipated one million extra people who are projected to be living in the State 25 years from now and where they will live, work and go to school. In this regard the NPF targets a level of growth in the Northern and Western and Southern Regions combined, to at least match that projected for the East and Midland Region. While continuing to support Dublin it has a paralleled strategy to encourage ambitious growth targets in the four designated regional cities including Galway City and for each to grow by at least 50% to 2040 to become cities of scale. Galway City together with the Metropolitan Area is identified as having the characteristics and capacity to deliver the NSOs of the NPF which include sustainable city living, a strong economy, enhanced quality of life and reduced carbon footprint. The NPF envisages the population of Galway City and Suburbs to grow by between 40,000 - 45,000 people by 2040 which is an increase of almost 55%. It also targets half of the homes to accommodate this population increase to be located within the existing built footprint, on lands which include key regeneration/brownfield sites, infill sites and underutilised lands at locations that are well served by existing and planned public transport. This will support compact growth and population targets for the city. The NPF is supported by the Implementation Roadmap for the National Planning Framework (July 2018). It sets out a programme for the implementation of the NPF and includes transitional population projections at Regional and County level to inform development plans. The NPF acknowledges the existing strengths of the city and the wider Metropolitan Area including third level education embedded in the city, a world class med-tech cluster, a vibrant arts and culture scene and year round tourism, enhanced by an attractive setting. Leveraging these assets to attract investment and meet growth targets will need the plan for the city to align with the shared vision in the NPF and the associated NSOs. These shared goals as identified in Figure 1.2, are the basis from which policies and objectives in the Plan have been prepared in conjunction with direction from the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES) for the Northern and Western Region.
- Introduction, Strategic Context & Core Strategy 18 Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029 Figure 1.2 National Strategic Outcomes Source: National Planning Framework (NPF) The National Planning Framework – First Revision 2025 The Revised NPF updates Ireland's long-term spatial strategy. Its overarching role remains to guide where and how Ireland should grow spatially, socially, economically and environmentally over the coming decades. Key aims from the original framework carried through to the revision include balanced regional development, compact growth and sustainable urban development, co-ordinated infrastructure and services, economic development and job growth, as well as environmental protection and sustainability. The Revised NPF retains the ten National Strategic Outcomes (NSOs) as the shared goals for every community across the country and continues to frame the revised strategy to ensure continuity of strategic direction. The revision updates and strengthens the original NPF, updating projections and increasing ambition in key areas. Key changes include: • Updated population and housing projections to plan for approximately 6.1 million population by 2040 • Ambitious housing delivery target of roughly 50,000 new homes per annum • Greater emphasis on climate transition, environmental protection and sustainability • New and updated National Policy Objectives (NPOs) • Guidance for zoning and land-use changes • Stronger link to investment, infrastructure delivery and future-proofing growth • New planning tools for implementation, digitalisation and monitoring.
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.