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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- Natural Heritage, Recreation and Amenity Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029 137 5.5.2 Rivers, Canals and Waterways Rivers, canals and waterways including the River Corrib system, the Eglinton Canal, the lesser waterways of the Cathedral River, the West River and the many headraces, tailraces and minor canals give character and definition to the city. These areas support significant linear wildlife and biodiversity corridors within the urban environment providing connectivity to the wider city and hinterland. The River Corrib as well as being an SAC, pNHA and designated Salmonid River is also a significant recreation and amenity resource and a water supply source. These characteristics require a balanced approach supporting river conservation with appropriate use and public accessibility and facilitation of sustainable water based activities. Outside of the city centre the banks of the River Corrib are semi-natural in character and play an essential role in flood alleviation including in wetland and floodplain areas. The canal system is an important architectural feature reflecting the industrial past and economic and physical evolution of the city. There is potential for exploring the capacity of the canal system for active recreation and to enhance biodiversity and ecological connectivity. Further examination of this resource to promote climate action may tap into initiatives such as micro hydro power generation. Public accessibility to the canal will be encouraged in the design of developments, where feasible. Special consideration is required to ensure any development abutting the canal does not disproportionately affect its setting, amenity and aesthetic quality. The flood risk associated with these waterways is also an important consideration and is currently being considered under the Coirib go Cósta Galway City Flood Relief Scheme. These water resources can contribute to the development of “Blueways” which is a concept to expand tourism opportunities associated with waterways. The Council will seek to advance blueways in the city in the interests of both the tourist and resident population. In particular, the development of the Great Western Blueway on the River and Lough Corrib facilitating activities such as kayaking, canoeing, rowing, angling and boating in a sustainable manner has potential to enhance amenity and tourism in the city. Proposed blueways will be subject to a route selection process, which will take cognisance of site-specific circumstances including consideration of ecological and environmental sensitivities. Such routes will only be developed within and adjacent to European Sites where it can be shown that there will be no adverse impacts upon the integrity of the sites as defined by their conservation objectives.
- Natural Heritage, Recreation and Amenity 138 Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029 Policy 5.3 Blue Spaces: Coast, Canals and Waterways 1. Protect and maintain the integrity of the coastal environment and waterways by avoiding significant impacts and meeting the requirements of statutory bodies, national and European legislation and standards. 2. Conserve and protect natural conservation areas within the coastal area and along waterways and ensure that the range and quality of associated habitats and the range and populations of species are maintained. 3. Develop and enhance the recreational and amenity potential of the city’s waterways and coastal area, while not compromising the ecological importance of these areas. 4. Investigate the extensive water resource in the city with a view to exploring where public access and enjoyment can be improved and where potential sustainable uses and water based recreation can be developed to the benefit of the city, and have regard to ecological conservation and safety considerations. 5. Support the implementation of the recommendations of the River Basin Management Plan in relation to the protection of water quality of surface waters, groundwater and coastal waters. 6. Ensure development and uses adhere to the principles of sustainable development and restrict any development or use which negatively impact on water quality. 7. Have regard to European and national best practice when assessing development in or near coastal areas which is likely to have significant effects on the integrity, defined by the structure and function, of any designated European sites, protected coastal and marine fauna and flora. 8. Ensure the conservation of the canal corridor and require that developments abutting the canal relate to the context of the adjacent environment and contribute to the overall amenity, and explore the possibility of opportunities for public access. 9. Work with stakeholders, including IW, OPW, EPA, Inland Fisheries, Corrib Navigation Trust and local user representatives in the management, use, enhancement, protection and safety of waterways and their context in the city. 10. Encourage uses which will facilitate conservation of the industrial archaeology legacy of mill buildings, warehouses and associated features. 11. Ensure that developments located adjacent to the River Corrib do not adversely affect the safe and accessible navigation of the river. 12. Ensure the protection of the River Corrib as a Salmonid River, where appropriate. 13. Restrict the location of structures other than structures with essential links to the waterway and public utilities within 10 metres of the River Corrib in G agricultural zoned lands. 14. Facilitate sustainable flood defence and coastal protection works in order to prevent flooding and coastal erosion, subject to environmental and visual considerations as guided by the Corrib go Cósta, Galway City Flood Relief Scheme project. 15. Maintain and extend the achievement of the Blue Flag Beach Status in co-operation with Irish Water (IW). 16. Ensure any development within the aquatic environment shall be carried out in consultation with prescribed bodies and with adherence to their guidelines. 17. Protect and maintain, where feasible, undeveloped riparian zones and natural floodplains along the River Corrib and its tributaries. 18. Ensure that development does not have a significant adverse impact, incapable of satisfactory mitigation, on protected species.
- Natural Heritage, Recreation and Amenity Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029 139 19. The Council will seek to designate shore fishing areas at appropriate locations in the city. 20. Implement the outcomes of the emerging strategy for the marine environment set out in the forthcoming Marine Planning and Development Management legislation. 21. Ensure the conservation of the special recreational value of the riverside walk from Wolfe Tone Bridge to Salmon Weir Bridge and require that developments abutting the walkway incorporate measures to minimise noise levels in their design and reduce the emission and intrusion of any noise which might have potential to adversely impact on amenities and quiet space attributes. 5.6 Green Spaces Green spaces in the city include for a range of parks, public spaces and woodlands. Urban green spaces are an important resource for communities providing for passive and active recreation. Some of the larger city parks include protected sites which support important habitats and species. Green spaces also shape the identity of neighbourhoods and provide a sense of place. They can enhance people’s quality of life and support mental health and physical wellbeing and provide quiet space, space for social interaction and play space. They contribute to climate resilience through their effects on negating urban heat, offsetting greenhouse gas emissions and attenuating surface water. The development of a hierarchy of parks in the city was established under the RANS (see figure 5.3). This recommended the preparation of parks masterplans with a particular emphasis on improving qualitative aspects of parks, promoting multifunctionality and taking into consideration the natural heritage value of each park. A number of these masterplans have been prepared and the Council will continue to progress implementation. The preparation of masterplans for the balance of parks will be progressed during the period of this plan. Figure 5.3: Hierarchy of Parks in the city
- Natural Heritage, Recreation and Amenity 140 Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029 Healthy Green Spaces (HGS) is a joint City Council and community initiative that aspires to improve the quality of green spaces in the city. The aim of the HGS is to ensure green spaces are attractive and safe, enhance biodiversity, support pollinators, climate adaptation, long term carbon sequestration and reduce waste. The initiative includes a commitment to eliminate the use of pesticides and harmful chemicals, utilise organic soil nutrition methods, adopt a zero waste strategy incorporating composting and grass cutting management. As a partner to the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan, the City Council implements measures that enhance pollination, these include No Mow initiatives in open spaces, pollinator friendly planting and native wildflower planting. Soil plays an important role including in food production, surface water drainage and flood management. It supports natural ecosystems and biodiversity and provides carbon storage. Soil is vulnerable to contamination, compaction and erosion by wind and water. Through the retention, enhancement and creation of areas of open space, community gardens/allotments, green infrastructure and biodiversity enhancement within the green network, the Council will encourage good soil structure and condition. 5.6.1 Urban Woodland Parks and Trees Urban woodland parks and trees are important recreational amenities and natural features in the city. These natural assets contribute to the health and wellbeing of the community. Woodland and trees enhance the aesthetic quality of the landscape, provide valuable habitats for wildlife, contribute to carbon capture and storage, improve air quality and reduce the impact of noise. Woodlands, trees, stands of trees, and hedgerows form important ecological corridors and stepping stones enhancing biodiversity in the urban environment and need to be valued and protected. The Council will, where possible, protect trees, woodlands and hedgerows of special amenity or environmental value. The Council will work with stakeholders such as the Friends of Merlin Woods and the Terryland Forest Park committee to protect and enhance these valuable amenities within the city. A Tree Planting Strategy for the city which will provide for long term planting, protection and maintenance of trees, hedgerows and woodlands will be prepared. In advance of this, the Council will continue its tree planting programme, in particular, within public amenity areas. Tree planting will also be required within developments as part of an overall landscaping plan. Policy 5.4 Green Spaces: Urban Woodlands and Trees 1. Manage and develop woodlands in the ownership of Galway City Council for natural heritage, recreation and amenity use, including Terryland Forest Park, Merlin Park Woods and Barna Woods/Lough Rusheen City Park. 2. Make Tree Preservation Orders for individual trees or groups of trees within the city, where appropriate. 3. Integrate existing trees and hedgerows on development sites where appropriate and require tree planting, as part of landscaping schemes for new developments. 4. Continue to promote partnerships with the community for the management and improvement of biodiversity in local open spaces, through schemes such as the Green Flag Awards. 5.7 Community Spaces Elements of the green network provide valuable amenity and related healthy living and lifestyle benefits to the community. These ‘community spaces’ allow access to the natural environment, encourage social interaction and provide functional connections between other spaces and facilities. Community spaces include greenways, places for children to play, protected views of special amenity value and interest, allotments, community gardens and cemeteries.
- Natural Heritage, Recreation and Amenity5.7.1 Greenways, Boreens and Public Rights of Way The plan sets out an integrated network of greenways in the city. Greenways are provided for through the GTS. These are routes segregated from the road and exclusively reserved for pedestrians and cyclists. In addition to these routes, the greenway network also includes for less formalised routes and trails which are provided within amenity areas and which may not have the same standard of accessibility. These greenways are more simple in design and can be integrated with nature to enhance recreation opportunities and support healthy and active living. They can also play an important role in nature conservation and enhance the ecological corridor network linking habitats, through sensitive location, design and maintenance. An integrated approach is necessary to incorporate appropriate surface materials and features such as hedgerows, grass verges, native wildflower species and stone walls which are integral landscape features along a greenway route. Appropriate maintenance and management is also necessary. A number of greenway projects are proposed in the city some of which have the capacity to link in with the broader national greenway network. The Galway to Dublin Cycleway project is partially completed with the route selection for the Athlone to Galway section in progress. It will form part of the EuroVelo network of long-distance cycle trails in Europe. A greenway between Galway City and Clifden, the Connemara Greenway, is also in progress, which will traverse through the University of Galway campus and onwards to Oughterard. The plan acknowledges that in order to conserve and protect sensitive ecological areas, greenway routes may need to be restricted or redirected to less sensitive areas. In this regard, the routes of proposed greenways shown on accompanying Development Plan maps are indicative only. Proposed greenways will be subject to a route selection process, which will take cognisance of site-specific circumstances including consideration of ecological and environmental sensitivities. Such routes will only be developed within and adjacent to European Sites where it can be shown that there will be no adverse impacts upon the integrity of the sites as defined by their conservation objectives. In particular, the section of the indicative coastal greenway route between Ballyloughane and the eastern city boundary will be further considered following the establishment of the National Galway to Dublin greenway preferred route option which is due to be finalised in Q1 2023. In the event that this preferred national route option differs in alignment to the Galway City Council mapped indicative greenway route, the objective will not continue to accommodate a cycle route but will be to provide solely for an informal walking greenway route. All emerging schemes shall include for public consultation with landowners and relevant stakeholders. Within the city there are opportunities to enhance the network of boreens as a recreation and amenity resource. In collaboration with communities, the Council will support the use of this network to encourage healthy lifestyles and enhance connectivity. There are also opportunities to improve permeability between and within neighbourhoods and local services and to make improvements to existing connections which are public rights of way. It is the policy of the Council to preserve existing public rights of way for the common good. The Council will seek to create new rights of way where necessary for pedestrian convenience or amenity reasons and also to enhance existing public rights of ways, where appropriate. Where in the interests of proper planning and sustainable development, the extinguishment of an existing right of way becomes expedient, the Council may require the provision of a suitable alternative. A compilation of an inventory of established rights of way in the city has commenced. In the interests of keeping this a dynamic project, it will be hosted on the Council website and will apply best practice approaches as highlighted in recent Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR) research. Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029 141
- Natural Heritage, Recreation and AmenityPolicy 5.5 Community Spaces: Greenways, Boreens and Public Rights of Way 1. Continue to develop and improve the greenway network in the city, providing alternative accessible circulation routes for pedestrians and cyclists, for the enjoyment of the entire community. 2. Develop a strategic citywide coastal greenway from east to west linking riverside walkways, having due regard to nature conservation considerations. 3. Facilitate linked greenways from the city into the county area in particular to Bearna, Oranmore and Maigh Cuillinn as identified in the Galway Transport Strategy and investigate the potential for an additional link to the Tonabrocky area. 4. Support the use of boreens in the city for passive recreation, active travel and for the promotion of linkage to the green network. 5. Provide controlled access and linkages into all parks/public open spaces, areas of natural heritage, including along waterways, where it can be demonstrated that there will be no adverse impacts on the integrity of European sites. 6. Ensure biodiversity and greening is incorporated into all greenways, segregated cycleways and pathways where appropriate and ensure that paths and structures are constructed from suitable materials that contribute to aesthetics, sustainability and safety. 7. Create, enhance and maintain accessible and safe public rights of way, where appropriate for pedestrian convenience, including public lighting where appropriate. 8. Promote and facilitate safe and convenient walking and cycling routes through land use policy and the implementation of measures set out in the Galway Transport Strategy. 5.7.2 Child Friendly City The concept of a Child Friendly City was developed in 2000 to consider the requirements of children and to promote safe streets and play areas, a good quality clean environment with green open spaces, and encourage the participation of children in cultural and social events as equal citizens of the city. The Galway as a Child Friendly City Report (2000) and subsequent policies in the RANS established a geographical and hierarchical approach to the provision of play areas in the city, from informal play areas and open spaces in residential areas to neighbourhood equipped play facilities. They informed the expansion of a network of playgrounds, skate parks, multi-use game areas and facilities for older/teenage children in the city. The Council support the right of the child to play through provision of inclusive natural and built play areas. Other measures which are included in this Development Plan, such as the development of home zones in order to provide a safe and quality living environment for play, traffic calming and the establishment of the concept of having safe routes to school which include initiatives such as ‘park and stride’ and school zones support a child friendly city. Policy 5.6 Community Spaces: Child Friendly City 1. Enhance and promote Galway as a ‘Child Friendly City’ which will help children understand and feel secure in their environment and will encourage them to experience and respect the natural heritage of the city. 2. Support the right of the child to play by ensuring the creation and maintenance of inclusive natural and built play areas within every community. 142 Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029
- Natural Heritage, Recreation and Amenity3. Maintain and enhance existing play areas and provide new, accessible and safe play areas for all in accordance with the Council’s commitment to the Barcelona Declaration, policies in relation to Social Inclusion, the Recreation and Amenity Needs Study, and any subsequent strategies including the future Green Space Strategy. 4. Continue the improvement and development of playground facilities as outlined in the Council’s Recreation and Amenity Needs Study. 5. Enhance the provision of facilities for older children and teenagers within the city, including skateboarding areas, teenage shelters, ball walls and Multi Use Games Areas (MUGAs). 5.7.3 Views of Special Amenity Value and Interest There are views within the city’s landscape, which require special protection due to their distinctive scenic amenity, aesthetic or cultural value or historic setting. Views of scenic amenity value and interest define the character of the city, engender a strong sense of place and significantly enhance local amenities. Important views in the city include panoramic views which allow expansive views over scenic landscape, over the cityscape and key landmark buildings and linear views which are views towards a particular landscape, observed from a particular point. The enjoyment of protected views by the community and visitors is a key part of the experience of the city. It is acknowledged that views are not static and some changes in a view can be absorbed without visually depreciating the integrity of the view and in some cases make a positive contribution to the characteristics and composition of protected views, while other changes can have a negative impact reducing the experience of that view irreparably. It is the objective of the Council to assess proposed developments, which are located within the foreground, middle ground or background of a protected view, in the context of their scale, design and location. Table 5.9: Protected views Panoramic Protected Views V.1 Panoramic views of the city and the River Corrib from Circular Road. V.2 Views from Dyke Road and Coolagh Road encompassing the River Corrib and Coolagh fen. V.3 Seascape views of Lough Atalia from Lough Atalia Road, College Road, Dublin Road and Lakeshore Drive. Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029 143
- Natural Heritage, Recreation and AmenityV.4 Seascape views of Galway Bay from Grattan Road, Seapoint, the Salthill Promenade and the coast road to the western boundary of the golf course. V.5 Seascape views encompassing Lough Rusheen including section of Blakes Hill, sections of Knocknacarra Road, sections of Barna Road from Knocknacarra to city boundary and including the road to Silverstrand Beach. V.6 Panoramic views of the city, and the Terryland Valley from parts of the Castlegar- Ballindooley Road. V.7 Views encompassing Lough Corrib from parts of the Quarry Road and Monument Road. V.8 Seascape views of Galway Bay from the old Dublin Road to the city boundary. V.9 Views towards the sea at Roscam. Linear Protected Views V.10 Views from Galway-Moycullen Road (N59) of the River Corrib. V.11 Views from Waterside of the River Corrib. V.12 Seascape views of Galway Bay from Kingston Road. V.13 Seascape views of Galway Bay at Ballyloughane from south of the railway bridge. V.14 Views northwards encompassing the River Corrib and adjoining lands from Quincentenary Bridge. V.15 Views towards Galway Bay from Hawthorn Drive, Renmore. V.16 Views from Quincentenary Bridge Road southwards over Terryland Forest Park and River Corrib. V.17 Seascape views from Military Walk, Renmore. V.18 Views towards River Corrib from junction of St. Bridget’s Place with St. Bridget’s Terrace. V.19 Views encompassing Ballindooley Lough from parts of the Headford Road. Policy 5.7 Community Spaces: Protected Views of Special Amenity Value and Interest 1. Protect views and prospects of special amenity value and interest, which contribute significantly to the visual amenity and character of the city, through the control of inappropriate development. 2. Require landscaping schemes as part of planning applications to have regard to such views and limit any planting which could have a detrimental impact on the value of protected views. 5.7.4 Allotments, Community Gardens and Cemeteries Allotments and community gardens are acceptable on a number of land use zones. They support biodiversity and encourage self-sufficiency, healthy living and create spaces that help bring communities together. Community spaces also include cemeteries, which provide important places for quiet contemplation in the city’s environment, and often support biodiversity and cultural heritage. In view of the diminishing capacity of existing cemeteries and in order to align with targets for growth, the Council will progress the identification and development of a suitable cemetery site to serve the city. 144 Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029
- Natural Heritage, Recreation and AmenityPolicy 5.8 Community Spaces: Allotments, Community Gardens and Cemeteries 1. Continue to provide and facilitate allotments and community gardens in the city subject to Council approval. 2. Maintain existing burial grounds and provide new city cemetery site(s) in the city or city environs and approach cemetery design with an emphasis on landscaping and natural amenities. 3. Protect historic graveyards within the city and ensure appropriate management and maintenance of those in the ownership or care of Galway City Council. 5.8 Open Spaces Open spaces in the city include urban open spaces, residential, commercial and industrial open space, institutional open space, recreation and amenity zoned lands and agricultural and high amenity lands. These spaces are important elements in the public realm of the city and play a vital role in defining the image of the city by affecting the perception of an area and fostering a sense of place. These spaces and their settings within the urban landscape make locations attractive to inward investment and business. They also contribute towards climate resilience and enhance the biodiversity of the city’s environment. The function of these open spaces vary throughout the city, many are meeting and gathering places, providing spaces for social interaction and events, while other open spaces have a passive and active recreation role. Many civic and urban spaces in the city, such as Eyre Square and Fishmarket, have an important cultural and historical legacy. Given the multifunctional aspect of these open spaces, many policies in other sections of this Plan inform the development and management of established and new open spaces within the green network. Also the Galway Public Realm Strategy gives comprehensive policy and guidance in this regard and a number of key projects to create new spaces and rejuvenate existing spaces integrated with the GTS, will be advanced during the plan period supplemented with URDF funding. Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029 145
- Natural Heritage, Recreation and AmenityPolicy 5.9 Open Spaces: Public Realm 1. Implement the Public Realm Strategy for the public domain which contributes to the creation and maintenance of high quality and successful open spaces. 5.9 Agricultural Lands Agricultural lands provide for agricultural uses and food production. They also have an important recreation, amenity and biodiversity value and can support climate adaptation and mitigation through application of nature based solutions and acting as carbon sinks and flood plains. They also form part of the unique natural setting, which provides a backdrop to the built environment and perform the function of a green belt. They can also facilitate strategic projects where impact on the community can be minimised. In the long term they can also function as a resource for the future strategic expansion of the city. Agricultural lands come under two zoning categories in the plan – Agricultural Areas A and G. The G zoning objective are lands, that in addition to agricultural uses have an important landscape and aesthetic value, which distinguishes them from less visually sensitive A zoned agricultural lands. Development in the G land use zone is more restrictive than in the A land use zone. The policy of the Council for agricultural zones is to facilitate the continued use of these lands for agricultural purposes and limited development, subject to the protection of designated ecological sites, environmental considerations and to control non-agricultural development. A limited type of residential development may be considered in areas zoned A. However, unless a convincing case of need is established, consent for dwellings will not be considered except to the immediate members of families (i.e. sons and daughters, grandchildren, nieces and nephews) of persons who are householders and residing in the immediate area and to farmers and the immediate members of their families. In all cases conditions on a grant of permission may be applied regarding initial occupancy. Such residential developments will not be open for consideration where suitable alternative sites are in the control of applicants or their immediate family and available on lands zoned for development within the City Council area. Standards for such developments are outlined in Chapter 11, Section 11.12. Outdoor recreation with small scale associated structures may be allowed in A and G zoned lands, but only where suitable alternative sites are not available on lands zoned for development within the city. In these areas, where structures are permitted, the sensitivity of the landscape and the quality of the environment should be reflected in both siting and design. Policy 5.10 Open Spaces: Agricultural Lands 1. Encourage sustainable agricultural activities, protect the rural character of these lands and where appropriate provide for sustainable recreation/amenity opportunities. 2. Prevent developments which could cause environmental pollution or injury to general amenities. 3. Ensure agricultural development complies with the measures set out in the River Basin Management Plan 2018-2021 and imminent draft River Basin Management Plan 2022-2027 and future plans. 4. Provide for limited residential development in A zoned agricultural lands. 5. Restrict the location of structures other than structures with essential links to the waterway, within ten metres of the River Corrib, in G zoned lands. 146 Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029
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.