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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- Economy, Enterprise and RetailThese models of business are not only sustainable but are also reflective of good business acumen. Deloitte6 recently reported that nearly one in three consumers claimed to have stopped purchasing certain brands or products because they had ethical or sustainability concerns about them. The integration of this knowledge on customer attitude to sustainability is apparent in current retailing practices. This is also reflected in the various pledges from international retail chains to be carbon neutral significantly in advance of national targeted dates. The Plan can through retail policies and development management measures encourage these trends and enable the delivery of retailing in a manner that supports climate action and sustainability. Section 2 Retail Strategy Policy 6.11 Retail Strategy 1. Adopt the retail hierarchy for the city as identified in the strategy and restrict retail development at each level on the hierarchy to a scale and nature commensurate with catchment demands. 2. Provide for an appropriate range and scale of retail services throughout the city at locations accessible by walking, cycling and public transport, in accordance with the settlement strategy and population target for the city. 3. Review the strategies and policies for retailing and vary the plan if necessary following the preparation of a Joint Retail Strategy for the Galway Metropolitan Area with Galway County Council, to ensure sufficient policy support to create a positive framework for continued vitality and investment in the main retail areas especially the Galway MASP and to ensure an informed and consistent approach to policies relating to shared retailing activities in line with national policy. The preparation of the Joint Retail Strategy for the Galway Metropolitan Area will be completed within one year of the adoption of the City Development Plan and will be initiated and managed by a joint local authority working group. 4. Enhance the city centre as the primary retail service centre in the MASP area, through promotion of appropriate uses, regeneration, an increased mix in complementary uses including residential, leisure, cultural uses and through investment in public realm, amenities and sustainable transport infrastructure. 5. Improve access and permeability in the city centre and other designated centres with particular emphasis on improving the public realm with a focus on an increase in pedestrianisation and enhanced access by public transportation, cycling and walking. 6. Support a diversity of uses in the public realm including markets, outdoor seating and dining, arts and culture events to add to the vitality and vibrancy of the city and the retail experience. 7. Encourage a high quality retail environment through implementation of the Galway Transport Strategy and Public Realm Strategy and other initiatives that combined, contribute to creating places that are attractive, vibrant, sustainable and safe. 8. Have regard to the Galway City Shopfront Design Guidelines and support Irish language and bilingual signage. 9. Have regard to the Retail Design Manual (2012), a companion document to the Retail Planning Guidelines for Planning Authorities (2012) to ensure that retail developments provide a high quality of architecture and urban design. 6. Deloitte - Changes and key findings in sustainability and consumer behaviour (March 2021) Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029 187
- Economy, Enterprise and Retail10. Require that major proposals for retail development should be supported by a Retail Impact Assessment (RIA), prepared in line with the Retail Planning Guidelines for Planning Authorities (2012) and that demonstrates compliance with the strategies in the Development Plan in particular the objective to not adversely impact on the vitality and vibrancy of an existing retail centre in particular the city centre. 11. Encourage retail development to include for measures that can contribute positively to climate action and to increased investment in the circular economy in alignment with the national strategy to significantly reduce Ireland’s circularity gap. Policy 6.12 Retail Hierarchy Metropolitan Centre - Galway City Centre 1. Protect and enhance the city centre, designated as the most important shopping area in the Galway MASP and county area and as a major centre in the Northern and Western Region and facilitate a mixed expansion of services including high order comparison retailing in conjunction with service retailing, an enhanced shopping experience and cultural and entertainment facilities through appropriate and sensitive re-development, infill and development on designated regeneration in conjunction with implementation of key public realm and sustainable transport projects. 2. Direct strategic investment in commercial, civic, cultural and retail, particularly high order comparison goods and specialist retailing into the city centre where they can enhance vitality and viability through a mix of uses, reuse of vacant sites and revitalisation to contribute to regeneration and the maintenance of a compact core area. 3. Strengthen the vitality of the city centre and its resilience to changing retail trends and consider measures to support a sustainable retail environment taking into account flexibility of uses and retail formats, complementary uses and a quality retail experience. 4. Support the development of a vibrant, inclusive, evening and night-time culture and economy through sustainable measures and promote the need for associated transport supports, measures to secure a safe environment, and for diversity in entertainment and creative offerings. This may include extended opening hours, proposals for outdoor living and event space, and proposals for the greater utilisation of existing heritage assets. 5. Ensure that the design of city centre retail developments, including extensions and modifications, respond positively to the unique setting, distinctive character and quality of the built and natural environment of Galway. District, Neighbourhood and Local Centres 6. Promote the vitality and viability of the District Centres and encourage the provision of an appropriate range of retail, non-retail, community and leisure services. Such retail services should be mainly of a convenience or lower order comparison type in order to protect the prime role of the city centre for shopping. Some locations may also have capacity for residential uses where it can sustainably complement the use mix without diminishing the primary commercial objective. 188 Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029
- Economy, Enterprise and Retail7. Promote and protect Neighbourhood Centres in their role as providers of a mix of local services including retailing of a basic, predominantly convenient nature that are so located to be easily accessible by the catchment they serve and where they can contribute to the concept of the ‘15 minute neighbourhood’. 8. Promote and protect small scale local shops in residential areas, in accordance with the neighbourhood concept, where they can fulfil a role in the provision of day to day convenience needs and where they do not have a negative impact on existing amenities. 9. Restrict and direct bulky goods retailing to existing identified retail parks and to a more limited extent to district centre and restrict the sale of ancillary items associated with an otherwise bulky good to sales space of not more than 20% of the total net retail floorspace of the relevant retail unit in accordance with the Retail Planning Guidelines for Planning Authorities (2012). 10. Have regard in general to the assessment guidelines for specific retail formats as provided for in Section 4.11 of the Retail Planning Guidelines for Planning Authorities (2012). Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029 189
- Community and Culture188 Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029 Community and Culture77.1 Context 7.2 Creative City 7.3 Inclusive City 7.4 Bilingual City 7.5 Community Facilities 7.6 Institutional Lands 7.7 Specific Objectives 191 192 196 199 201 206 208
- Community and Culture7.1 Context Galway’s people and culture are a central part of the city’s identity and one of its greatest strengths. The city has a rich cultural and linguistic heritage and a vibrant creative scene that provides for a distinctive living environment for residents and a welcoming and inspiring environment for visitors. It supports a diverse range of community and cultural activities, and owing to the strategic role of the city many also serve the wider region. Community and cultural infrastructure is integral to health, wellbeing, quality of life and a vital part of a socially cohesive, vibrant and resilient community. This infrastructure is also critical for maintaining and enhancing the attractiveness of the city as a location to invest, deliver quality employment opportunities and to attract and retain an appropriately skilled workforce to live and work in the city. Further investment in community infrastructure is required to ensure the principles of a ‘15-minute city’ apply in regard to community and cultural facilities. The Council recognises the importance that availability and access to such infrastructure brings to quality of life as experienced in the city and the difference it can make to people’s lives. In particular it is acknowledged that in order to build sustainable neighbourhoods there is a need for them to be supported by a range of community facilities that are accessible and sufficiently flexible to adapt and accommodate to the changing needs in society. The Development Plan supports this approach by setting out clear policies and objectives to ensure the alignment of social and community facilities with both existing and new communities. The development of community and cultural infrastructure, services and facilities is supported by national and regional planning policy through the National Planning Framework (NPF) and the Regional Economic and Spatial Strategy (RSES). The NPF recognises that location and place are key contributors that influence quality of life. The RSES identifies quality of life and an inclusive region as one of its five growth ambitions. Other policy objectives in the RSES focus on creating healthy communities, quality of life, social inclusion, promotion of the Irish Language and the provision of community facilities and services, age-friendly, childcare and education. The Local Community and Economic Plan (LECP) is a partnership approach to provide for a social and economic vision for the city. It builds on links between the land use policies in the Development Plan and economic and local community development and together the two plans provide a strategic framework for integrating the economic and community needs of the city. The current Galway City Local Economic and Community Plan was prepared for the period 2015-2021 and is currently under review to plan for the next time period. 1. Develop and promote Galway as a world-class, creative city region. 2. Develop and promote Galway as an innovative city. 3. Ensure Galway City is an equal and inclusive city. 4. Encourage a sustainable, resilient urban environment for Galway City that is the regional capital of the West. 5. Promote the health and wellbeing of all people in Galway City Figure 7.1 High Level Goals of LECP The Council is committed to working in collaboration with key stakeholders to facilitate delivery of high quality community and cultural infrastructure that contributes to social inclusion, prosperity and quality of life to meet the needs of a growing city and broader MASP catchment. The Council will, in particular support sustainable initiatives that prioritise the co-location of community facilities and infrastructure that allow for shared use for a variety of purposes and provide for ease of access for all. Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029 191
- Community and CulturePolicy 7.1 General Policies 1. Support and facilitate the sustainable development of community, social and cultural infrastructure in collaboration with all stakeholders that affords inclusive opportunities for everyone to shape their own lives, enables communities to realise their full potential and that contributes to a high quality of life and wellbeing for all who live work and visit the city. 2. Support and facilitate key infrastructure and actions that encourages expanded development of the city’s culture, arts and creative industries and strengthens the linguistic heritage. 3. Facilitate a balanced and equitable provision of community social and culture services and facilities in collaboration with key stakeholders in alignment with the core/settlement strategy through policies, zoning objectives and specific designations. 4. Work in partnership with the Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) to achieve the aims of Local Economic and Community Plan (LECP) to ensure that Galway City is an equal and inclusive city. 5. Promote and facilitate in conjunction with key stakeholders the co-location of community services and infrastructure to allow for shared use for a variety of purposes including health, education, social and local enterprise and community activities. 6. Encourage design flexibility in buildings of culture, arts and community use, so that the buildings can be adapted in ways, which allow for a diversity of different uses and include for accessibility for all, including people with disabilities. 7. Explore innovative models of delivery, ownership and management of community facilities and infrastructure. 8. Support the refurbishment of community and cultural venues to improve the energy efficiency performance of these buildings to reduce the carbon footprint of the cultural and community activity that takes place within them. 7.2 Creative City Culture and creativity are a fundamental part of Galway’s identity both nationally and internationally. The city has a strong cultural tradition and vibrant arts scene with a wellestablished arts community which contributes to the vitality of the city and forms a significant component of the city’s tourism offering. Arts and creativity also contribute to the creative economy, a rapidly growing sector in the city and which also has a positive impact on education, health and wellbeing. The strength of Galway’s arts and cultural scene has evolved over time reflecting the rich cultural heritage and creative exuberance in the city powered by a community driven by innovation and loyal patronage. Designations such as UNESCO City of Film and European Capital of Culture 2020 are recognition of the strength of cultural and creative activity in the city. The Council recognises the intrinsic role of culture and creativity in the city and the value it adds to life and experience. The benefits too can contribute to the cohesion of communities through the potential opportunities it offers for participatory activities which enhances community engagement and social inclusion. It is the ambition of the Council to build on these cultural assets as expressed in the cultural strategy Everybody Matters, A Cultural Sustainability Strategy for Galway 2016 -2025. 192 Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029
- Community and CultureThis strategy contains seven strategic aims which are to be achieved through a series of 3 year implementation plans. In general its aims are to improve access and engagement, develop cultural programs, build learning, address the deficit in cultural infrastructure, integrate culture with health and wellbeing and improve inclusive citizen and artist participation. This is further supplemented by the Council’s arts plan namely, New Directions Galway City Council’s Strategic Plan for the Arts 2021-2026. In this plan the Council has made a commitment to support the ongoing development of cultural infrastructure and opportunities and to support participation for everyone in the cultural and creative life of the city. The Development Plan is key in supporting the further development and expansion of arts and cultural facilities to meet the evolving needs of the sector and to provide quality infrastructure to support the targeted population growth for the city as provided for in the RSES/NPF. In this regard a number of significant projects are currently identified for advancement. These include for investment in the repurposing of Lenaboy Castle for use as a dedicated creative and cultural hub. Projects also include the refurbishment of the Manse at Nun’s Island Theatre as a creativity hub and meeting place for independent artists, the expansion of the Galway City Museum and Comerford House with the support of Fáilte Ireland, as part of the development of the Atlantic Museum Galway, and the development of a cultural facility at Merchant’s Row. In conjunction with these projects the potential to deliver new area based arts and cultural infrastructure to meet the needs of the city’s growing population and changing communities is being examined for the wider city. The creation of micro cultural and creative spaces disbursed across the city is essential to enable greater engagement in cultural and creative activity amongst more marginalised audiences and communities which is a fundamental ambition of the Council. To reflect and expand on the unique influence of culture and the impact it has on defining the character of the city the Development Plan will require major new quarters in the city to integrate infrastructure and opportunities for arts and cultural activities into the development of strategic regeneration sites. As part of the investment in public realm in the city, outdoor public and amenity spaces will be designed and built with flexible capacity to adapt and allow for public performance and engagement with the arts. This aligns with national policy as recommended in the Government’s Arts and Culture Recovery Taskforce (2020). In addition the Council will work to develop accessible micro cultural spaces in public and community buildings and spaces in the city, including the suburbs in order to embed cultural appreciation in everyday activity and will also encourage public art to be incorporated into all large developments. Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029 193
- Community and CultureFestivals and events form an important part of the arts and cultural life and calendar of the city. Galway is home to festivals of national and international importance including the Galway International Arts Festival, Cúirt International Festival of Literature, The Galway Film Fleadh and the Baboró International Arts Festival for Children among others. The city also has the capacity to host events of varying scales from the large scale Volvo Ocean Race Festival in 2009 and 2012 and the annual Continental Christmas Market to small scale street performances. These represent a significant economic cultural asset to the city and add to its attractiveness to residents and visitors. The Council also supports the Green your Festival initiative which aims to reduce the environmental impact of festivals and events. The city’s successful bid to be designated as a European Capital of Culture for 2020 builds on previous successes, such as the UNESCO City of Film designation, the Urbanism Great Town award, the FDI Micro-City of the Year award in 2014, the European Green Leaf Award 2017, European Region of Gastronomy 2018. A legacy planning process is currently underway to evaluate the impact of Galway 2020 and to inform a legacy framework which will be published in December 2021 and demonstrate the lasting cultural, social and economic benefits delivered from hosting the European Capital of Culture. The Per Cent for Art Scheme provides for an allocation from the overall costs of publically funded capital, infrastructural and building development to be used in commissioning works of public art. The Galway City Arts Office will continue to facilitate implementation of the scheme on an ongoing basis, as an important source of funding that can assist enabling artists to imagine and create new and ambitious work across all art forms and art practice areas. 194 Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029
- Community and CulturePolicy 7.2 Creative City 1. Promote Galway as a city of culture and arts excellence, a hub for the creative and cultural industries and support Everybody Matters A Cultural Sustainability Strategy Framework for Galway 2016-2025. 2. Support and facilitate the aims of the New Directions: Galway City Council Arts Plan 2021-2026 and Action Plan 2021-2024 3. Facilitate and encourage the provision of new and improved arts and culture facilities in the city and in district and neighbourhood centres and where identified in New Directions: Galway City Council Arts Plan 2021-2026. 4. Implement the actions of the Galway City Council Heritage Plan 2016-2021 and subsequent plans. 5. Participate in the ‘Per cent for Art’ Scheme where the Council’s capital and infrastructure projects are supported by the scheme to deliver public art and the associated community engagement in conjunction with the Galway City Arts Office. 6. Facilitate the delivery of public art by ensuring large-scale developments incorporate and deliver works of public art that facilitate interpretation of place and community. 7. Enable expansion of accessible arts and culture infrastructure by requiring such facilities to be integrated into planned development on designated Regeneration and Opportunity Sites. 8. Ensure that future culture and arts facilities are located, designed and laid out to be accessible by walking, cycling and public transport, in particular the sustainable networks and associated proposals included for in the Galway Transport Strategy. 9. Support the delivery of strategic arts and cultural infrastructure in the city including the expansion of the City Museum; a new arts performance and exhibition space; a municipal gallery; a new city public library; a creative and cultural hub for children and young people and other key infrastructure as identified in Everybody Matters A Cultural Sustainability Strategy Framework for Galway 2016-2025 and New Directions: Galway City Council Arts Plan 2021-2026. 10. Support the use of public outdoor spaces for public performance, festivals, events and engagement with the arts and culture activities in accordance with Galway City Public Realm Strategy 2019 and accompanying manuals. 11. Support a creative hub for multidisciplinary artists that can provide space for a range of activities. 12. Co-ordinate with other service providers in the provision of culture, arts and community facilities and where appropriate support the temporary use of vacant buildings/sites for arts and cultural purposes. 13. In conjunction with the Arts Office and in line with the aims of Everyone Matters A Cultural Sustainability Strategy Framework For Galway 2016-2025 seek to develop a feasibility model for the provision of artist live-work space during the lifetime of the Development Plan. 14. Promote a high standard, sustainable quality and innovativeness in architecture and design, recognising Places for People - the National Policy on Architecture and the contribution of architecture to culture and its value as an art form Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029 195
- Community and Culture7.3 Inclusive City The Development Plan recognises that quality of life and wellbeing are inextricably linked to the places and environments that people live in. In this regard the Plan can play an important role in creating a socially inclusive and healthy communities. A strategic goal of the Development Plan is ‘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’. Social inclusion seeks to ensure that everyone regardless of their background, experiences and circumstances can gain access to the services and facilities they need to achieve their own potential in life. It seeks to create an inclusive and fair society, combating inequality, social exclusion and poverty. The City Council, through the LECP and other initiatives will take a positive and collaborative role in working with communities to improve social inclusion and the health and wellbeing in the city. One of the high level goals for the LECP is to ‘ensure Galway City is an equal and inclusive city region’. This includes promoting social inclusion by reducing poverty and alleviating disadvantage, supporting the full integration and equality of all and recognising and supporting the value that diversity brings to the city. Galway City Council will continue to support and facilitate social inclusion policies and activities across the entire range of local authority activities through the Council’s Social Inclusion Unit and by working with relevant stakeholders. The social needs of the community can be recognised and addressed in the planning of the built environment and the public realm in order to create living and integrated communities. The policies of the Development Plan on housing, community and cultural facilities, childcare, employment opportunities, public realm and accessibility can encourage social inclusion and build sustainable communities. The Council seeks to prevent undue segregation through application of the Housing Strategy 2023-29. It encourages a variety of house types and sizes throughout the city to cater for all including families, single person households and those with specialist housing needs such as members of the Traveller Community, older people, people with disabilities and people who are homeless. People with disabilities Galway City Council is committed to working with people with disabilities and their representative groups to facilitate their access to housing, transport, employment and the built environment. Ireland’s ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (UNCRPD) in 2018 places an obligation on the Irish state to ensure people with disabilities have equal civil and political, social and economic rights across all sectors. Having regarding to obligations under the UNCRPD, the Council will work with relevant stakeholders to support the implementation of the UNCRPD at the local level. In addition, the Council is a signatory to the Barcelona Declaration of 1995, which promotes universal access in the public realm, public buildings and services and encourages participation of people with disabilities in the social, economic and cultural life of the city. Galway City Council supports the installation of Changing Places facilities (specialised toilet facilities) in the City and particularly in recreational and amenity spaces. In addition, Galway City Council supports and encourages the provision of these facilities in any new building developments where the public have access in large numbers, such as, educational establishments, cultural buildings, health facilities and sport and leisure facilities. The Council will continue to support the development of a high quality, inclusive, accessible and affordable housing, transport, employment, built environment and public realm though the implementation of disability legislation, the building regulations, Universal Design Guidelines and the Galway City Public Realm Strategy. 196 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.