Galway City Development Plan 2023–2029

1. Page 311

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   Land Use Zoning Objectives and Development Standards and Guidelines Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029 307 Figure 11.32 Neighbourhood Areas Car Parking – General The approach to car parking for the purpose of assessment of planning applications is applied to developments based on spatial location, public transport services with flexibility to achieve performance based outcomes, in particular for infill and brownfield developments. This approach will be applied to the varying standards between the four defined neighbourhood areas and are centred on the following: • Parking is set at a maximum level of provision. • Flexibility is encouraged where grouped car parking is provided. • Reduced requirement is encouraged in mixed use areas in particular where peak demands do not coincide and where multi-purpose trips are anticipated and in circumstances where mobility management measures are deemed satisfactory. • Consideration of reduction in requirements will also apply along existing and planned strategic public transport corridors depending on the prevailing level of service at that time. In the city centre area where the GTS includes for significant investment in sustainable modes and where the most strategic Regeneration and Opportunity Sites are located the requirements for car parking will be linked to performance based outcomes. All developments will be subject to the standard traffic and transport assessments. Parking standards for residential developments are set out under each of the four defined neighbourhoods. Castlegar Tuam Road Ballinfoile Dangan Tirellan Ardaun Ballybaan Mervue Doughiska Newcastle Ballyburke Westside Shantalla Bohermore College Road Woodquay City Core Lough Atalia Renmore Ballymoneen Taylor's Hill Fr. Griffin Long Walk Road Salthill Claddagh Roscam Knocknacarra KEY Outer Suburbs Established Suburbs Inner Residential Areas City Centre Residential

2. Page 312

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   Land Use Zoning Objectives and Development Standards and Guidelines 308 Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029 Sustainable Urban Housing: Design Standards for New Apartment 2020 should be applied to any new apartment developments. The standards accept that the quantum of car parking or the requirement for any such provision for apartment developments will vary, having regard to the types of location in cities and towns that may be suitable for apartment development, broadly based on proximity and accessibility criteria. For all types of location, where it is sought to eliminate or reduce car parking provision, it is necessary to ensure, where possible, the provision of an appropriate number of drop off, service, visitor parking spaces and parking for the mobility impaired. Provision is also to be made for alternative mobility solutions including facilities for car sharing, club vehicles and cycle parking and secure storage. It is also a requirement to demonstrate specific measures that enable car parking provisions to be reduced or avoided. Cycle parking for all areas shall be provided as per the requirements in Section 11.3.1(h). 11.3.1 Outer Suburbs 11.3.1 (a) General • All relevant residential development shall comply with the requirements of the Housing Strategy and Housing Needs Demand Assessment. • Planning applications for residential developments on sites over one hectare in area shall include a design statement that demonstrates the relationship between the proposed development to the site context, adjoining developments, the achievement of safe and convenient movement within the site, and how existing features are to be integrated into the development. Some sites, in particular those designated Regeneration or Opportunity Sites may require more detailed design frameworks. • Residential development shall be laid out in such a way to maximise accessibility and permeability to local services, public transport and to encourage walking and cycling. • Pedestrian, cycle and vehicular movement shall be convenient, safe, attractive and integrated into the overall layout of the development and shall reflect the movement hierarchy in DMURs. • The layout of all new residential development shall have regard to adjoining developments and undeveloped zoned land. Where appropriate, linkages and complementary open spaces shall be provided between adjoining developments. • Gated residential developments will be discouraged. • Innovative layouts, including courtyard developments, shared open spaces and the clustering of dwellings shall be used, where appropriate, to achieve high standards of amenity. • Existing trees, hedgerows, watercourses and stone walls and other features of high natural value shall be retained and integrated within new developments. A landscaping scheme including hard and soft landscaping, and incorporating SuDS principles where appropriate, shall be designed as an integral part of the development. Such schemes shall include for use of native trees and other plant species, particularly pollinator friendly species. • Except where the Design Standards for New Apartments - Guidelines for Planning Authorities 2020 apply, residential density shall accord with the Sustainable Residential Development in Urban Areas Guidelines for Planning Authorities (DECLG, 2009). Consideration for higher density development. • Residential developments of 10 units and over shall normally provide a mix in type of residential units.

3. Page 313

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   Land Use Zoning Objectives and Development Standards and Guidelines Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029 309 • Non-residential development shall be considered at appropriate locations on residentially zoned lands where it is of a scale that serves the local need and where all other development management requirements are satisfied. Plot ratio for such commercial, leisure, community and mixed developments on residentially zoned lands shall not normally exceed 1:1. On link roads or other major access roads where commercial development will contribute to the quality of urban design and is otherwise acceptable a higher plot ratio may be considered. • Where commercial developments are acceptable on residentially zoned land, 10% of the area of a site, shall normally be provided as open space. Where the development includes residential uses, communal and private open space standards in 11.3.1(c) shall apply. • Childcare facilities shall be provided within residential development as indicated in 11.13 and Chapter 7. • All construction associated with footpaths, sewers, drains and water supply in residential developments, shall comply with Recommendations for Site Development Works for Housing Areas (DELG 1998) and any subsequent amendments and/or any additional specification required by the City Council, Irish Water and Building Regulations. • Planning applications for new large-scale residential developments shall be accompanied by assessments of the capacity of local schools to accommodate the proposed development in line with national guidance. • Developments shall take cognisance of the requirements associated with Traffic Management Guidelines (2019), DMURS (2019), including any supplemental advice notes and Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (NRA 2013). 11.3.1 (b) Standards for Roads and Streets in New Residential Development: A quality street design audit may be required for larger projects or as a stand-alone audit process for smaller projects at planning application stage where the emphasis on placemaking and promoting the multidisciplinary aspects of successful street design. This is an auditing tool that can be used to ensure that the four major aspects of street design as set out in DMURS: Connectivity, Self-Regulating Street Environment, Pedestrian and Cycling Environment, and Visual Quality are appropriately taken into account. Potential applicants for planning permission should engage in pre-planning discussions to ascertain which audits, if any, should be submitted with the application. The requirements for roads and footpaths will generally be those set out City Council ‘Taking in Charge Policy Document’, and DMURS (2019), including any supplemental advice notes. Where an innovative layout is accepted by the Planning Authority variations to these requirements may be accepted. In allowing any deviation in the general requirements, the primary consideration will be the safety of pedestrians, cyclists and access for emergency vehicles. Arterial and Link routes are multi-modal routes, facilitating movement by a range of road users. Local streets are required to be designed to reinforce pedestrian and cyclist priority and place-making with design speeds set at 30kph (or lower) in line with best DMURS practice and incorporate filtered permeability techniques. Arterial Streets (DMURS): These are the major routes within which key locations are connected. They may also include major cross city routes within the city. These roads may have residential and commercial frontage and there may be significant movements of pedestrians and cyclists. The following apply: • Public transport along Arterial/Link streets can be prioritised by measures such as Quality Bus Corridors and public transport corridors. • Measures for pedestrians and cyclists will be included for in the design.

4. Page 314

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   Land Use Zoning Objectives and Development Standards and Guidelines 310 Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029 • Direct access to individual dwellings and parking spaces will not generally be considered. Buildings that face onto these roads shall be of a scale appropriate to the width of the road and associated open areas. • Designs should not provide unnecessarily wide roads since these encourage higher speeds. • The use of landscaping measures in verges will be required. • Roads shall meet requirements of the Traffic Management Guidelines (2019) with respect to geometric and visibility standards. • The design of streets and roads shall have regard to the DMURS (2019), including any supplemental advice notes. • The design of streets and roads shall have regard to Road Safety Impact Assessment (RSIA) and Road Safety Audit (RSA) standards. Link Streets (DMURS): These provide the links to Arterial streets, or between Centres, Neighbourhoods, and/or Suburbs. These roads may have direct access and may have some parallel parking. These roads should allow for ease of cycle and pedestrian movement and crossing. For these roads the following apply: • Measures for pedestrian and cyclists will be included for in the design. • A 2.5m footpath is generally required on each side of the carriageway. This is the desirable space for two people to pass comfortably for areas of low to moderate pedestrian activity. This increases to 3.0m for areas of moderate to high pedestrian activity and 4.0 m in areas of high pedestrian activity. • On Arterial and Link streets with no on-street parking a verge of 1.5-2m should generally be provided as a buffer and to facilitate the planting of large street trees and items of street furniture. • The use of landscaping measures in verges will be required. • Buildings, which face onto these roads, shall be of a scale appropriate to the width of the road, parking and associated open spaces. • Road shall meet requirements of the Traffic Management Guidelines (2019) and DMURS (2019) with respect to geometric and visibility standards. • The design of streets and roads shall have regard to the DMURS (2019). • The design of streets and roads shall have regard to Road Safety Impact Assessment (RSIA) and Road Safety Audit (RSA) standards. Local Streets: These are the streets that provide access within communities and to Arterial and Link streets. These generally serve small groups of houses up to fifty dwellings, with direct dwelling access and parking. These can incorporate ‘home zones’ or have shared surfaces. These surfaces can be shared between pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles. For these streets and roads the following apply: • Design for slower speeds within local streets (i.e. 10-30 km/h). • Where a carriageway is provided the width shall be 5.0 – 5.5m. • There is no minimum requirement for verges on Local Streets, but maybe included where they add to safety /public realm. • Generally 1.8m footpaths are required. This is the minimum space for two people to pass comfortably and is appropriate in areas of low footfall. • Where shared surfaces are provided a road/street shall have varying width, with a minimum width of 4.8m and an approximate maximum of 6m.

5. Page 315

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   Land Use Zoning Objectives and Development Standards and Guidelines Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029 311 Design of a road/street should encourage the use of the shared space for amenity purposes and ensures the safety of other people using the shared space. Roads shall meet requirements of the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government: Traffic Management Guidelines, 2019 and DMURS (2019) with respect to geometric and visibility standards. The design of streets and roads shall have regard to the DMURS (2019), including any supplemental advice notes. The design of streets and roads shall have regard to Road Safety Impact Assessment (RSIA) and Road Safety Audit (RSA) standards. 11.3.1 (c) Amenity Open Space Provision in Residential Developments All residential developments shall provide for amenity open space areas made up of the following ratios: Communal Open Space: Communal recreation and amenity space is required at a rate of 15% of the gross site area. It should be provided as multi-functional open space in new residential developments easily accessible to all, encouraging active and passive use for persons of all abilities regardless of mobility and/or age. Subject to appropriate safeguards to protect residential amenity, reduced public open space may be considered for infill development. Public open space provision will be examined in the context of the quality and quantum of private open space and the proximity of to publicly accessible open space. Residential developments of 4 units or less may be exempt from the 15% open space provision on greenfield sites. The Council will determine on a case-by-case basis where it is demonstrated that the function of the space is not viable and can be better used as part of private open space. Where acceptable are proposed, in accordance with Council Guidelines, the shared spaces shall be regarded as communal open space but shall not exceed one third of the total communal open space requirement. Shared spaces shall be regarded as communal open space where it is designed primarily to meet the needs of pedestrians, cyclists, children and residents and where the traffic speeds and dominance of the cars is reduced through design. Lands zoned for Recreation and Amenity use (RA) shall not be included as part of the open space requirements or used for density calculation for housing developments. Communal open space in all types of residential development should: Be visually as well as functionally accessible to the maximum number of dwellings within the residential area. Be overlooked by residential units. Integrate natural features (for example natural contours, outcrops of rock), where appropriate, as part of the open space. Be viable spaces, linked together where possible, designed as an integral part of the overall layout and adjoining neighbouring communal open spaces. Not include narrow pedestrian walkways, which are not overlooked by house frontages. Create safe, convenient and accessible amenity areas for persons of all abilities regardless of mobility or age. Generally no rear boundaries should face onto public open space. Blank gables shall not, generally face onto roads or streets. Side boundary walls, which face onto public open space, should be minimised. Provide for quality hard and soft landscaping and incorporate urban greening and encourage biodiversity.

6. Page 316

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   Land Use Zoning Objectives and Development Standards and Guidelines 312 Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029 In all proposed residential development over ten units, a recreational facility shall be provided as part of the communal open space and funded by the developer. The recreational facility should be provided to serve the needs of the residents and should reflect the profile of future residents, the scale and type of development. Indicative examples of recreational facilities for different sizes of developments are shown in Table 11.2. The Recreation and Amenity Department will give further guidance in relation to any proposed recreation facility and should be consulted in advance regarding suitable facilities. Table 11. 2 Indicative Examples of Recreational Facilities for Different Sizes of Residential Developments. Number of Examples of Recreational Facilities Residential Units 0-10 Informal play areas with seat and natural features at appropriate scale to amenity and recreational facility and to include green infrastructure 11-20 Natural play equipment/natural play area, teen area with seating, picnic infrastructure 21-50 Small playground, kick about area, landscaped garden/small park 51-100 MUGA, outdoor gym, self-directed play (may include skateboard or other equipment) 100+ Large playgrounds for all ages, playing pitch, landscape park Private Open Space: Private open space (areas generally not overlooked from a public road) exclusive of car spaces shall be provided at a rate of not less than 50% of the gross floor area of the residential unit. This open space should where practicable relate directly to the residential unit, which it serves. Some sites will not have the facility to accommodate all of the required provision of the total private amenity space directly and satisfactorily adjoining each individual unit. Therefore, in certain site conditions and development types, provision of private open space may be made up of areas of communal open space, for example, in apartment developments provision of private open space may be made up of areas of communal open space, balconies or terraces. The scale of proposed extensions shall ensure that an adequate level of private open space is retained on site. Outdoor private space should allow space for ancillary domestic uses such as outside dining, clothes drying, reasonable circulation and landscaping. Consideration can be given to domestic extensions that result in less than the development plan standard of 50% of the GFA of the residential unit, where adequate level of private open space is retained on site, or on very constrained sites such as those located in the city centre. Developments which are exclusively apartment developments shall adhere to the private open space standards set out in the Sustainable Urban Housing: Design Standards for New Apartments (2020).

7. Page 317

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   Land Use Zoning Objectives and Development Standards and Guidelines shall be suitably landscaped. Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029 313 11.3.1 (d) Overlooking Residential units shall generally not directly overlook private open space or land with development potential from above ground floor level by less than 11 metres minimum. In the case of developments exceeding 2 storeys in height a greater distance than 11 metres may be required, depending on the specific site characteristics. With regard to domestic extensions, architectural resolutions to prevent overlooking may be considered, where the linear 11m standard is marginally less, and the overlooking impact is reduced through design. 11.3.1 (e) Daylight All buildings should receive adequate daylight and sunlight. All habitable rooms must be naturally ventilated and lit and living rooms and bedrooms shall not be lit solely by roof lights. Daylight sunlight and/or overshadowing assessment, utilising best practice tools, may be required to assess the impact of development on the amenity of adjoining properties. The requirement for such assessments will be agreed with the planning authority prior to planning application. In this regard, development shall be guided by the quantitative performance approaches and recommendations under the 'Site Layout Planning for Daylight and Sunlight' (2nd Edition): A Guideline to Good Practice (BRE 2011) and BS 8206-2: 2008 - 'Lighting for Buildings - Part 2: Code of Practice for Daylighting' or any updated guidance. 11.3.1 (f) Distance between Dwellings for New Residential Development The distance between side gables and side boundaries of dwellings shall generally be a minimum of 1.5 metres. Within all other residential developments, including apartment buildings and large dwellings, (greater than 200m2), the distance between buildings shall generally be greater unless deemed acceptable under specific site performance based criteria, this is to provide a good layout and context for the development. 11.3.1 (g) Car Parking Standards In order to provide for flexibility in residential layouts the following are the options for car parking requirements: 2 on-site spaces per dwelling and 1 grouped visitor space per 3 dwellings or 1 on-site space per dwelling and 1 grouped visitor space per dwellings or 1.5 grouped spaces per dwelling and 1 grouped visitor space per 3 dwellings 3 spaces for dwellings over 200m2 and I grouped visitor space per 3 dwellings 1 space for one bedroom residential dwellings and 1 grouped visitor per 3 dwellings These standards should not be exceeded unless acceptable additional need can be demonstrated. Where on site car-parking space is to be provided in the front garden the following standards shall apply: The car parking space shall be 2.5m x 5m minimum. The vehicular entrance shall not normally exceed 3m in width, or where the local context and pattern of development allows, not wider than 50 per cent of the width of the front boundary. Where feasible the maximum extent of boundary wall/hedging shall be retained. Where gates are provided they shall not open outwards. Front gardens shall not be completely dedicated to car parking. The balance of space

8. Page 318

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   Land Use Zoning Objectives and Development Standards and Guidelines 314 Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029 To prevent the area to the front of small scale apartment and townhouses developments being completely dedicated to car parking, the parking area shall be visually broken up. Car parking rows shall be broken up with trees, planters or some other feature which shall soften the visual impact of the car parking areas at a minimum interval of 6 car parking spaces. Where grouped parking is provided, the parking shall be dispersed throughout a residential development. Group car-parking spaces shall not be allocated to individual residential units within residential developments and such grouped car-parking spaces shall be made available for all inhabitants/ visitors of the development. Where possible the grouped car parking shall be surfaced in a different material treatment or colour to the road surface. 11.3.1 (h) Cycle Parking Standards All cycling facilities will be assessed in accordance with the National Cycle Manual and any subsequent national guidance document and shall be in accordance with ratio of provision as included for in Table 11.3 Table 11.3 Cycle Parking Requirements for Residential Developments Residential Development 1 Short Stay (Visitor) 1 Long Stay Parking Space Type Parking Space Per: Per: (Minimum of 2 Spaces) (Minimum of 2 Spaces) Apartments, Flats, Sheltered Housing 5 units 1 unit Houses-2 bed dwelling 5 units 1 unit Houses- 3 plus bed dwelling 5 units 1 unit Sheltered Housing 5 units 1 unit Student Accommodation 5 bedrooms 2 bedrooms For apartments: the following shall apply: A general minimum standard of 1 cycle storage space per bedroom shall be applied. For studio units, at least 1 cycle storage space shall be provided. Visitor cycle parking shall also be provided at a standard of 1 space per 2 residential units. The location of cycle storage facilities should be directly accessible from the public road or from a shared private area that gives direct access to the public road avoiding unnecessarily long access routes with poor passive security or, slopes that can become hazardous in winter weather. Any deviation from these standards shall be at the discretion of the planning authority and shall be justified with respect to factors such as location, quality of facilities proposed and flexibility for future enhancement.

9. Page 319

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   Land Use Zoning Objectives and Development Standards and Guidelines Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029 315 11.3.1 (i) Refuse Storage Standards Each residential unit shall have adequate storage for three wheeled bins to facilitate the recycling policy of the City Council. Residential units with no rear access shall provide adequate storage for the bins to the front of the development, in contained units. For residential units without suitable private open space a set of three x 240 litre bins shall be provided for each pair of apartments or a set of three 1100 litre bins shall be provided for a block of ten apartments. Refuse storage shall generally be on the ground floor of developments and be screened from public view and adjacent to the block it serves and adequately ventilated. For apartment developments refuse facilities shall be accessible to each apartment stair/ lift core and designed with regard to the projected level of waste generation and types and quantities of receptacles required. The general design considerations in Section 4.9 of the Sustainable Urban Housing: Design Standards for Apartments (2020) should be taken into account in the provision of refuse storage facilities 11.3.1 (j) Conversion and Subdivision of Dwellings Small extensions or conversions for use as a home office, childcare facility or small enterprises by the occupier of the dwelling, at a scale as would not unduly interfere with the primary use of the dwelling as a private residence or adversely affect the general residential amenity will be considered. This may also apply with the exception of childcare facilities to existing dwellings in agricultural zoned areas. Home offices shall only be for use by the applicant with no additional staff for the carrying out of office type work of a nature that demand face to face interaction and shall not operate as a conventional commercial office in particular where members of the public/clients/patients/other can or need to attend. The home office shall be used as a single residential unit and cannot be rented/leased or sold or otherwise conveyed save as part of the entire residential unit. It shall be of an appropriate design and scale for its location and should not detract from the character of the area. It shall maintain minimum private open space requirements where an addition or new construction is proposed. Conversion or subdivision of large residential units on relatively large sites to multiple units, without a dramatic alteration in the prevailing character of the area will be considered. Part conversion will only be considered when the building is adjacent to commercial premises, adjoining major traffic routes or located on particularly large sites, where the character of the area is not adversely affected. The assessment of such proposals would have to take into consideration residential amenity, recreation and amenity space, urban design, architectural integrity, parking and traffic considerations. Part conversion to commercial units will only be considered where it can be demonstrated that the proposed use serves a local need and/ or is located with an established commercial area. Subject to appropriate safeguards to protect residential amenity, reduced public open space and car parking standards may be considered for proposals for dwelling sub-division or new multi-unit development replacing existing single-family units. Public open space provision will be examined in the context of the quality and quantum of private open space and the proximity of existing public open space amenities. Car parking will be examined in the context of public transport and active travel provision and the proximity of services and facilities, including convenience retail, education and healthcare.

10. Page 320

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    Land Use Zoning Objectives and Development Standards and Guidelines 316 Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029 11.3.1 (k) Self Contained Residential Units Self-contained residential units will be considered when: The unit is an integral part of the main dwelling capable of re-assimilation into the dwelling. Specific prior grant of planning permission is required for consequent subdivision of the site. This will generally be discouraged on amenity grounds. The unit is an addition to the existing structure or a garage conversion and shall generally be located at the side as opposed to the rear garden of the existing house. The floor area of the unit does not normally exceed the equivalent of 25% of the floor area of the existing house. Self-contained units will only be considered so long as the owner of the premises lives in the unit or the remainder of the premises as their main residence. 11.3.1 (l) Residential Extensions The design and layout of extensions to houses should complement the character and form of the existing building, having regard to its context and adjacent residential amenities. 11.3.2 Established Suburbs As per standards for Outer Suburbs except: 11.3.2 (a) General In the interests of sustainability and urban design, higher densities may be appropriate when new residential development or commercial/community development has regard to the prevailing pattern, form and density of these areas. 11.3.2 (b) Amenity Standards Shall be as per Outer Suburbs except in certain circumstances where the established form and layout would deem a reduction in these standards appropriate, in the interests of sustainability, architectural quality and urban design. These will be assessed on performance based criteria. 11.3.2 (c) Car Parking Standards 1 on-site per dwelling and 1 grouped visitor per 3 dwellings or, 1 space per dwelling if grouped. A reduction in these standards for may be considered appropriate where the provision of car parking would adversely affect the architectural character of the area. A reduction in these standards may be considered for infill development in established suburbs, where it can be clearly demonstrated that there is available public transport or active travel routes and a range of services and facilities, including convenience retail, education and healthcare in proximity. Generally, these standards should not be exceeded. 11.3.3 Inner Residential Areas As per standards for Established Suburbs except: 11.3.3 (a) Car Parking Standard Maximum 1 car parking space per dwelling

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