Kildare County Development Plan 2023–2029 — Chapter 1: Introduction and Strategic Context

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   Strategic Vision: To build on the strengths of the county in order to improve the quality of life of all residents, through the creation of high-quality job opportunities, by the provision of high-quality residential development supported by adequate community infrastructure, through the provision of a high-quality sustainable transport network, by healthy placemaking and transformational regeneration, by supporting the transition to a low carbon climate resilient environment, by embracing inclusiveness and by enhancing our natural and built environment for future generations. Chapter 1 Introduction and Strategic Context 1.1 Introduction The Kildare County Development Plan 2023-2029 is the key strategy document which structures the proper planning and sustainable development of land-use across County Kildare over the six-year statutory time period of the plan. The Development Plan (the Plan) seeks to address the physical, economic, social, and environmental needs of the community, in terms of supporting structured new development, protecting the environment, enhancing valued assets and amenities. The preparation of the Plan has regard to key recent development trends and national, regional, and local policy documents, in particular, the National Planning Framework (NPF) and the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy for the Eastern Midland Region (RSES). The Development Plan relates to the whole functional area of Kildare County Council which includes the five Municipal Districts (see Map V1-1.1) as follows: • Naas Municipal District • Clane-Maynooth Municipal District • Athy Municipal District • Celbridge-Leixlip Municipal District • Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District 1.2 Public Sector Duty All public bodies in Ireland have responsibility, under the Public Sector Duty, to promote equality, prevent discrimination and protect the human rights of their employees, customers, service users, and everyone affected by their policies and plans. This is a legal obligation and is contained in Section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Act 2014. Kildare County Council in preparing the Kildare County Development Plan 2023-2029 must A. assess and identify the human rights and equality issues that are relevant to the land use plan. B. identify the policies and practices that they have in place or that they plan to put in place to address these issues and C. must report in a manner accessible to the public on their developments and achievement in that regard (such as through the Section 15 (Planning and Development Acts) 2 Year Progress Report on Implementation of the CDP).2

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   Kildare County Council, across all its plan-making functions is committed to ensuring that there is a culture of respect for human rights and equality in the plans we prepare and for the people whom the plans effect. As part of aligning and integrating our Public Sector Duty with our strategic plan making processes, Kildare County Council will seek to ensure all relevant policies, objectives, and actions of our plans, address social inclusion, spatial justice and accessibility to all amenities and services. These policies, objectives and actions will be implemented and delivered through the development management processes. While many of the policies, objectives and actions of the County Development Plan align with the Public Sector Duty, of particular note; • Policy SC P3 where it is the stated policy of the Council to promote social inclusion and spatial justice through equality of access to services and facilities and to assist in the removal of barriers to full participation in society. • Policy SC P5 to “Ensure all buildings, public and open spaces and recreational and amenity areas are accessible for people with disabilities, having regard to the Building Regulations, the objectives of ‘Building for Everyone’ (National Disability Authority), ‘Access for the Disabled’ (nos. 1 to 3) (National Rehabilitation Board), and the Irish Wheelchair Association Best Practice Guidelines: Designing Accessible Environments.” • Policy SC P8 to “Consider ethnicity and cultural diversity in planning for the needs of communities and to support the provision of services and community facilities that reflect the varying needs of ethnic minority groups to facilitate ease of integration into local communities”. Of further note is SC O21 where it is a stated objective of the Council to “work with all target groups, such as young people (including among other networks, Comhairle na nÓg), older people, people with disabilities, migrants, ethnic minorities, including Traveller and Roma communities, to advance, encourage and support their full participation in society.” and Objective SC O44 to “Support the actions and objectives set out in the Kildare Integration Strategy 2014-2019 and the National Migration Integration Strategy 2017-2020 (or any subsequent updated strategies)”. Further relevant policies, objectives and actions are set out in Chapter 10 of the Plan. 1.3 Profile of County Kildare Kildare is an inland county covering an area of 169,550 hectares. It occupies a strategic position within the Eastern Region of the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly and also forms part of the Greater Dublin Area (GDA). Kildare is both a significant population base and a significant residential base within the State with the eighth largest household stock nationally. The most recent census in Ireland was in 20221. The following infographic (Figure 1.1) provides highlights of the profile of the county. 1 Preliminary Census 2022 data was published by the CSO on 23rd June 2022 which indicates that County Kildare has a current population of 246,977 persons. Detailed CSO data and population analysis for the County will not be published until 2023.3

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   1.4 Policy Context A development plan shall, as far as practicable, be consistent with the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended), national plans, regional spatial and economic strategies, and policies and strategies which relate to the proper planning and sustainable development of land. Figure 1.2 - Policy Context Overview5

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   1.4.1 Contents of Development Plans: Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) The Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) sets out a legislative requirement for the making of a Development Plan. The Plan must include a number of mandatory objectives and the Act also sets out a list of discretionary objectives which, where appropriate, shall be incorporated into the Plan. The Development Plan shall include the following mandatory objectives: • Zoning of land. • Provision, or facilitation of the provision, of infrastructure. • Conservation and protection of the environment. • Management of features of the landscape, such as traditional field boundaries. • Promotion of compliance with environmental standards and objectives established for bodies of surface waters and groundwater. • Integration of the social, community and cultural requirements. • Preservation of the character of the landscape including the preservation of views and prospects and the amenities of places and features of natural beauty or interest. • Protection of structures, or parts of structures, which are of special architectural, historical, archaeological, artistic, cultural, scientific, social or technical interest. • Preservation of the character of architectural conservation areas. • Development and renewal of areas identified having regard to the core strategy, that are in need of regeneration. • Provision of accommodation for travellers and the use of particular areas for that purpose. • Preservation, improvement and extension of amenities and recreational amenities. • Control of establishments under the provisions of the Major Accidents Directive. • Provision, or facilitation of the provision, of services for the community, including, in particular, schools, crèches and other education and childcare facilities. • Protection of the linguistic and cultural heritage of the Gaeltacht where there is a Gaeltacht in the area of the Plan. • Promotion of sustainable settlement and transportation strategies, including measures to reduce energy demand, greenhouse gas emissions and address the necessity of adaptation to climate change in particular having regard to the location, layout and design of new development. • Preservation of public rights of way which give access to seashore, mountain, lakeshore, riverbank or other places of natural beauty or recreational utility. • Provide a framework for the identification, assessment, protection, management and planning of landscapes.6

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   1.4.2 Project Ireland 2040: National Planning Framework (NPF) The National Planning Framework (NPF) is the Government’s high-level strategic plan for shaping the future growth and development of the country to the year 2040. The NPF sets out ten National and Strategic Outcomes and 75 National Policy Objectives. The purpose of the NPF is to enable all parts of Ireland, whether rural or urban, to successfully accommodate growth and change, by facilitating a shift towards Ireland’s regions and cities other than Dublin, while also recognising Dublin’s ongoing key role. Figure 1.3 - National Strategic Outcomes Source: National Planning Framework 1.4.3 Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy for the Eastern and Midlands Regional Assembly The aim of the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES) is to strengthen the settlement structure of the Region and to capitalise on the individual and collective strengths of the region’s cities, towns, and rural areas. It provides policy responses in the form of Regional Policy Objectives to ensure that people’s needs, such as access to housing, jobs, ease of travel and overall well-being are met. The Development Plan is required to be consistent with the RSES. The Strategy is underpinned by three key principles: healthy placemaking, climate action and economic opportunity.7

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   Figure 1.4 - Three Key Principles of the RSES 1.4.4 Ministerial Guidelines The Development Plan must have regard to guidelines issued by the Government, known as Section 28 Guidelines. Many of these Guidelines contain Specific Planning Policy Requirements (SPPRs) which need to be applied across the relevant sections of the Plan. Appendix 8 provides a Statement of Compliance with the Section 28 Ministerial Guidelines. 1.5 Climate Change This Plan is set in a context where climate change is accepted as a global challenge and requires climate action responses in adaptation and mitigation to ensure a healthy, economically thriving, liveable built environment. The Government has adopted the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 which provides for the approval of plans by the Government for the purpose of pursuing the transition to a climate resilient, biodiversity rich and climate neutral economy by no later than the end of the year 2050. These plans will provide for carbon budgets and sectoral emissions and ceilings to different sectors of the Irish economy. The government has previously published the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015, the National Mitigation Plan 2017, and the National Adaptation Framework 2018. Towards the end of 2019, the Kildare County Council Climate Change Adaptation Strategy 2019-2024 was finalised. The Strategy forms part of Ireland’s national strategy for climate adaptation as set out in the National Adaptation Framework 2018 (NAF) which was mandated under the provisions of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015. The purpose of this Strategy was to ensure that climate adaptation considerations are mainstreamed into all plans and policies and integrated into all operations and functions of the local authority. The land use and development objectives contained within the Strategy seek to; integrate climate action consideration into land use planning policy, explore policies to help the transition to a climate resilient low carbon society, and promote and maximise the most efficient and sustainable use of land. Therefore, climate change adaptation considerations are at the forefront of the formulation of this Plan in order to build resilience in our economy, environment and communities.8

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   The Council is currently preparing a Sustainable Energy Climate Action Plan (SECAP) which will include targets to reach the county’s climate change goals over the short, medium and longer term. When published, the targets identified in the SECAP may be incorporated into the County Development Plan by way of a statutory variation pursuant to Section 13 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended). 1.6 Sustainable Development Goals The UN Sustainable Development Goals (Global Goals) are a call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity vital for a recovery that leads to greener, more inclusive economies and stronger, more resilient societies. There is significant alignment between the UN SDGs and the National Planning Framework’s National Strategic Outcomes (NSOs) in areas such as climate action, clean energy, sustainable cities and communities, economic growth, reduced inequalities and innovation and infrastructure, as well as education and health. The Development Plan seeks to make the right choices now to improve life, in a sustainable way, for future generations.9

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    1.7 Composition of the Plan The Development Plan consists of a written statement indicating the development objectives for the county. The written statement is accompanied by a number of Volumes and supporting Appendices. 1.7.1 Volume 1 Written Statement The Written Statement constitutes the main body of the document which comprises the Vision, Core Strategy, development management standards and the overarching policies and objectives of the Plan. Chapter 1 Introduction & Strategic Context Chapter 2 Core Strategy and Settlement Hierarchy. Chapter 3 Housing Chapter 4 Resilient Economy & Job Creation Chapter 5 Sustainable Mobility & Transport Chapter 6 Infrastructure & Environmental Services Chapter 7 Energy & Communications Chapter 8 Retail Chapter 9 Our Rural Economy Chapter 10 Community Infrastructure & Creative Places Chapter 11 Built & Cultural Heritage Chapter 12 Biodiversity & Green Infrastructure Chapter 13 Landscape, Recreation & Amenity Chapter 14 Urban Design, Placemaking & Regeneration Chapter 15 Development Management Standards Chapter 16 Implementation & Monitoring Framework Chapter 17 Infrastructural Assessment Report 1.7.2 Volume 2 Small Towns and Villages Strategy The Small Towns and Villages Strategy (STVS) provides a coherent planning framework for the small towns, villages, and rural settlements across the county. The Strategy includes land use zoning maps and specific objectives which are underpinned by the strategic vision and the overarching guiding principles of this Plan. When zoning land within the settlements, due regard was had particularly to NPO 18b of the National Planning Framework in identifying serviced sites in order to promote compact growth and to alleviate further pressure on the rural areas of Kildare for oneoff housing. 1.7.3 Volume 3 Environmental Assessments A number of standalone environmental assessments are required under specific environmental legislation which are being prepared to inform the Plan and will be published alongside the written statement of the Plan. These comprise of a Strategic Environmental Assessment, an Appropriate Assessment, and a Strategic Flood Risk assessment. Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) The Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is the term which has been given to the formal systematic evaluation of the likely significant environmental effects of implementing a plan or programme before a decision is made to adopt the plan or programme. It is a systematic process of predicting and evaluating the likely10

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