Development plan · Kilkenny County Council
Kilkenny City and County Development Plan 2021–2027 — Volume 2
A further volume of the council's development plan.
Kilkenny County Council · 2021–2027 · 135 pages
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- Introduction Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 2 3 1.5 Demographic and Socio-Economic Trends in Kilkenny City Population trends Kilkenny City recorded a population of 26,512 in 2016 which is an increase of 2,089 (8.6%) over the population recorded in 2011. Table 1.1 Recorded population 2002 - 2016 2002 2006 2011 2016 Kilkenny County 80,399 87,558 95,419 99,232 Kilkenny City 20,735 22,179 24,423 26,512 An increase of 2,089 persons was recorded in the intercensal period 2011 to 2016 which compares well with the 2,244 persons recorded in the period 2006 to 2011. Overall in the period 2002 to 2016, the city increased by 5,777 persons which is a 27% increase on the 2002 figure. This is higher than the gross County figure and shows that the pace of growth in the City has been at a faster rate than the county as a whole. Household Occupancy Kilkenny City’s household occupancy in 2016 was on average 2.57 persons per household. The distribution of household occupancy in terms of the CSO Small Areas is shown in Figure CS1 below. Most of the City is shown to be in the 2-3 persons per household with pockets of 3-4 persons and less than 2 persons per household. As Figure CS1 shows, in the rural area around the city, household size is in the 3 – 4 persons per household mainly.
- Introduction Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 2 4 Figure CS1: Household Occupancy in Kilkenny City 1.6 Kilkenny City’s profile Kilkenny remains buoyant as the 8th largest employment centre in the State with strong performance in agri-business, finance and tourism/hospitality. Kilkenny is host to a sizeable portfolio of international financial services companies and has strong activity in the future growth sectors of Fintech/Regtech/Insurtech and the global payments sector. It plays a critical role as a central location within the Ireland South East financial services cluster with key companies including State Street, Taxback Group, Carne Group and VHI. Kilkenny is home to the national headquarters of the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland. The city’s reputation as a centre for creativity and design thinking continues to be enhanced with the expansion of Cartoon Saloon and Lighthouse Studios; events such as the Tech Thursday Kilkenny, Kilkenomics, and Kilkenny Animated; and the development of the Abbey Quarter which will be an attractive destination for exciting and innovative companies in the design sector. Kilkenny has a well-developed tourism industry, with a range of attractions and activities to suit the holiday/visitor market. Kilkenny has earned a positive reputation over the years as a place where heritage is valued, and where standards are consistently high.
- Introduction Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 2 5 Kilkenny continues to set the standard for heritage tourism in Ireland, and has long promoted high standards of public realm presentation. Investment in the public realm pays dividends, and the long record of Tidy Towns awards are a direct result of high public realm presentation standards. In addition to public infrastructure, Kilkenny has seen significant private investment in attractions such as the Smithwick’s Experience along the Medieval Mile and venues such as The Hub at Cillín Hill. The new Medieval Mile Museum is evidence of the fruitful synergies which can be achieved and there is potential for further enhancement in the future with the recently opened Butler Gallery in the former Evan’s Home. Kilkenny has a central location in the south east with good road and rail links to Dublin and other key settlements. It is a growing Regional Centre for Higher Education and Research with TSSG3, the National Crafts Council of Ireland Level 8 design courses, the proposed development of the multi-campus Technological University of the South-East (TUSE) the Centre for Design in partnership with the Institute of Technology Carlow and the Precision Agriculture Centre of Excellence (PACE) established in Kilkenny city through Waterford Institute of Technology with assistance from Kilkenny County Council. The significant contribution of the presence of the 3rd Infantry Battalion of the Defence Forces and James Stephens Barracks to the local economy by means of employment and emergency management and response is acknowledged. Development of the ‘Medieval Mile’, which brings together public realm improvements from the Castle and Parade through to Irishtown facilitating the various attractions along it, is an example of place-making and the benefits that accrue to residents, visitors and workers alike. The city has a long track record in urban regeneration and compact growth, including the very significant development of the Abbey Quarter (former Smithwick’s Brewery site). Recreational assets of the Castle Park linked to the River Nore walking route and development of other walking, cycling and recreational around the City are important additions to the City’s overall profile. Physical Development Trends Kilkenny City has performed well, against the metrics of population and employment with its population still expanding at a rate slightly above the national average and an increase in employment. (see Section 3.1 Population Trends, in Volume 1). 3 TSSG with WIT
- Introduction Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 2 6 Physical infrastructure has been delivered and improved during the 2014 – 2020 plan period, including: • The Central Access Scheme and St. Francis Bridge over the River Nore, • Commencement of works on the Abbey Quarter, including commencement of the renovation of the Brewhouse, the Brewhouse Square and the linear park along the River Nore, • The redevelopment of St. Mary’s Church to accommodate the Medieval Mile Museum, • The redevelopment of Evans Home to accommodate the Butler Gallery, • Public Realm improvements along the Medieval Mile and Abbey Quarter. In Kilkenny City a substantial investment in tourism development has been approved through the development of the Medieval Mile project which has seen investment in the public realm between Kilkenny Castle and St Canice’s Cathedral, the restoration of St Mary’s Church (now the Medieval Mile Museum), the completion and opening of the new Butler Gallery at the former Evan’s Home and the further development of the linear walk along the River Nore in the Abbey Quarter. The development of the new neighbourhood at the Breagagh Valley (formerly The Western Environs) on the western side of the City is on-going with the construction of a new access road and associated services to facilitate the opening of lands. Two new secondary schools have been committed to for the area through the Kilkenny and Carlow Education and Training Board and these are currently at design stage. There is also a commitment by the Department of Education and Skills for the provision of a new primary school for the Breagagh Valley. This area will see development of these facilities and housing through this Plan period to 2027 and beyond. The relocation of the CBS secondary school to the Loughmacask area is at design stage and will be completed within this plan period.
- Introduction Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 2 7 1.7 Key Strategic issues for Kilkenny City Key strategic issues for the city over the plan period are identified as follows: 1. To consolidate and strengthen the role of Kilkenny City as a self-sustaining Key Town and regional economic driver on the Dublin – Carlow-Kilkenny Waterford M9 Road/Rail Axis. 2. To deliver compact growth in the expansion of the City with a minimum of 30% of the growth within the existing built up footprint of the City4, to maximise return on State investment in infrastructure, and applying active land management measures such as the Vacant Site Levy and derelict sites legislation to maximise the use of under-utilised land and buildings. 3. To strengthen investment in existing rail infrastructure for improved infrastructure and services in order to provide quality levels of safety, service, accessibility and connectivity including improved frequency and journey times. 4. To strengthen the education, research and innovation capacity of Kilkenny city with the development of a campus for the Technical University of the South East (TUSE). 5. To support urban regeneration through investment in the Abbey Quarter & other initiatives to improve the public realm and regenerate underused land and buildings in the City. 6. To deliver investment in sustainable transport measures through a Local Transport Plan including continued development of the city bus services with walking and cycling infrastructure in support of the compact ‘10-minute city’ concept. 7. To progress the delivery of the northern extension of the ring road from the N77 Castlecomer Road to the R693 Freshford Road. 8. Facilitating the recovery from the impacts of Covid-19 on the Tourism sector in the city and county and further development of the tourism product as a ‘Hero site’ within Fáilte Ireland’s branding of Ireland’s Ancient East. 9. Maintain the quality of life offer in Kilkenny City which is renowned, as evidenced in its population growth which has exceeded the national average over the period 2006 – 2016. 4 Footprint as defined by the CSO 2016 census
- Core Strategy Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 2 8 2 Core Strategy Volume 1 has set out the overarching policy direction for the City & County for the spatial and economic development of the City & County. Kilkenny City and Ferrybank/Belview along with the District towns, are identified as the main locations for employment and population growth. Kilkenny city is of sufficient scale with the potential for significant growth to require a Core Strategy5. In preparing a Core Strategy, the Council has had regard to the national and regional policy context in terms of climate change, settlement patterns and potential population growth targets. The City Core Strategy sets out an evidence-based rationale for the City area. 2.1 Population Forecasts The population targets for the City are set by the Implementation Roadmap for the National Planning Framework and the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy. The objective is to grow the population of the City by 35% to 2040. This figure is further refined and averaged out over the plan period 2021 – 2027 and set out below in Table 2.1. Table 2.1 National Planning Framework population projections 2016 NPF 2026 2027 Uplift from 2016 2031 Kilkenny County 99,232 110,000 111,077 11,845 114,500 Kilkenny City 26,512 29,822 30,153 3,641 31,477 2.2 Kilkenny City Core Strategy The Kilkenny City Core Strategy is based on the following principles: • National/Regional/Local Policy Context (i.e. inter alia the NPF, RSES, in particular the concept of compact growth) • The concept of developing a 10-minute City6, • The four neighbourhood concept for Kilkenny city • Demographic and socio-economic trends outlined in Volume 1, Chapter 3 • Assessment of need for housing • Water, wastewater, drainage and road infrastructure (existing and planned) • Flood Risk Assessment • Supporting infrastructure (social, community and commercial, both existing and planned) 5 Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy, RPO 11 page 46 6 10-minute travel trip by cycle or walking or public transport.
- Core Strategy Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 2 9 • Physical suitability of land including factors such as topography and ease of access • Environmental policy (ground and surface water quality, flooding, etc.) • Sequential approach to development (zoning should extend outwards from the core of an urban area, with undeveloped lands closest to the core and public transport routes being given preference. In addition, areas to be zoned should be contiguous to existing zoned development lands). This also applies in neighbourhoods, where development should take place in accordance with the principles/phasing of the masterplan. • Existing planning permissions within the development boundary of the City. Land Requirement The Core Strategy Table in Volume 1, Chapter 4 sets out the land requirement for the City and this is repeated here for convenience. Table 2.2 Core Strategy 2016 - 2027 Core Strategy population allocation 2016 - 2027 Household Demand NPF 50/50 Housing land required to 2027 Compliance with NPO 3C Zoning proposed (Hectares) County Kilkenny 11,842 4,649 Kilkenny City 4,144 1,627 46.487 (30%) inside CSO boundary 13.9ha8 and (70%) outside CSO boundary 32.5ha 18.6Ha Abbey Quarter 4.4Ha (30-35%) plus 25Ha mixed 42.84Ha zoned outside CSO While the RSES9 target growth for the City of more than 30% by 2040 from the base year of 2016, the Council has adopted a targeted growth of 35%, reflecting the ambition of the local authority and the historically strong growth performance of the City. From National Policy Objective 3c of the NPF, 30% of the new housing earmarked for the City must be catered for within the existing built-up footprint i.e. within the 2016 CSO boundary for the City10, requiring approximately 13.8 ha. Within the CSO boundary the following is identified to satisfy that demand: • Lands subject to the vacant site levy = 18.6Ha • Abbey Quarter = 4.41Ha (residential 30%-35%) 7 1,627 households divided by 35units/ha = 46.48 ha. 8 The Council has established through its own research that there is more than sufficient capacity within the existing built up area to cater for this increase. 9 RSES page 46, RPO 11a 10 Footprint as defined by the CSO 2016 census
- Core Strategy Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 2 10 • Mixed Use zoning = 25.79ha • Additional 5.5ha as existing residential inside CSO boundary in the Breagagh Valley Notwithstanding this requirement it is proposed to zone 42.84 Ha on greenfield lands outside the CSO boundary (See Section 2.2.5 Development Strategy below). Distribution of Housing Land requirement The four-neighbourhood model as set out in the last two Development Plans, to accommodate expansion around the existing city, continues to be appropriate for Kilkenny. The four areas identified for the development of neighbourhoods were (See Figure CS2 Core Strategy): 1. Loughboy/Archerstreet 2. Newpark Upper/Eastern Environs 3. Poulgour/Wetlands/Western Environs (now known as Breagagh Valley) 4. Loughmacask As Loughboy/Archerstreet and Newpark Upper are substantially built out and are incorporated into the built-up area of the City, as defined by the CSO, the two remaining areas of the Breagagh Valley (formerly Western Environs) and Loughmacask will be the focus for greenfield development over the plan period. The majority of these areas are located outside the built-up area but are immediately contiguous to it. Both of these areas were the subject of Local Area Plans in the past. Breagagh Valley A Local Area Plan (LAP) was prepared for this area (formerly known as the Western Environs) in 2004. The Local Area Plan was reviewed and modified for incorporation in the last two Development Plans for the City. The principles set out in the LAP, such as the basic road structure, the housing densities (35 units per hectare on average) and the distribution of land uses has remained broadly in line with the original concepts. In the LAP, the area was divided into development parcels and the development of those parcels was linked to the provision of necessary infrastructure. A limited amount of housing was developed within the LAP area since 2004 but due to lack of services and the economic crash of 2008, development of housing stalled. It is policy to require the layout of full-sized multi-sport facilities on the Amenity Lands in the Breagagh valley. To date two parcels of land (P & Q) have been partially development with an additional parcel (E) having the benefit of permission for housing development. The area has been incorporated into the overall phasing of land in the zoning map (see Figure CS3 Breagagh Valley). A link road to release land for development in the area was subject to funding under the Rebuilding Ireland programme in 2016. The scheme extends to 2.3km in length and includes for a new distributor road from the N76 Callan Road to the Circular Road at Robertshill, widening of the existing Circular Road from Robertshill to its junction with the Kilmanagh Road, and widening of the R695 Kilmanagh Road to Drakelands. The scheme is being jointly funded by Kilkenny County Council, and the
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