Kilkenny City and County Development Plan 2021–2027

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   Chapter 6 Housing and Community Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 88 local and community development. A key function of the LCDC is to prepare the community elements of 6-year Local Economic and Community Plans (LECPs). The Council will work with statutory, voluntary, private sector and community groups, including the LCDC, to identify, facilitate and support the provision of public and social services in areas of identified need in the city and county. The Council will promote and advance social inclusion and development in the county by ensuring the co-ordinated delivery of services and facilities and will seek to build social capital by integrating the social, community and cultural requirements of the county in the future planning and sustainable development of the County in accordance with the Settlement and Core Strategies. 6.15 Social Inclusion Planning affords an opportunity to facilitate and deliver a more socially inclusive society through better integration and greater accessibility at all stages of the life cycle. Housing, education, health and transport are four key areas where social inclusion can be improved; for example, through universal design of buildings to deliver greater accessibility for all, or co-location of community facilities and uses to ensure communities are active during the day and into the evening16. The Council seeks to reduce barriers to participation in all areas such as education, recreation, employment and health. The Council is also conscious of the need to ensure that minority groups, people of different nationalities and cultural backgrounds, the travelling community, ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, the elderly, children and young people are recognised as valuable members of the community. According to Census 2016, 14.5% of Ireland’s population now identify themselves with ethnic groups with roots in other countries and whose cultures are quite different to that of the majority population; while a further 0.66% at least are re-affirming their distinct Traveller cultural identity. The corresponding figures for Kilkenny are a little lower at 10% and 0.56% respectively, but no less significant. The Council will support social inclusion measures including the revitalisation of areas by physical regeneration, planning, investment and community development and measures to improve educational attainment levels, upskilling in key competencies and skills acquisition. Universal Design and Lifetime Housing in accordance with best practice and the policies and principles contained in Building for Everyone: A Universal Design Approach (National Disability Authority, 2012) and Sustainable Residential Development in Urban Areas: Guidelines for Planning Authorities and its companion document Urban Design Manual (DEHLG, 2008) will be promoted through the delivery of the Plan 16 National Planning Framework page 84

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   Chapter 6 Housing and Community Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 89 The Council supports a socially inclusive society, through the provision of appropriate community infrastructure, located in local centres or where easily accessible to communities and that is designed appropriately for accessibility and ease of use for all. 6.16 Health and well-being Planning has an important role to play in promoting and facilitating active and healthy living patterns for local communities and in promoting well-being. Kilkenny County Council plays in important role in implementing the actions of the National Sports Policy 2018-202717. A range of measures are included in this Plan to promote active and healthier lifestyles including: • Pedestrians, cyclists and users of other modes of transport that involve physical activity are given the highest priority (See Chapter 12); • Public open spaces are located and delivered in a way that ensures they are capable of being easily reached on foot or bicycle by routes that are secure and of a high standard and that take biodiversity issues into account in their design (See Chapter 8); • Any new workplaces are linked to walking and cycling networks (See Chapter 12); and • Play areas are designed to encourage varied and physically active play (See Chapter 13) Healthcare and medical facilities are provided by a range of public, private and voluntary agencies within Kilkenny City and County. The Health Service Executive is the primary organisation responsible for the delivery of health care and personal social services to the people of Kilkenny. With the scale of increase in population, and the recent Covid-19 pandemic, it is to be expected that there will be a demand for more healthcare and medical facilities within the city and county to cater for the resident population. The primary role of the Planning Authority with regard to health care is to ensure that there is an adequate policy framework in place inclusive of the reservation of lands should additional services be required. Future provision should be planned and implemented in concert with residential development, especially where this is undertaken in the context of Local Area Plans. The Planning Authority will reserve sites within appropriate settlements for health care facilities in consultation with the HSE. The SláinteCare Implementation Strategy18 presents a ten-year vision to transform Ireland’s health and social care services. The Sláintecare Implementation Strategy is the framework for a system-wide reform programme. It sets out the direction for the next ten years and actions to be taken in the first three years of the Sláintecare implementation process. The focus is on establishing the building blocks for a significant shift in the way in which health and social care services are delivered in Ireland. 17 Government of Ireland, National Sports Policy, 2018 18 Government of Ireland, SláinteCare Implementation Strategy

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   Chapter 6 Housing and Community Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 90 Healthcare facilities may include health centres, day centres, community nursing units, family resource centres, nursing homes/convalescent homes, community residences, sheltered workshops, activation centres and residential facilities for children and adolescents. These facilities require locations which are integrated with new and existing communities and which are easily accessible. There are two existing primary health care centres in County Kilkenny, one in Kilkenny city on the Granges Road and another in Callan. Construction has recently commenced on Primary Care units at Newpark in Kilkenny City, in Thomastown on Lady’s Well Street and another on the Belmont/Ross road in Ferrybank. 6.16.1 Hospitals St. Luke’s General Hospital and Lourdes Orthopaedic Hospital, Kilcreene are the two public hospitals located in the city and serving the county and wider catchment. St. Luke’s General Hospital recently completed improvement works to include a new emergency department, a new medical assessment unit and a new day-services ward. In addition to these facilities, private operators provide healthcare facilities at Aut Even Private hospital on the Freshford Road. Hospitals are also located in Thomastown and Castlecomer within the County. Since 1952 St Columba’s Hospital has been utilised specifically for the care of older people in the region but also accommodates a day care centre which offers services to the community within the grounds of the hospital. Castlecomer District Hospital is a 29 bed hospital with day care centre, providing acute medical care, convalescent, respite and terminal care. It serves all of North Kilkenny. St. Canice’s campus and its grounds comprise a significant land bank within the city. At present it contains the offices of the Health Service Executive, Lacken pitch and putt club, and the original hospital and associated outbuildings. The site presents an opportunity for regeneration but within the context of an overall planning framework for the lands. The Council has engaged with the HSE in the preparation of a masterplan or planning framework document for the St. Canice’s hospital site in order to determine the optimal land uses for the area. The advancement of the masterplan was stalled due to the emergence of the Covid – 19 pandemic. Both the HSE and the Council are committed to the development of a masterplan framework for the lands and it is an objective of the Council to complete the masterplan within the Plan period. The Council will facilitate the development and expansion of health and medical care facilities to meet the needs of the city and County, subject to normal planning and environmental criteria and the Development Management Requirements. Objective 6N To complete the preparation of a masterplan for the lands at St Canice’s campus in partnership with the Health Service Executive within the period of the plan (See Volume 2 Core Strategy).

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   Chapter 6 Housing and Community Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 91 6.16.2 Nursing Homes In the light of an increasing ageing population, it is anticipated there will be increasing investment in developing a range of facilities for the elderly. Nursing homes and residential care homes should be integrated wherever possible into the residential areas of towns and villages where residents and staff can avail of reasonable access to local services. The Council recognises that nursing homes should not only be provided in established urban areas but also in appropriate rural areas. In rural areas it is preferable that nursing homes be located within the existing network of smaller towns and villages within the county to serve rural demand. 6.16.2.1 Development Management Requirements In determining planning applications for a change of use from a residential dwelling or other building to a nursing home or for the construction of new build facilities the following will be considered: • Compliance with the standards as laid down in Health Act 2007 (Care and Welfare of Residents in Designated Centres for Older People) Regulations 2009 and the Health Act 2007 (Care and Welfare of Residents in Designated Centres for Older People) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 (or any such other relevant standards and legislation that may be enacted); • The proximity to local services and facilities, • The effect on the amenities of adjoining properties • Whether such a use would not give rise to a traffic hazard • Adequate visitor and employee car parking spaces and turning areas; • Adequate access and turning areas for emergency vehicles; • Adequate provision of private open space; • Pedestrian linkages to existing social and community facilities within the settlement; • Facilities to cater for a range of occupants ranging from those seeking semi-dependant living accommodation to those requiring a high level of care • Whether the size and scale are appropriate to the area. 6.17 Positive Ageing According to the Department of Health, by the year 2036 the number of older people aged 65 and older living in Ireland is expected to increase by 250% over 2016 figures. For County Kilkenny this would mean that the older population of 11,690 in 2011 will increase to 29,225 in 20 years’ time. Kilkenny County Council has been actively engaged in the Age Friendly County Initiative since 2010. Kilkenny was the second County in Ireland to become an Age Friendly County. The concept of an Age Friendly Community is linked to an initiative of the World Health Organisation started in 2007. The Age-Friendly County initiative seeks to engage older people and their communities in making their communities better, healthier and safer places for older people to live and thrive. Positive ageing can be facilitated by means of various age friendly initiatives, including universal design and can be supported by the adoption of the appropriate development objectives. (See Objective under 6.10 Housing Development above, and see Section 12.13 Age Friendly and Accessible parking.) The delivery

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   Chapter 6 Housing and Community Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 92 of such facilities has a symbiotic relationship with other segments of society as it promotes accessibility for all. St. Luke’s Hospital in Kilkenny implemented a programme of measures to enable older patients and visitors to enjoy an improved hospital experience during the period of the last Plan, and it is now designated as an Age-Friendly Hospital. An Age Friendly Hospital is one in which older people are actively involved in the design of an environment that is friendly and accessible to all. During the course of the 2014 -2020 Development Plan the concept of positive ageing was brought to the level of the Age Friendly Town. 6.17.1 Age Friendly Town In 2019 Thomastown was designated as County Kilkenny’s first Age Friendly Town. To achieve this status, the ‘Thomastown Age Friendly Town Plan 2019’19 was published. This document sets out the vision for the town alongside the actions to achieve that vision and address the key issues facing older people, which have been identified by the older people of Thomastown. As part of the move towards achieving ‘Age Friendly’ status for Thomastown a number of issues were highlighted. A significant level of work in terms of identifying the areas to be addressed was carried out by the Thomastown Age Friendly Town Committee. The issues included the provision of age friendly seating, age friendly bus stops (at appropriate locations in the town) and also carried out a detailed Walkability study which identified a number of areas which require attention. These issues have been collated and will form the Thomastown Age Friendly Action Plan. The Thomastown Local Area Plan supports the concept and vision for Thomastown as a sustainable age friendly community. The Council will support the actions set out in Kilkenny Age Friendly County Strategy 2017 – 2022 regarding the implementation of Age Friendly principles in the planning, design and delivery of physical infrastructure, public realm works, business and commercial premises as resources permit. 19 https://www.kilkennycoco.ie/eng/Services/Community_Culture/Age_Friendly_County_Initiative/Thomastown-Age- Friendly-Town-Plan-2019.pdf

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   Chapter 7 Rural Development Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 93 7 Rural Development Strategic Aim: To manage rural change and guide development to strengthen the rural economy and community through the network of towns and villages ensuring vibrant, sustainable and resilient rural areas whilst conserving and sustainably managing our environment and heritage. 7.1 Introduction Rural areas of County Kilkenny are home to a diverse range of activities including all those associated with agriculture, established villages, rural housing, recreation and tourism. The results of the 2016 Census show that County Kilkenny is still predominantly a rural county. Sixty percent of the county’s population live in rural areas outside Kilkenny city, the four District Towns and Ferrybank1. In 2016 a total of 8.0% of Kilkenny’s labour force was classified into Broad Industrial Group A – Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing, compared with 4.4% nationally. The Council recognises that Kilkenny has a long tradition of people living in rural areas. It is the Council’s intention to support the continued development of Kilkenny’s rural areas in a way that is sustainable. This Chapter sets out the policies required for rural Kilkenny to achieve that in a manner that is consistent with the guidance, strategies and policies at National and Regional level. Rural communities across Kilkenny function well beyond their immediate catchments and have a strong interrelationship with adjacent towns and villages, often beyond the county boundary. The rural development strategy is based on National Planning Objectives 15 to 252 as contained in the National Planning Framework (NPF), which aims to promote rural growth and arrest rural decline whilst sustaining vibrant rural communities. This chapter is also based on other higher level policy documents such as the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy for the Southern Region (RSES)3, Foodwise 2025, Action Plan for Rural Development 2017, the CEDRA report4, and Sustainable Rural Housing Guidelines for Planning Authorities. The RSES reflects the NPF statement that the rural countryside “is and will continue to be, a living and lived-in landscape focusing on the requirements of rural economies and rural communities, based on agriculture, forestry, tourism and rural enterprise, while at the same time avoiding ribbon and overspill development from urban areas and protecting environmental qualities”. The Council supports the implementation of all National and Regional Objectives at local level and it is the broad objective of the Council’s rural development strategy to provide for sustainable rural 1 CSO 2016, Deducting the population for Large Urban settlements with populations predominantly over 1500 a per the NPF classification (Callan, Castlecomer, Thomastown and Graiguenamanagh and Ferrybank) from the County’s total population 2 National Planning Framework pp 71-79 3 Southern Regional Assembly- Regional spatial and Economic Strategy 4 The Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas (CEDRA)

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   Chapter 7 Rural Development Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 94 communities without compromising the physical, environmental, natural or heritage resources of the county. This broad objective is underpinned by the following detailed policy objectives: • Promote the sustainable development of rural areas • Promote sustainable settlement patterns • Protect the quality and character of rural areas • Protect the quality of the environment, including the prevention, limitation, abatement and/or reduction of environmental pollution and the protection of waters, groundwater and the atmosphere • Protect features of the landscape and areas of major importance for biodiversity • Protect the character of the landscape, including views and prospects listed in this Plan and the amenities of places and features of natural beauty or interest. • Protect natural resources such as minerals and construction aggregates • Protect areas where sustainable energy production is feasible, such as high lying areas where wind energy production is acceptable in principle. The Council recognises the need to manage rural change and to guide rural development and will work to: • Maintain and enhance the existing rural community to ensure vibrant sustainable rural areas, • Improve the attractiveness of the built environment in rural towns and villages as places in which to work and live and as locations for industry, services and tourism investment. • Enhance connectivity throughout rural areas in order to promote sustainable settlement, economic and social activity and tourism. • Ensure that the rural environment will be respected and that development in rural areas will take place in a sustainable manner • Promote a broad concept of rural development and not one based solely on agriculture or other dominant natural resource and encourage the sustainable development of resources in such sectors as agriculture, tourism including agri-tourism, forestry, farm diversification, and renewable energy resources. • Where Camphill communities have developed, the Council seeks to support the development of inclusive neighbourhoods, community led housing and social enterprise and promote the integration of a wide range of household types and people with varying degrees of support needs. 7.2 Agriculture Agriculture is a vital part of the economic life of the County and is a major driver for sustaining, enhancing and maintaining the rural economy and culture. In recent years agriculture has contributed to the growth in export revenue. Kilkenny has a well-established agri-food sector with food and drink production and processing representing a sizeable proportion of the local economy, see Chapter 5, Economic Development. The major companies operating in this sector within the county are Glanbia PLC and Connolly’s Red Mills, complemented by an emerging artisan food producer base of approximately 40 micro and medium sized food producers.

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   Chapter 7 Rural Development Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 95 7.2.1 Food Wise 2025 Food Wise 2025 sets out a ten year plan for the agri-food sector. It underlines the sector’s unique and special position within the Irish economy, and it illustrates the potential which exists for this sector to grow even further. Food Wise 2025 foresees a sector that acts more strategically and achieves a competitive critical mass in the international marketplace while targeting more quality conscious consumers through sustainable production and high-quality produce. The Food Wise programme is based on the principle of “Local Roots, Global Reach” and identifies growth projections for the industry over the 10 year period 2015-2025 including: • 85% increase in exports; • 70% increase in value added • 65% increase in primary production • and creation of additional jobs all along the supply chain from producer level to high-end value-added product development. To achieve the projections set out above, Food Wise 2025 identifies over 400 recommendations to achieve sustainable growth and these will require a concerted and coordinated approach by primary producers, industry, Departments and State agencies. This plan supports the objectives of Food Wise 2025 as it strives to achieve sustainable farming practices and the sustainable growth of the farming sector. See also Section 9.2 Natural Heritage and Biodiversity. 7.2.2 Action Plan for Rural Development 2017 This Government strategy, introduced in 2017 (Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs) is aimed at delivering real change for people living and working in rural Ireland. The objective of the Action Plan is to “unlock the potential of rural Ireland through a framework of supports, at national and local level, which will ensure that people who live in rural areas have increased opportunities for employment locally, and access to public services and social networks”. A number of key initiatives were proposed as part of the Strategy including the Town and Village Renewal Scheme. The Town and Village Renewal Scheme is one of a number of measures to assist in rejuvenating rural towns and villages under the Department of Rural & Community Development’s “Rural Development Investment Programme”. In 2020 the scheme was tailored to address the emerging challenges associated with COVID-19. Under additional measure introduced in response to Covid-19 Kilkenny County Council received approval for 9 projects. These were generally small in scale to encourage economic activity and tourism. The Council will continue to avail of opportunities under such schemes. 7.2.3 Commonage Land Commonage land is land owned by more than one person. There are a few examples of commonage land in Co. Kilkenny, including some land in the townlands of Ballygub New, Brandonhill, Danganbeg,

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   Chapter 7 Rural Development Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 96 Grangefertagh, Rochestown and Weatherstown5. In the future, commonage and other rough grazing land should be regarded primarily as an environmental/recreational resource. It is policy to preserve the open character of commonage land and other hill land and support access over paths and tracks through consensus with landowners, particularly in mountain areas. 7.2.4 Fencing It is a requirement of the Planning Regulations 2001 Art 9(I)(a)(x) that the fencing of land open to or used by the public during the ten years preceding such fencing or enclosure, for recreational purposes or as a means of access to any seashore, mountain, lakeshore or other place of natural beauty or recreational utility requires planning permission. Wire fencing constitutes visual pollution and destroys the “away from it all” feeling which makes the upland areas such an attraction for both local people and visitors. Farmers are acknowledged as custodians of the natural resources of the countryside and of rural landscapes. The Council will work with farmers to promote and facilitate the development of environmentally sustainable agricultural activities, whereby watercourses, wildlife habitats, areas of ecological importance and other environmental assets are protected from the threat of pollution, and where development does not impinge on the landscape character, visual amenity, views and prospects of the countryside. As such the Council will also ensure that developments shall not be detrimental to archaeological and heritage features of importance. 7.2.5 Equine The Council recognises the role and importance of the equine industry as part of the wider agriculture sector and in particular the breeding, rearing and training of thoroughbred horses and will support the improvement and expansion of the equine industry within the county. The only significant racecourse in the county is the Gowran racecourse. 7.3 Remote Working and Home-Based Economic Activity in Rural Areas The trend of people working from home is continuing to increase, either through e-working or setting up a home-based economic activity. Remote-working can be defined as “any business function that is conducted away from the office using modern communications and information technologies”. The popularity of working from home has increased due to advances in broadband and communication technology and the savings achieved in terms of time and commuting costs. This approach has been boosted due to the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic and the restrictions placed on society on movement and gatherings of people. The trend towards more remote working likely to grow during the lifetime of the plan. Applications for small-scale home-based economic activity in rural areas where the occupants of an existing dwelling are employed at home will be positively considered. Home based economic activity 5 http://www.commonage.agriculture.gov.ie/Search.asp

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    Chapter 7 Rural Development Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 97 should be sited either in converted existing farm buildings located adjacent to the main dwelling house or within the house where the use is compatible with and ancillary to the use of the dwelling as a home. The Council will facilitate new development and/or the conversion of part of a dwelling to an appropriate home-based economic activity in rural areas, where the dwelling remains as the main residence of the practitioner, and the economic use is clearly ancillary to the residential use and subject to compliance with normal planning and environmental criteria. Home based businesses, which wish to expand beyond employing the household on site, will be required to locate in a village or other area suitable to the use proposed. 7.4 Forestry Forestry has direct benefits for local communities through the establishment of plantations, in spinoff effects in support services, through industries ranging from woodcraft to industrial processing, to rural tourism, and contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gases by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine regulates forestry practices and published Forests, products and people Ireland’s forest policy – a renewed vision in 2014. This sets out national policy to guide the expansion of the forest sector out to 2046 in a sustainable and cost efficient manner. National policy is to increase the forest cover from the current level to 18% in 2046 with a target of 30% broadleaf planting in afforestation. According to the Forest Service, 9.6% of the county was in forest cover in 20176. This has decreased slightly from 9.98% in 20117, but is an increase on the 2007 level of 7.8%. Nationally, 11% of land is under forest cover. Forestry activities must be appropriate in terms of nature and scale to the surrounding area, so that they are not visually obtrusive in the landscape. The Landscape Character Assessment in Chapter 9, Heritage, should be consulted to facilitate guidance on areas which contain opportunities for the creation of new woodland and areas which might be sensitive to new forestry proposals. Woodlands provide recreational opportunities in addition to their heritage and economic benefits. They are also important as links in the county’s green infrastructure network. Coillte have provided access to many of their forests and support the use of the forests for recreational uses, and provide access to three forests currently in Co. Kilkenny; Jenkinstown, Coill an Fhaltaigh near Kilkenny City and Castlemorris. Coillte’s Recreation Policy8 states that Coillte recognises that forests provide an excellent landscape for a wide range of recreational activities, and Coillte will continue to provide recreation that is environmentally, socially and economically sustainable. 6Forest Service, National Forest Inventory, 2017 7 Forest Service, Afforestation Statistics, 2011 8 Recreation Policy, Coillte, 2017 (www.coillte.ie)

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