Development plan · Kilkenny County Council
Kilkenny City and County Development Plan 2021–2027
The council's development plan written statement: its strategy, policies, objectives and development standards.
Kilkenny County Council · 2021–2027 · 350 pages
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- Chapter 2 Climate Change Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 9 2 Climate Change Strategic Aim: To provide a policy framework with objectives and actions in this City and County Development Plan to facilitate the transition to a low carbon and climate resilient County with an emphasis on reduction in energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions, through a combination of effective mitigation and adaptation responses to climate change. 2.1 Introduction Scientific evidence for warming of the climate system is unequivocal1. The effects of climate change are clear. It is important to act and for the whole of society to work together to share best practices, to reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and address the impacts of climate change. Reducing GHG emissions and preparing for climate change impacts will generate environmental, social, economic and health benefits for individuals, families, and communities. It is important to take action to adapt to the consequences of climate change and to work collectively to ensure that the local authority sector is positioned to build resilience against negative impacts and avail of the positive effects that may occur. Whilst Climate Change policies and mitigation measures are set out at an International and National level, Kilkenny County Council has a central role in the implementation of these policies and in promoting behavioural and attitude change towards climate change. Climate and environmental sustainability are key considerations for councils in their strategic planning and day-to-day actions across all service areas, most significantly in planning, transport, housing, lighting, waste management, and economic development. An Adaptation Strategy has been prepared for this Plan as part of the requirements of the National Climate Change Adaptation Framework (2012). This Strategy will ensure that this Plan will appropriately address adaptation to climate change. Specific actions in the Council’s Climate Change Adaptation Strategy 2019-2024 relating to the Development Plan are as follows: • Integrate climate adaptation and energy actions in the new Kilkenny City & County Development Plan 2020-2026 • Develop policy in the City & County Development Plan to promote local materials and use of sustainable, low carbon footprint materials instead of those that require intense high temperature and carbon emissions • Develop policy in the City & County Development Plan to promote and advise for the use of environmentally friendly material and appropriately designed new buildings, which utilise orientation, shelter, sun, light, etc. in design details • Provide sufficient guidance to the Kilkenny City & County Development Plan to ensure renewable energy projects, including projects for wind-, solar- and bio-energy can be progressed throughout the County without significant impacts on the landscape, amenity, heritage and the environment 1 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
- Chapter 2 Climate Change Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 10 • Incorporate climate adaptation policies into the Kilkenny City & County Development Plan 2020 2026 • Review tree and hedgerow protection policies in the review of the City & County Development Plan to ensure they support the CCAS and are adequately implemented and enforced • Review relevant wetland policies in the review of the City & County Development Plan to ensure they support the CCAS and are adequately implemented and enforced Local Authorities have signed up to a National Climate Action Charter, which commits the local authority sector (with the support of Central Government) to a range of actions including: • be advocates for Climate Action in policies and practices, and in the various dealings with citizens and to underpin this role through the corporate planning process. • adhere to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, in particular Goal 13 Climate Action;2 • aim to measure the carbon impact of our various activities as accurately as possible and report as required to inform relevant local, regional, and national policies, • implement, in so far as is practicable, measures which reduce our carbon emissions in line with national objectives, and develop a method for planning and reporting on these actions • deliver a 50% improvement in energy efficiency by 2030 (on the 2009 baseline), • ensure that policies and practices at local government level lead us towards low carbon pathways and put in place a process for carbon proofing major decisions, programmes and projects on a systematic basis, including investments in transport and energy infrastructure moving over time to a near zero carbon investment strategy, • exercise planning and regulatory roles to help improve climate outcomes in the wider community and beyond the public sector, by developing and implementing robust evidenced based policy and standards on climate action, through appropriate and relevant adaptation and mitigation measures, • continue to identify and develop specific actions to be taken to reduce the risks associated with negative climate change impacts and build resilience to these impacts through effective implementation of climate adaptation strategies/ Climate Change Action Plans. The Development Plan has an important role to play in the implementation of climate change actions for example by influencing spatial pattern of development, encouraging a modal shift from private car to more sustainable modes of travel, assisting in the protection and promotion of biodiversity, the protection of trees and hedgerows, etc. This Plan sets out to integrate climate implications to inform spatial choices. • Support and translate National and Regional targets/obligations to a local level. • Prescribe objectives and policies to realise adaptation and mitigation actions. • Ensure integration on these policies and objectives in planning related decision-making processes. Summary The implications of this approach are that Climate change policies are integrated into all sections of the Plan. Every chapter of the plan is based on this over-arching approach. The text of the plan which 2 Strategic Development Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
- Chapter 2 Climate Change Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 11 is considered policy along with the objectives and the Development Management Requirements are framed in this context. It is not necessary therefore to repeat in each chapter objectives and policies for climate change. The Council have embedded and will continue to embed climate change adaptation and mitigation considerations in all the policies and services of the Council. 2.2 International Context The Paris Agreement 2015 is a protocol set within the context of the UNFCCC (ratified by Ireland on 4th November 2016) and it is aimed at: • Limiting global warming to less than 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C; • Increasing the ability to combat the impact of climate change and foster climate resilience. This agreement states the need for parties to formulate and implement National Adaption Plans. The Global Covenant of Mayors (COM) for Climate and Energy is a voluntary, bottom up approach for cities and local governments to combat Climate Change and move towards a low emission, resilient society. The Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy brought the Compact of Mayors and the EU Covenant of Mayors under one international body in January 2017 incorporating over 9,000 cities and local governments. Kilkenny County Council is a party to the Covenant of Mayors. 2.3 National Context The Government has identified Climate Change as the most important long-term challenge facing Ireland. The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 is a landmark national milestone in the evolution of climate change policy in Ireland. It provides the statutory basis for the purpose of pursuing the transition to a low carbon, climate resilient and environmentally sustainable society. It gave statutory authority to both the National Mitigation Plan (NMP), published in 2017 and the National Adaptation Framework (NAF) published in 2018. Kilkenny County Council’s Local Adaptation Strategy forms part of the National Adaptation Framework.
- Chapter 2 Climate Change Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 12 Figure 2.1 Climate Change Policy Framework Climate change will have a profound change on Ireland’s political and administrative systems into the future, setting out governance arrangements including the carbon-proofing of government policies, the establishment of carbon budgets, the strengthening of the Climate Change Advisory Council and providing greater accountability to the Oireachtas. Figure 2.1 above shows how our approach to Climate change will impact on everything we do. National Mitigation Plan 2017 (NMP) The NMP represented an initial step in transitioning Ireland to a low carbon, climate resilient and environmentally sustainable economy by 2050. It is a whole-of-Government Plan, and the sectors of Electricity Generation, the Built Environment, Transport and Agriculture. The Plan included over 100 individual actions for ministers and public bodies to implement and begin the process of developing medium to long term mitigation choices for the next and future decades. National Adaptation Framework 2018 (NAF) National Adaptation Framework (NAF), complements the mitigation approach by addressing the climate resilience challenge. The NAF specifies the national strategy for the application of adaptation measures in different sectors and by local authorities in their administrative areas in order to reduce the vulnerability of the State to the negative effects of climate change and to avail of any positive effects that may occur. A key action under NAF requires each local authority in the country to prepare local climate adaptation strategies. Climate Action Plan The Government published its Climate Action Plan in June 2019. The plan sets out 183 actions which, for the first time, show how Ireland can reach its 2030 targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and also put Ireland on the right trajectory towards net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Climate Action & Low Carbon Development Act 2015 National Mitigation Plan Sectors (Electricity generation, built environment, Transport, Agriculture) Local Authority Adaptation Strategies Sectoral Adaptation Plans National Adaptation Framework
- Chapter 2 Climate Change Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 13 The Action Plan sets out inter alia the following targets: Electricity • Increase reliance on renewables from 30% to 70% adding 12GW of renewable energy capacity (with peat and coal plants closing). Buildings • Design policy to get circa 500,000 existing homes to upgrade to B2 Building Energy Rating (BER) and 400,000 to install heat pumps • Require at least one recharging point in new non-residential buildings with more than 10 parking spaces • All Public Buildings to reach BER ‘B’ Rating Transport • Accelerate the take up of EV cars and vans so that we reach 100% of all new cars and vans being EVs by 2030 • Raise the blend proportion of biofuels in road transport to 10% in petrol and 12% in diesel • Zero emission postal deliveries in Cork, Galway, Kilkenny, Limerick and Waterford by 2020 Agriculture • Deliver substantial verifiable greenhouse gas abatement through adoption of a specified range of improvements in farming practice in line with recommendations from Teagasc Enterprise and Services • Embed energy efficiency, replacement of fossil fuels, careful management of materials and waste, and carbon abatement across all enterprises and public service bodies Waste and the Circular Economy • Develop coherent reduction strategies for plastics, food waste, and resource use Under the Built Environment section of the plan, three specific actions were identified for Local Authorities: 64 Introduce minimum BER standards in the Local Authority social housing stock as part of retrofit works being carried out on older stock or refurbishment of vacant dwellings 65 Develop and establish a climate-action toolkit and audit framework for Local Authority development planning to drive the adoption of stronger climate action policies in relation to the patterns and forms of future development 66 Roadmap to develop supply chain to support the phase out of fossil fuel boilers in new dwelling Source: Climate Action Plan p83 Through this City and County Development Plan the Council has adopted the relevant policies and objectives to guide the pattern and form of development to mitigate the impact of new development on climate change.
- Chapter 2 Climate Change Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 14 National Planning Framework National Strategic Outcome Objectives 8 (Build Climate Resilience) and 9 (Support the transition to low carbon and clean energy) under National Strategic Outcome 8 “Transition to a Low Carbon and Climate Resilient Society”. The Council has pursued an agenda of compliance with the National Planning Framework outcomes in relation to the spatial allocation of new development. This has been achieved by incorporating the policy for compact growth of settlement and by providing for 30% of new development to be within the footprint of existing settlements, the integration of land use and transportation and the further development of the concept of the 10 minute city for Kilkenny city. National Development Plan Under the National Development Plan (NDP) a Climate Action Fund has been established with an allocation of at least €500m to 2027. Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy The Southern Regional Assembly supports the implementation of the Government’s Climate Action Plan 20193, and the RSES has identified three priority areas for action to address climate change and to bring about a Transition to a Low Carbon Economy and Society: • Decarbonisation; It is an objective of the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy to develop a Regional Decarbonisation Plan to provide a framework for action on de-carbonisation across all sectors. • Resource Efficiency; Resource efficiency means using the Earth's limited resources in a sustainable manner while minimising impacts on the environment. Climate Action Plan Target for Ireland is a 70% in GHG emissions with at least 32.5% improvement in energy efficiency by 2030. • Climate Resilience. Climate adaptation aims to reduce the vulnerability of our environment, society and economy to the current and future risks posed by climate change. It focuses on short-term and long-term responses to climate change by taking a cross-cutting themed approach for all key sectors of Government, society, and the economy. Climate Action Regional Office Four Climate Action Regional Offices (CAROs) were established as Centres of Excellence, to deliver on the local government sector’s obligations under the Climate Act 2015. Kilkenny County is located within the Eastern and Midlands area and the Council is a Partner County, in CARO to the lead authority – Kildare. As a Partner County, Kilkenny County Council will have a full-time staff member of the Eastern & Midlands CARO based in Kilkenny to assist in the roll out of the CARO work programme over the next five years. 3 RSES, Chapter 5
- Chapter 2 Climate Change Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 15 The CAROs are based on distinct geographic/ topographic characteristics and are key to enabling local authorities develop and roll out climate action strategies in a coordinated response to national and regional policy at a local level. 2.4 Integration of Climate Change into the County Development Plan Climate change mitigation and adaptation objectives have been incorporated into the policies of this Plan. This is to ensure that climate change has been consistently integrated into the policy themes addressed by this plan. Only those sources and impacts of climate change within the Statutory remit of the County Development Plan are included. The City and County Plan has aligned its policy and objectives with the Strategic Objectives of the NPF and the RSES to maintain and improve the County’s attraction in order to maximise investment opportunities. This Plan has also taken cognisance of the Council’s own Climate Change Adaptation Strategy. Therefore, the transition to a low carbon economy and society is embedded in the policies and objectives of the Plan. Built heritage, in particular the reuse of existing fabric, can play a role in combating climate change. 2.4.1 Core strategy One of the key Strategic Outcomes of the NPF is the achievement of compact growth. Compact and sustainable growth focuses on reusing previously developed “brownfield sites” and building up infill sites which may not have been built on before, particularly in well serviced urban locations served by good transport links and in close proximity to employment opportunities. A core strategy has been developed to implement the concept of compact growth within the settlement hierarchy of the City and County with policies and objectives to secure the implementation of the provisions of the NPF and RSES and the Climate Action Plan. It is a strategic aim of the Plan to: • Deliver growth in population within the existing built-up footprint of urban areas and improve quality of life within urban and rural areas. • Reduce travel distances and provide for greater proximity to employment and services. • Facilitate more journeys by bike or on foot; and greater urban density, that in turn will support more viable public transport options. • Providing for appropriate land use policies to deliver development in a compact form resulting in development at sustainable locations with inherent climate resilience. 2.4.2 Transport The Plan provides for the following: • The successful execution of Compact Growth through appropriate densities, the focus development of brownfield and under-utilised sites in our urban areas, • Integrating land use and transportation policy,
- Chapter 2 Climate Change Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 16 • The expansion of walking, cycling and public transport networks to encourage a modal shift towards more sustainable transport options, • Facilitating the take up of EV cars and vans by making provision for charging points in new developments, • The successful roll-out of the National Broadband Plan to facilitate remote working and less travel demand for work journeys, • Facilitate the rollout of compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles by supporting the development of CNG refuelling infrastructure. 2.4.3 Flood Resilience Three key principles that should be adopted by regional authorities, local authorities, developers, and their agents when considering flood risk are as follows: • Avoid the risk, where possible, • Substitute less vulnerable uses, where avoidance is not possible, and • Mitigate and manage the risk, where avoidance and substitution are not possible A Strategic Flood Risk Assessment has been carried out for the County as part of the Strategic Environmental Assessment which identified the areas at risk to flooding and appropriate policy response. Where any zoning did not pass the Plan-Making Justification Test, the land was rezoned to accommodate less vulnerable uses4. In addition, this Plan includes a requirement that a Flood Risk Assessment is carried out for any development proposal, where flood risk may be an issue. This assessment shall be appropriate to the scale and nature of risk to and from the potential development and shall consider the impact of climate change (See Chapter 10 Infrastructure and the accompanying SFRA). Ecosystem based Adaptation (EbA) such as Natural Water Retention Measures (such as restoration of wetlands and woodlands), can benefit the Water Framework Directive, flood risk management and biodiversity objectives. The Council will continue to apply the Sustainable Urban Design Drainage Systems when assessing development proposals. Examples of SUDS include green roofs, soakaways, swales, infiltration trenches ponds and wetlands. SUDS provide areas within the built environment where the natural processes of rainwater interception, storage and infiltration can take place. 2.4.4 Natural Heritage/ Biodiversity The Plan supports the provision of green infrastructure within the county through the policy and objectives in Chapter 9 Heritage and the Development Management Requirements for the provision of open space within new housing developments. Biodiversity is vulnerable to climate change; however, it offers opportunities for both mitigation and adaptation. Through its own projects and through the development management policies within the Plan the Council will protect and enhance 4 There is one exception where a site at Canal Walk, Kilkenny City, was zoned residential – See Council meetings minutes (8th June and 3rd September 2021)
- Chapter 2 Climate Change Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 17 biodiversity. The Council also has an objective to protect, manage and enhance the wetlands of the county. 2.5 Strategic Objectives The Council will monitor revised Government Guidelines and statutory requirements and will propose an appropriate variation of the City & County Development Plan to ensure consistency between the approach to climate action at local and national policy level. For Kilkenny County Council to achieve their 33% energy reduction obligation by 2020, the Council identified a number of energy efficiency areas. The Council’s adaptation plan identified five key areas where Kilkenny County Council could reduce its energy consumption and meet the 2020 target. These 2A To support and encourage sustainable compact growth and settlement patterns, integrate land use and transportation, and maximise opportunities through development form, layout and design to secure climate resilience and reduce carbon emissions. 2B To support the implementation of the National Climate Action Plan and the National Climate Action Charter for Local Authorities, and to facilitate measures which seek to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases by embedding appropriate policies within the Development Plan. 2C To promote, support and direct effective climate action policies and objectives that seek to improve climate outcomes across the settlement areas and communities of County Kilkenny helping to successfully contribute and deliver on the obligations of the State to transition to low carbon and climate resilient society, 2D To integrate appropriate mitigation and adaptation considerations and measures into all forms of development. 2E To ensure that the Development Plan transposes, supports and implements strategic objectives of the National Planning Framework and the Southern Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy to create an enabling local development framework that: (a) promotes and integrates important climate considerations in local development and the assessment of planning applications and (b) supports the practical implementation of national climate policy and targets to assist in the delivery of the national transition objective. 2F To adopt nature-based approaches and green infrastructural solutions as viable mitigation and adaptation measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions where feasible. The Council will promote and support physical activity, active recreation and an active lifestyle. 2G To reduce energy related CO2 emissions of Kilkenny County Council. 2H To achieve the commitment under the European Climate Alliance to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 10 percent every 5 years.
- Chapter 2 Climate Change Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 18 areas were public lighting, electricity efficiency in buildings, thermal efficiency, transport, and renewable energy. KCC has achieved this 2020 target of 33% improvement in energy efficiency in accordance with the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan (NEEAP), as reported by SEAI in their Annual Report on Public Sector Energy Efficiency Performance, 2019.
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