Kilkenny City and County Development Plan 2021–2027

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   Chapter 11 Renewable Energy Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 231 11.12.3.2 NZEB requirements for Non-Domestic Buildings For new buildings For all new builds, an equivalent to a 60% improvement in energy performance on the 2008 Building Regulations is required. This means an improved energy performance for the fabric, services and lighting specification. It also introduces a mandatory requirement for renewable sources. The renewable sources must in general provide 20% of the primary energy use, however there is flexibility where the building is more energy efficient than the regulations. This typically corresponds to an A3 Building Energy Rating. For major renovation For existing buildings under EPBD, major renovation is where “more than 25% of the surface area of the building envelope undergoes renovation”. This will require that the building is brought up to cost optimal level, which is defined in the building regulations as: • Upgrade Heating System more than 15 years’ old • Upgrade Cooling and Ventilation Systems more than 15 years’ old • Upgrade Lighting more than 15 years old. 11.12.3.3 NZEB requirements for Domestic Buildings. For new buildings For all new builds, NZEB is equivalent to a 25% improvement in energy performance on the 2011 Building Regulations. A range of examples are shown in excel versions of the DEAP software available in the Domestic BER Resource page. Key changes to Part L for NZEB compliance include a Maximum Energy Performance Coefficient of 0.3, a Maximum Carbon Performance of 0.35 and a renewable Energy Ratio of 20%. For major renovation For existing buildings, major renovation is typically activated under the following circumstances, where the work affects greater than 25% surface area of the existing dwelling: • External Wall Renovation, external or internal insulation • External Wall & Window Renovation • External Wall & Roof Renovation • External Wall & Floor Renovation • New Extension The cost-optimal level is a primary energy performance of less than 125 kWh/m2/yr (B2 BER) when calculated using DEAP or upgrade of ceiling insulation and heating system.

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   Chapter 11 Renewable Energy Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 232 11.12.4 Building Energy Development Management Requirements - The Planning Authority will, through the development management process, promote the use of low carbon footprint materials to reduce transport emissions in the sector instead of those that require intense high temperature and carbon emissions. - Encourage high standards of energy efficiency in all building developments and encourage developers, and owners to improve the environmental performance of the building stock, including the deployment of renewable energy. - Require a provisional BER certificate as part of any planning application, showing how the proposal will comply with Part L of the Building Regulations. - To require that planning applications for large buildings, as defined by the Energy Performance of Building Regulations, demonstrate that due consideration has been given to the technical, environmental and economic feasibility of installing alternative energy systems in the proposed building, and that the use of such systems has been taken into account, as far as practicable, in the design of that building. This shall also apply to applications for ten or more housing units. - To promote and advise for the use of low carbon material and appropriately designed new buildings, which utilise orientation, shelter, sun, light, etc. in design details. Taken from the Kilkenny Rural Design Guide, 2008

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   Chapter 12 Movement and Mobility Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 233 12 Movement and Mobility Strategic Aim: To co-ordinate transport and land use planning, reducing the demand for travel and the reliance on the private car in favour of public transport, cycling and walking by providing for a greater mix of suitable uses and by promoting and facilitating the transition to electrification of our transport modes moving away carbon intensive modes to new technologies such as electric vehicles. 12.1 Introduction The integration of land use and transportation is a fundamental principle of the National Planning Framework and the Southern Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy. The aim is to reduce the overall demand for transport by promoting a more efficient land use pattern where suitable land uses are located closer together. In time this will reduce costs for everyone and improve the quality of life for residents and visitors by allowing a greater number of day to day activities to be completed with a reduced necessity for travel, or travel by alternative modes other than the car. Notwithstanding this, the Council acknowledges that for a County with a very significant rural based population, some essential travel will continue to be made by cars and goods vehicles and the Plan also facilitates improvement in road infrastructure to cater for these movements. While this section deals generally with the County as a whole there will be a more detailed analysis of transport for Kilkenny City in Vol 2 of the Plan which deals exclusively with Kilkenny City. 12.2 Significant Policy Documents and Guidance The National Planning Framework (NPF) and the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES) for the Southern Region will impact on transport in the way they promote Compact Growth and Sustainable Mobility as National Strategic Outcomes. The transition to more sustainable modes of travel (walking, cycling, public transport) is promoted, particularly within smaller towns and villages and rural areas. The implementation of planning and transportation strategies for urban areas, with a major focus on improving walking and cycling routes is a requirement of the NPF and RSES. This to be achieved through the preparation of local transport plans. The NPF aims to “expand attractive transportation alternatives to car transport to reduce congestion and emissions”1. National Planning Objective 13 states that “in urban areas, planning and related standards, including in particular building heights and car parking will be based on performance criteria that seek to achieve well-designed high-quality outcomes in order to achieve targeted growth”. 1 NPF p143

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   Chapter 12 Movement and Mobility Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 234 The RSES aims to transform “our transport system towards well-functioning, sustainable, integrated public transport, walking and cycling and electric vehicles”2. Regional Policy Objective 11 provides for Local Transport Plans to be prepared for all the Key Towns. Kilkenny City is designated as a significant key town within the region. The Climate Action Plan identifies how Ireland will achieve its 2030 targets for reduction in carbon emissions and a pathway towards achieving net zero emissions by 2050. A priority of the Action Plan is tackling emissions from the Transport sector, which accounted for almost 20% of Ireland’s greenhouse gases in 2017. In order to achieve significant reductions in greenhouse gasses, the Government’s approach to reducing emissions from the Transport sector is to adopt policies to influence both the transport intensity of growth and the carbon intensity of travel. To make growth less transport intensive, key objectives of the Climate Action Plan include: • The successful execution of Compact Growth as outlined in the NPF; • Accelerate the take up of EV cars and vans so that 100% of all new cars and vans are EVs by 2030 (950,000 EV’s on the country’s roads by 2030); • Expansion of walking, cycling and public transport networks to promote modal shift; • Giving Local Authorities more discretion in designating low emission zones; • Better use of market mechanisms to support modal shift; • The successful roll-out of the National Broadband Plan, which can promote remote working and wider activities which reduce unnecessary journeys; • Increase the renewable biofuel content of motor fuels. The Climate Action Plan also deals with the electrification of both public and private transport, with a range of initiatives to boost the roll-out of low emission buses. The plan aims to decarbonise heavy and light goods vehicles and envisages zero emission postal deliveries. The Council will promote walking, cycling, public transport and other more sustainable forms of transport as an alternative to the private car, together with the development of the necessary infrastructure and promotion of the initiatives contained within Smarter Travel, A Sustainable Transport Future 2009 – 2020. The Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets (DMURS), updated in 2019, promotes a holistic approach to the design of roads and streets within urban areas, focused on balancing the needs of all users. The principles, approaches and standards set out in the Manual apply to the design of all urban roads and streets (with a speed limit of 60 km/h or less) and aims to put well designed streets at the heart of sustainable communities to promote access by walking, cycling and public transport, influenced by the type of place in which the street is located. 2 RSES p 26

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   Chapter 12 Movement and Mobility Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 235 There is specific recognition of the importance to create secure and connected places that work for all, characterised by creating new and existing streets as attractive places with high priority afforded to pedestrians and cyclists while balancing the need for appropriate vehicular access and movement. It is designed to respond to the principles of universal design, as outlined in documents such as ‘Building for Everyone, A Universal Design Approach’3. The National Policy Framework on Alternative Fuels Infrastructure for Transport4 (2017) represented the first step in the Government’s long-term vision for decarbonising transport by 2050. The cornerstone of this document was the ambition that by 2030 all new cars and vans sold in Ireland will be zero-emissions capable. This particular Framework focuses exclusively on reducing transport’s dependency on oil through the provision of infrastructure and common standards for alternative fuels, such as Electric Vehicle Charging Points (EVCPs) and biofuels. Spatial Planning and National Roads Guidelines for Planning Authorities, (DoEHLG, 2012) sets out planning policy considerations relating to development affecting National roads. National roads play an integral role within Ireland’s overall transport system and in the country’s economic, physical and social development. The primary purpose of the National road network is to provide strategic connectivity between the main centres of population and employment, including key international gateways such as airports and ports, and to provide intra-regional connectivity. Sustainable Urban Housing: Design Standards for New Apartments: Apartments are likely to form a greater proportion of housing delivery in Kilkenny in the future, particularly in the City. The standards contain a number of transport-related issues relevant to the development of the Kilkenny Local Transport Plan including the following: • A default policy for car parking provision to be minimised, substantially reduced or wholly eliminated in highly accessible areas such as in or adjoining city cores or at a confluence of public transport systems such as rail and bus stations located in close proximity. Typically, these locations are within 15 minutes walking of city centres or within 10 minutes walking distance of commuter rail or bus stops or within 5 minutes walking distance of high frequency bus services; • A reduced overall parking standard and application of a maximum car parking standard for housing schemes with more than 45 dwellings per hectare net in suburban/urban locations served by public transport or close to town centres or employment areas; • A requirement that cycling is fully integrated into the design and operation of all new schemes; and a significant uptake in the quantity and quality of cycle parking provision in relation to the location, quantity, design, and management of bicycle storage areas. The National Cycle Manual, developed by the NTA in 2012, presents the current best practice and advice in providing cycling facilities in urban and suburban environments. It promotes safe environments for cyclists, and all other road users, by integrating the design requirements of cyclists 3 Centre for Excellence in Universal Design, Building for Everyone, A Universal Design Approach 4 Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, National Policy Framework on Alternative Fuels Infrastructure for Transport, 2017

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   Chapter 12 Movement and Mobility Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 236 into the design for urban areas more generally. It underlines the importance of integrating highquality cycle infrastructure in the planning and designing of new developments at all levels of the network including the strategic level, the route planning level and at design level. It provides technical information on the design of junctions, roundabouts, crossings, bus stops and so on to ensure the optimum balance between the various modes and road functions is reached. A Best Practice Guide to Permeability, produced by the NTA in 2015, sets out guidance on how best to facilitate demand for walking and cycling in existing built-up areas. The concept of permeability describes the extent to which an urban area permits ease of movement of people by walking or cycling when accessing their homes, shops, schools, local services, places of work and public transport stops and stations. Characteristics of a permeable environment are as follows: • Interconnected pedestrian and cycle street network; • Absence of high walls and fences segregating housing areas and local/district centres; • Absence of cul-de-sacs for pedestrians and cyclists; and • Secure, well-lit, overlooked pedestrian and cycle links between housing areas and between housing and local/district centres. Achieving Effective Workplace Travel Plans Guidance for Local Authorities aims to assist local authorities to fully integrate the principles and practice of Workplace Travel Plans into both the development plan and the development management processes. A Workplace Travel Plan is an effective instrument used within the planning process to promote and support sustainable travel patterns to work at a site-specific level. National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS) 2017-2021 We will make public transport easier for people with disabilities to use, especially buses, rural transport, bus stops and train stations. United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) The Convention is intended as a human rights instrument with an explicit, social development dimension. It adopts a broad categorisation of persons with disabilities and reaffirms that all persons with all types of disabilities must enjoy all human rights and fundamental freedoms. It clarifies and qualifies how all categories of rights apply to persons with disabilities and identifies areas where adaptations have to be made for persons with disabilities to effectively exercise their rights and areas where their rights have been violated, and where protection of rights must be reinforced. 12.3 Integration of Land Use Planning and Transport This Plan supports the regional objectives (RPO 151 to RPO 154) as contained in the RSES to guide the integration of land use and transportation planning and to guide local planning objectives. Combined with a focus on infill development, integrated transport and promoting regeneration and revitalisation of urban areas, pursuing a compact growth policy at national, regional and local level will secure a more sustainable future for our settlements and for our communities5. Land use and the manner in 5 NPF page 169

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   Chapter 12 Movement and Mobility Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 237 which it is developed is the primary influencing factor for travel demand. In this regard the Council is preparing a Local Transport Plan for Kilkenny City (See Volume 2, Chapter 5). Through the Core Strategy provisions have been made to deliver 40% of the county’s growth up to 2027 within the existing settlements and by promoting compact growth of settlements. This is particularly the case for Kilkenny City which has by far the largest population within the County. At local level this will mean: • Delivering a high level of permeability through walking, cycling and public transport modes, • Complementary traffic management measures to facilitate the use of private car, • Prioritising walking, cycling and public transport by maximising the number of people living within walking and cycling distance of their neighbourhood or district centres, public transport services, and other services at the local level such as schools; • Designing permeability for walking and cycling in new development areas and retrospectively implementing walking and cycling facilities into existing neighbourhoods where feasible and practicable, • Workplace travel plans will become increasingly important for all major trip generating uses including schools. Travel plans with a strong emphasis on sustainable travel modes will be conditioned as part of planning permissions and be carried out in a manner consistent with published NTA guidance. (See Section 12.5.2 Workplace Travel Plans.) Where space or other constraints prevent the full implementation of the provisions of the Design Manual for Roads and Streets, best reasonable efforts in the interests of providing accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists should be used. Public transport infrastructure should be considered in all plans and projects relating to the county’s urban settlements, including local area plans, traffic management schemes, and public realm improvement schemes. This would include, inter alia, suitable infrastructure on public transport corridors to improve safety and efficiency for public transport users, including retro-fitting within existing development areas. 12.3.1 The 10 Minute City Concept A balanced, compact form, combined with efficient transport links between employment and residential locations, will facilitate easier circulation and mobility within the City and Environs. It can bring new life and footfall, contribute to the viability of services, shops and public transport, increase housing supply and enable more people to be closer to employment and recreational opportunities, as well as to walk or cycle more and use the car less. The provision of a range of dwelling types and densities within all the settlements will be critical in providing for the housing needs of the growing population. This is particularly true in the case of Kilkenny City. By providing for a compact city form there are substantial economies of scale to be made in terms of the costs of service provision. Since the 2014 Plan, Kilkenny has begun to develop the concept of the ten-minute city. It is where residents of the City/Town or neighbourhood can access the local services they require such as shops, schools, or local parks etc. within a 10-minute

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   Chapter 12 Movement and Mobility Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 238 travel trip by cycle or walking, public transport or car. Historically Kilkenny City has been planned in a compact form with the concept of the four neighbourhoods based around the medieval city core. 12.3.2 Objectives for the Integration of Land Use and Transport Development Management Requirements: • All non-residential development proposals will be subject to maximum parking standards as a limitation to restrict parking provision to achieve greater modal shift; • In locations where the highest intensity of development occurs, an approach that’s based on performance criteria in relation to car parking that seeks to achieve well-designed high-quality outcomes in order to achieve targeted growth will be applied. • Infrastructure for Electric Vehicles will be integrated into developments; • The design of all roads and streets within the urban areas, including suburbs, towns and villages within the 60 kph zone shall be as per the Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets, being the designated appropriate road design standards for such locations. • Applications are to achieve a more place-based and integrated approach to road and street design in accordance with the four core principles promoted within the DMURS: o Connected Networks: Support the creation of integrated street networks which promote higher levels of permeability and legibility for all users, and with emphasis on more sustainable forms of transport; o Multi-Functional Streets: Promote multi-functional, place-based streets that balance the needs of all users within a self-regulating environment; o Pedestrian Focus: Quality of the street is measured by the quality of the environment user hierarchy with pedestrian considered first; and Objectives 12A To plan for and progressively implement a sustainable, integrated and low carbon transport system by enhancing the existing transport infrastructure in terms of road, bus, rail, cycling and pedestrian facilities and interfacing different modes as the opportunity arises. 12B To plan for a transition towards sustainable and low carbon transport modes, through the promotion of alternative modes of transport, and ‘walkable communities’ together with promotion of compact urban forms close to public transport corridors to encourage more sustainable patterns of movement in all settlements. 12C To undertake appropriate traffic management measures within the City and County to reduce congestion and minimise travel times. 12D To develop a 10-minute city framework for Kilkenny City to map and identify infrastructural requirements to support the ‘10 minute’ city.

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   Chapter 12 Movement and Mobility Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 239 o Multi-Disciplinary Approach: Greater communication and co-operation between design professionals through the promotion of a plan-led, multidisciplinary approach to design. • Accessible public transport infrastructure is to be considered as part of all significant residential or commercial developments. It will be a requirement to show how the need for accessible public transport infrastructure is considered and evaluated as part of the proposed development. 12.4 Modal share targets for County Kilkenny The mode share targets set for County Kilkenny are focused on internal work and college trips. In terms of sustainable modes, "A New Transport Policy for Ireland 2009-2020" set out key National modal share targets for achievement by 2020. These targets were aimed at reducing work-related commuting by car as a modal share from 65% to 45% and accommodating car drivers on other modes of transport such as walking, cycling, public transport and car sharing. Although these targets have not been achieved, County Kilkenny would aim to achieve this modal shift by 2040. The figures will be adjusted in accordance with Government policy. The development of multi-modal options has been based on these mode share targets. The Council will work with the NTA on development and analysis of sustainable transport indicators at county and settlement levels to monitor modal shift. For developments with private car spaces (residential and non-residential), including visitor car parking spaces e.g. office-spaces, at least one parking space should be equipped with one fully functional EV charging point and it should be possible to expand the charging system at a future date (e.g. by installing appropriate ducting now) so that up to 20% of all spaces can be fitted with similar charging points. Table 12.1 Modal Share targets for County Kilkenny Mode Share Walk Cycle Public Transport Car 2016 11% 1.2% 8% 65% 2040 Target 20% 15% 6 20% 45% 6 The National Cycle Policy Framework has a target of 10% for Cycling

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    Chapter 12 Movement and Mobility Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 240 12.5 Cycling and Walking In line with the Guidance documents referred to above, the Plan will promote cycling and walking as efficient, fast and relatively inexpensive forms of transport. Policies of Compact Growth will re- focus the design and location of residential development so as to create an urban form which is more conducive to the provision of infrastructure for public transport, walking and cycling. The improved provision of alternatives to the private car should bring about a reduction in demand for private car journeys and a commensurate increase in public transport, walking and cycling. Providing public transport and a network of safe, well-lit and convenient footpaths and cycleways within residential areas with links to schools, local neighbourhood centres, public transport stops and workplaces will encourage walking and cycling. Various initiatives can contribute to an increase in walking and cycling. An example of this is the Walking bus, which consists of adults walking groups of pupils to and from school along set routes, with children joining the walking bus at various pick-up points along the route. This programme encourages children to walk, and so get used to this means of travel. A National Cycle Policy Framework7 2009-2020 was published in 2009. This sets out a series of interventions and instruments to reverse the decline in cycling numbers, which includes planning and infrastructure measures. The approach recommended is a hierarchy of measures, including: • reducing volumes of through-traffic, especially HGVs, in city and town centres and especially in the vicinity of schools and colleges; • calming traffic / enforcing low traffic speeds in urban areas; • making junctions safe for cyclists and removing the cyclist-unfriendly multi-lane one-way street systems. 7 Department of Transport, Ireland’s First National Cycle Policy Framework, 2009 Modal Share Objectives: 12E To deliver on sustainable mobility with an accompanying investment in infrastructure to provide for integration between all modes of transport to support the use of sustainable travel choices. 12F Implement strategies to meet the mode share targets during the lifetime of the plan and develop, in conjunction with the NTA, an effective monitoring regime for the implementation and where required, adjustment of the Council’s sustainable transport strategy in order to ensure the achievement of the modal share targets referred to under Objective 12G. 12G To achieve a modal shift from the private car to walking or cycling in accordance with the targets in Table 12.1 for County Kilkenny. 12Ga To prepare mobility management plans incorporating mobility objectives of the local area plans for Thomastown, Castlecomer and Piltown. 12Gb To undertake a mobility study for Bennettsbridge.

Source Kilkenny County Council: Kilkenny City and County Development Plan 2021–2027 (2021–2027) · Licence the publisher's termsText read from the publisher’s PDF; tables, maps and drawings do not survive as text, and page numbers are the PDF’s (its first page is 1). Check the original before relying on a passage.