Kilkenny City and County Development Plan 2021–2027

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   Chapter 3 Demographic and Socio-Economic Trends Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 27 3.8 Physical Development Trends The expansion of the urban centres has continued within the County. It is notable that Kilkenny City is performing well, with its population still expanding at a rate slightly above the national average. Ferrybank, now falling within the Waterford Metropolitan Area, has grown significantly and has consolidated itself as the second largest urban area within the county. 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 in Kilkenny City has been delivered, • Commencement of works on the Abbey Quarter in Kilkenny, including redevelopment of the Brewhouse and the new linear park along the River Nore, • St Mary’s hall renovated to become the Medieval Mile Museum, • The redevelopment of Evans Home to accommodate the Butler Gallery, • The Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Bridge for the New Ross Bypass, was officially opened in 2020, • Public Realm improvements along the Medieval Mile have been completed, • Moat field walk completed in Callan, • In Thomastown work has commenced on a primary care unit on a site at Lady’s Well Street adjacent to the town centre, • In Castlecomer the former Creamery House refurbishment was completed and the former Avalon Inn adjacent to the Discovery Park was redeveloped as a hotel. An objective of the Local Area Plan for a pedestrian bridge linking the town to the Discovery Park was advanced with planning permission being granted for its construction. • In Graiguenamanagh the former creamery site was redeveloped with the opening of an Aldi store with associated laneway improvements from the site to the town centre. Work is also progressing on the development of a flood relief scheme for the town, • Redevelopment of former creamery in Piltown as an enterprise centre. • Significant investment by Irish Water in water and waste water for the towns and villages such as: o Waste water – Castlecomer, Urlingford, Stoneyford, Freshford, Johnstown and Goresbridge o Water supply- Kilferagh, Furzehouse, Outrath, Wallslough and Inistioge Substantial investment has been taking place at Belview as a result of the infrastructural improvements, including the construction and extension of a new milk processing plant by Glanbia. As a result of that investment, a new natural gas supply has also been delivered. Further investment is planned at Belview for the construction of cheese production facility recently granted permission. 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 Hall (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 on the western side of the City has commenced 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 the area through the Kilkenny

2. Page 42

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   Chapter 3 Demographic and Socio-Economic Trends Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 28 and Carlow Education and Training Board and these are currently at design stage. There is also a commitment 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. 3.9 Key Strategic issues for this Plan The key issues to be addressed in this Plan are as follows: • Contributing towards achieving climate change targets in particular by means of encouraging and facilitating a modal shift towards more sustainable travel modes and patterns and an increase in renewable energy production, including wind, solar and bio energy, both at a macro and micro scale • Delivering compact growth in the form envisaged under the NPF and RSES for Kilkenny City, the Waterford MASP area and the towns and villages of the county. • Facilitate the delivery increased housing supply from both public and private sources • Facilitating the recovery of businesses across the county from the impacts of Covid-19 and helping businesses respond to the challenges presented by Brexit. • The continued delivery of the Abbey Quarter Masterplan area • Facilitating the recovery from the impacts of Covid-19 on the tourism sector in the county and further development • Encouraging and supporting sustainable rural development by facilitating sustainable rural settlement patterns that will revitalise and sustain smaller towns and villages whilst continuing to facilitate the housing need of farming families and rural dwellers. • Delivery of key infrastructure for the City and County to facilitate development.

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   Chapter 4 Core Strategy Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 29 4 Core Strategy Strategic Aim: To implement the provisions of the National Planning Framework (NPF) and the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES) and to promote the compact growth of Kilkenny City, Ferrybank/Belview (as part of WMASP), the District Towns, the other settlements in the hierarchy and to strengthen rural economies and communities through growth and development of rural areas. 4.1 Introduction The Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, requires the written statement of a Development Plan to contain a Core Strategy which shows that the development objectives in the development plan are consistent, as far as practicable, with national and regional development objectives set out in the National Planning Framework (NPF) and the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES). The Core Strategy will set out an evidence-based rationale for the settlement hierarchy for the Plan area and give details on: 1. Defining a settlement hierarchy for the County that is consistent with the NPF and RSES for the Southern Region. 2. Transposing the prescribed NPF and RSES housing and population targets set at County level for the rural and urban centres identified within the settlement hierarchy. 3. An evidenced based rationale for the zoning of lands. 4. Demonstrating how the Planning Authority has had regard to the statutory Retail Planning Guidelines in setting out objectives for retail development. 5. Classification of roads within the Plan area. 6. Inter urban commuter rail routes. 7. Rural areas where the Sustainable Rural Housing Guidelines apply. 4.2 Development Strategy The NPF and the RSES are high-level documents that will shape growth and development in Ireland and the Southern Region up to the year 2040. The specific focus of this Development Plan is a quantitatively based Core Strategy, which sets the framework for the spatial development of the County to 2027, within a medium to longer term context. The Core Strategy must demonstrate that the Development Plan and its objectives are consistent with national and regional development objectives set out in the NPF and RSES. Specifically, the first Regional Strategy (2020-2032) sets the parameters for the City and County Development Plan to cover the period to 2027 and 2031. The ambition of the NPF is to create a single vision, a shared set of goals for every community across the country. These goals are expressed as National Strategic Outcomes. It is an approach that joins up ambition for improvement across the different areas of our lives, bringing the various government

4. Page 44

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   Chapter 4 Core Strategy Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 30 departments, agencies, State owned enterprises and local authorities together behind a shared set of strategic objectives for rural, regional and urban development1. National Strategic Outcomes NPF National Strategic Outcomes. Source: NPF, p13 The NPF is fully supported by the Government’s investment strategy for public capital investment and investment by the State sector in general through its 10-year National investment Plan, the NDP 2018- 2027. The Implementation Roadmap for the National Planning Framework2 highlights the Government’s focus on achieving alignment between national, regional and local planning policy and practice. The Roadmap provides transitional population projections at a regional and county scale. At a regional level these 10 National Outcomes are set out by the 11 Statements of the Strategy to build a Strong, Resilient and Sustainable Southern Region3. This Development Plan and its Core Strategy seeks to achieve consistency with the National Strategic Outcomes of the NPF and Statement of Strategy of the RSES. 1 Foreword to the National Planning Framework P5 2 Implementation Roadmap for the National Planning Framework, Dept. of Housing Planning and Local Government, July 2018 3 Regional Spatial & Economic Strategy for the Southern Region p24

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   Chapter 4 Core Strategy Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 31 The Core Strategy is based on the housing demand analysis model provided by the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government which has been used to create a housing demand for the County for the period 2021-2027. Table 4.1: Population Projections at Regional and County level South-East Planning Area 2016 2026 2031 Kilkenny 99,000 108,000-110,000 112,000-114,500 Waterford 116,000 132,000-135,000 137,000-144,000 Wexford 149,000 163,000-166,000 169,000-172,500 Tipperary SR 88,500 96,000-98,000 99,500-102,000 Carlow 57,000 62,000-63,000 64,000-65,500 Total 509,500 561,000-572,000 581,500-598,500 For the purpose of this Plan, the time period will be to 2027. Growth is anticipated to take place towards the upper levels of the projections and growth is assumed to be linear. It is important to note that the population targets set out in the NPF and RSES are based on the period 2016 to 2026. Accordingly, the projected NPF figures have been adjusted to align with the period of this Plan to 2027 i.e. an increase of 11,845 for the County. The figure for 2027 is derived from applying the annual average increase predicted by the NPF to 2026 and extrapolating same to 2027. It is an objective of the NPF (National Planning Objectives 3a,3b and 3c) that targeted growth will be delivered in a compact form, with 40% of all new homes nationally to be provided within the built-up footprint of existing settlements. Of the growth targeted for settlements, 30% is to be provided within the existing built footprint4. The exception to this rule is the Waterford Metropolitan Area Strategic Plan (MASP) area, which contains Ferrybank and environs, where 50% of new housing growth for Waterford City is to be delivered within the existing built-up footprint. 4.2.1 Promoting Compact Growth 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. Compact growth should be achieved in these areas without compromising the existing residential amenity or residential character of the area, either by “Increased Height”, “infill” or by “sub-division”. Densification will lead to the improved utilisation of existing infrastructure and help reduce the need for greenfield developments. In order to achieve this objective, the Council will promote infill and 4 This means within the existing built-up footprint of all sizes of urban settlement, as defined by the CSO in line with UN criteria i.e. having a minimum of 50 occupied dwellings, with a maximum distance between any dwelling and the building closest to it of 100 metres, and where there is evidence of an urban centre (shop, school etc.).

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   Chapter 4 Core Strategy Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 32 more intensive development brownfield and/or underutilised sites and on opportunity sites interspersed throughout the existing residential fabric of the city and towns. Active Land Management The Council will use its powers under the Derelict Sites and Vacant Sites legislation (see Section 6.6 Vacant Site Levy) in order to tackle the issues of dereliction and vacancy. Where possible, the Council will facilitate the regeneration and reuse of derelict buildings in appropriate locations for town centre uses. The Council has served Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs) on four derelict or vacant homes within the County area and another six in the City in 2020. The Council will continue to avail of its powers under the Derelict sites Act and the Vacant Sites levy and other statutory powers to actively manage land supply within the City and County. Objectives 4A To accommodate future population growth for County Kilkenny in accordance with projections contained in the Implementation Roadmap for the NPF and Appendix 1 of the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy of the Southern Region. 4B To ensure growth is achieved in a compact form, with: • 40% of the projected growth of the County to be delivered in Kilkenny City and the towns and villages within the county • 30% of the new housing earmarked for the City and towns to be catered for within their built-up footprints1 • 50% new housing earmarked for the Waterford MASP area catered for within the built-up footprint of the Waterford area, including that part within County Kilkenny 4C To actively promote the redevelopment and renewal of areas in need of regeneration whether urban or rural through appropriate active land management measures during the period of the Plan. 4D To monitor the delivery of residential developments throughout the City and County in order to ensure alignment with the NPF, RSES and the Core Strategy and to adjust the approach as necessary where Core Strategy objectives are not being met.

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   Chapter 4 Core Strategy Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 33 4.3 Settlement Hierarchy Within the RSES, the settlement hierarchy is set out as follows: Table 4.2: Settlement Typology of RSES Type of Centre Place Policy Level Metropolitan Area Cork, Limerick, Waterford NPF, RSES, MASP, Development Plan, Local Area Plan Key Towns Kilkenny, Carlow, Wexford, Clonmel, Dungarvan, Gorey, Ennis, Thurles, Nenagh, Newcastle West, Tralee, Killarney, Mallow, Clonakilty. RSES, Development Plans, Local Area Plans Towns & Villages5 Towns and villages of above 1,500. To be identified in Development Plans Development Plans, Local Area Plans Rural Areas Ballycallan, Ballyfoyle, Byrnesgrove, Bigwood, Castlewarren, Coan, Carrigeen, Clara, Connahy, Crosspatrick, Coolroebeg, Clogherinka, Cuffesgrange, Danesfort, Dunamaggin, Dungarvan, Ennisnag, Galmoy, Glenmore Hugginstown, Johnswell, Kilmanagh Lisdowney, Listerlin, Newmarket, Newtown, Owning, The Rower, Skehana, Skeoghvasteen, Threecastles, Tullaroan Tullogher, Templeorum, Windgap, Gathabawn. Development Plans, Local Area Plans Networks Groupings of towns and villages (incl. cross boundary) which share geographic, economic, resources and contribute specialisms which if combined provide a strategic opportunity to drive regional economy. The RSES hierarchy is a framework based on the pillars of the three cities, supported by a network of strategically located Key Towns, towns and villages and rural areas. The Key Towns identified have a very significant population scale and are major centres for delivery of public services, with large hospitals, third level institutions, courts, local and national government functions as well as economic and business roles and higher order retail functions. Kilkenny City is the largest of these and the 2nd largest settlement in the South-East and the 4th largest settlement in the Southern Region with a population of 26,512 in 2016. It is now the 8th largest employment centre (previously 9th in 2011) in the state6. 5 In identifying settlements under 1,500 as “rural” and above 1,500 as “urban”, the RSES reflects the CSO categorisation of settlements which is contained in the NPF. 6 Southern Regional Assembly RSES p349

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   Chapter 4 Core Strategy Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 34 The settlement hierarchy for the purposes of the Core Strategy is set out on Table 4.3 and illustrated on Figure 4.1, Core Strategy Map. In deriving the core strategy, the following key metrics, inter alia were considered: • Designations under the NPF and RSES, • The existing core strategy in the 2014 – 2020 County Development Plan, • The retail strategy, • The 2016 Census of population Table 4.3: County Settlement Hierarchy in accordance with NPF and RSES Type of Urban Centre Town/Centre Significant Key Town Kilkenny City Waterford Metropolitan Area (Metropolitan Area Strategic Plan) Waterford (Ferrybank/Belview in Co. Kilkenny) Towns > 1,500 in population Callan, Castlecomer, Graiguenamanagh/Tinnahinch, Thomastown, Rosbercon (Environs of New Ross in Co. Kilkenny)7 Rural Towns and Villages (22) Ballyhale, Ballyragget, Bennettsbridge, Clogh-Chatsworth, Fiddown, Freshford, Goresbridge, Gowran, Inistioge, Johnstown, Kells, Kilmacow, Kilmoganny, Knocktopher, Moneenroe, Mooncoin, Mullinavat, Paulstown, Piltown, Slieverue, Stoneyford and Urlingford. Rural Nodes and the wider rural area Ballycallan, Ballyfoyle, Byrnesgrove, Bigwood, Castlewarren, Coan, Carrigeen, Clara, Connahy, Crosspatrick, Coolroebeg, Clogherinka, Cuffesgrange, Danesfort, Dunamaggin, Dungarvan, Ennisnag, Galmoy, Glenmore Hugginstown, Johnswell, Kilmanagh Lisdowney, Listerlin, Newmarket, Newtown, Owning, The Rower, Skehana, Skeoghvasteen, Threecastles, Tullaroan Tullogher, Templeorum, Windgap, Gathabawn. 4.3.1 Kilkenny City (See also Volume 2) Kilkenny is one of six Key Towns identified in the RSES of very significant population scale and service delivery. Kilkenny City is the largest of the Key Towns with a 2016 population recorded in excess of 26,000. In this context Kilkenny is evidenced as a self-sustaining regional driver with a comparable structure to the five regional growth centres identified in the NPF8. Under the NPF and the RSES, Kilkenny City has a targeted growth in population of 30% by 2040, to 34,465. When considering this 30% growth projection to 2040, it is projected that with linear growth, this equates to a population uplift of 3,641 over the period of this plan to a total of 30,153 by 2027. In 7 A Local Area Plan for New Ross will to be prepared jointly with Wexford County Council. 8 NPF Section 2.5 Building Stronger Regions: Accessible Centres of Scale p27

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10. Page 50

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    Chapter 4 Core Strategy Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 35 accordance with the NPF and RSES, 30% of new housing growth targeted for the city is to be provided within the built-up footprint, with 70% for new growth areas on the periphery. These new growth areas are identified as the Breagagh Valley and Loughmacask neighbourhoods which have been subject to Local Area Plans in the past. A balanced, compact form combined with efficient mobility links between different land uses will facilitate easier circulation and mobility within the City. The resulting density and scale of population will support a wider range of retail, commercial, social and civic services than would be the case in a more dispersed city. The provision of a wide range of dwelling types and densities within the City will be critical in providing for the housing needs of the growing population. By providing residential accommodation within a compact city form there are substantial economies of scale to be made in terms of the costs of service provision. The concept of the ten-minute city is that residents of the city can access the local services they require such as shops, schools, or local parks within 10 minutes, i.e. accessible in short walking and cycle timeframes from homes or accessible by high quality public transport. In simple terms, Kilkenny is approximately 3km wide and 4.5km long. Strategic Objectives 4E To strengthen the role of Kilkenny City as a self-sustaining regional economic driver with a significant zone of influence and a Key Town on Dublin – Carlow-Kilkenny Waterford M9 Road/Rail, 4F To ensure investment and delivery of comprehensive infrastructure packages to meet growth targets that prioritise compact growth and sustainable mobility as per the NPF, 4G To achieve a growth of more than 30% in population for Kilkenny City from 2016 to 2040 to 34,500, subject to capacity analysis and sustainable criteria under Section 3.3 of the RSES, 4H To deliver 30% of that growth within the current built footprint of the city.

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