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 5 Economic Development Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 53 Foodwise 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. 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 Chapter 7 Rural Development). The Plan will facilitate and support the development of agriculture and food while ensuring the highest standards of environmental protection in the assessment of planning applications for all development proposals. 5.3 Tourism, Creative Industries and Services The tourism industry has long been recognised as an important economic driver for the economy of Kilkenny. Sustainable Tourism is considered tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities. It is a Core objective of Kilkenny County Council to develop tourism and the County’s tourism offer, working with key stakeholders – public, private, community, and voluntary - to implement Kilkenny’s Statement of Tourism Strategy and work programme 2017- 20222 as well as maintaining Kilkenny’s position as the finest Cultural and Heritage destination in Ireland. Kilkenny is recognised as an international destination with the capacity to deliver significant growth in international visitor numbers and a substantial increase in tourism related employment in accordance with the Government’s Tourism Strategy; People, Place and Policy - Growing Tourism to 20253, Food Vision 2020-2025 and the three-year Destination Marketing, Sales and Revenue Growth Plan for Kilkenny City and County. Kilkenny has long been recognised as the centre of Ireland’s design and craft sector, and is home to the Design & Craft Council Ireland headquarters in the City and Grennan Mill Craft School in Thomastown, with centres of excellence in jewellery and ceramics at these locations. Working closely with the Design and Craft Council of Ireland, Kilkenny County Council developed plans for the refurbishment of Session House in Thomastown as part of the school. This proposed education facility at Sessions House represents a commitment to supporting and promoting the progression of new creative talent to employment in the creative sector. Kilkenny’s association with craft and design can be attributed in large part to the role of the Kilkenny Design Workshops (KDW), which operated from the 1960s to the 1980s.The cross-disciplinary approach to design attracted designers from many different countries to work in a centre of excellence for product and craft design. The legacy of KDW spawned a cluster of creative industries and services, in artistic endeavours leading to the establishment of master designers in jewellery, ceramics and artisan crafts. 2 Kilkenny County Council, Statement of Tourism Strategy and work programme 2017-2022 3 Government of Ireland, People, Place and Policy - Growing Tourism to 2025, 2019
- Chapter 5 Economic Development Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 54 Kilkenny’s flourishing creative scene has led to some world-leading creative companies setting up their operations here including Cartoon Saloon (a four-time Academy Award nominated animation studio). Cartoon Saloon have also teamed up with Canadian animators Mercury Filmworks to create Lighthouse Studios, a new animation studio in the city that has helped to transform Kilkenny into a centre of excellence in animation. The Centre for Design (C4D) is funded under the Enterprise Ireland Regional Enterprise Development Fund (REDF), C4D is a design innovation hub that helps companies to conceptualise, innovate, build and test new products and services through critical problem-solving methodologies and design thinking concepts. The C4D partners are the Institute of Technology Carlow (ITC), Kilkenny County Council (KCC), The Design & Crafts Council of Ireland (DCCoI), the Kilkenny Industrial Development Company (KIDCo) and the Kilkenny LEADER Partnership (KLP). It is Council policy to: • support the delivery of Destination Experience Development Plans through continued collaboration with Fáilte Ireland. • support cycle and walking tourism initiatives, in tandem with the development of greenways and blueways in the County. • support the provision and improvement of visitor facilities, infrastructure and accommodation (including self-catering, hotels, hostels, guesthouses, B&Bs, caravanning, camping, motorhome service areas and glamping) at appropriate locations, preferably clustered within existing settlements, in order to provide a range of accommodation type to suit all visitors. 5.3.1 Kilkenny County Outside the City, the tourism sector continues to be a crucial element of community and economic development. Recent developments, which shall be encouraged and supported include: • Callan - Cultural Hub: Proposed Capital Project, also referred to as the Friary Conservation Plan, which is the subject of a funding application under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund. Funding is sought to support the development of the Friary Complex as a cultural and creative hub with a modern library service at its centre. • Castlecomer – The continued expansion of the Discovery Park including the town’s mining heritage. The opening of the Avalon Hotel during 2019 was a tremendous boost to the town’s tourism offering. • Graiguenamanagh - The continued development of The Hub as a focus for outdoor recreation and camping infrastructure, developed as a base for exploring the great outdoors Objective 5C To continue to develop sustainable high quality tourism, leisure and complementary activities for the City & County with the key stakeholders enhancing the position of Kilkenny as a Hero site within Ireland’s Ancient East branding.
- Chapter 5 Economic Development Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 55 • Thomastown – the continued development of Mount Juliet as a unique luxury destination, and the recent addition of Mountain View in Ballyhale offer accommodation for visitors to the area. The school of jewellery and ceramics building on the town’s design and craft reputation. • Inistioge and Woodstock – capitalising on Woodstock’s natural assets to maximise its contribution to the tourism product. The Council has and will continue to engage with Coillte which owns 1,000 acres of commercial forestry in the Woodstock estate. • Kilkenny Greenway as part of the South East Greenway in South of the county. 5.3.2 Mount Juliet Estate Mount Juliet Estate and the adjoining Ballylynch Stud are situated in the Nore Valley to the west of Thomastown. Mount Juliet is generally recognised as a high-quality tourism and sporting resource of significant local, national, and international importance. It is also a significant built, natural and cultural heritage resource. The golf course and stud are recognised on an international scale, with the stud in operation since 1914 and the golf course has played host to international competitions. The estate and stud are a significant source of direct and indirect employment in the county. An action plan was developed for the estate in 2000 to set out the guiding principles and overall future direction for the development of the estate. The objectives of the action plan have been largely delivered over the intervening period. The provisions of the action plan have been incorporated into this plan which now aims to facilitate appropriate development in a manner which respects the sensitive nature of the landscape, heritage and environmental attributes of the estate and seeks to ensure their protection and enhancement, see Figure 5.1. Mount Juliet Development Management Requirements • To protect and enhance the Protected Structure, its curtilage and attendant grounds and woodlands. To protect and enhance existing landscape, ecological, water quality and other environmental amenities and in particular to provide for the protection of the River Nore (designated cSAC and SPA). • To provide for the maintenance and enhancement of tourism, sporting, leisure and related uses, and of existing agricultural and equestrian lands and buildings in an area of sensitive landscape. • To protect the residential amenity of existing dwellings. Permissible uses/ developments: • Equestrian, sport and leisure facilities. • Stores, machinery storage/repair & office uses related to maintenance of estate lands. Uses open for consideration: • Temporary tented or other temporary enclosures.
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- Chapter 5 Economic Development Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 56 Table 5.1: Mount Juliet Protected views View Description V1 From Mount Juliet House to Ballylinch Stud V2 Approach from Thomastown gate towards Mount Juliet House and the Inch V3 River valley from White bridge V4 River valley from Ballylinch bridge Table 5.2: Mount Juliet Site-specific Development Management Requirements Map Ref. 1 To protect and enhance Mount Juliet House (protected structure), its curtilage and attendant grounds and allow for its extension as appropriate. 2 To protect and enhance existing archaeological features: 2a Ecclesiastical Remains 2b Castle and Mansion 2c Enclosure 2d Enclosure 3 To protect and enhance the existing south western entrance to the estate, gate lodges, boundary walls and road frontage. 4 To protect and enhance the existing Thomastown entrance to the estate, gate lodges, boundary walls and road frontage. 5 To provide for the enhancement of the cricket pavilion facilities. 6 & 7 To provide for the enhancement and development of tourism, leisure and recreational facilities and related activities at appropriate locations within the estate, including the Hunters Yard and the Walled Garden, without detracting from the estate’s built and natural heritage. 8 Provide for the extension of the upper car park at Hunters Yard (New Map Ref. 8) 9 Provide for an extension to the existing golf maintenance facility to include changing area and other associated staff uses. Provide for the development of a Golf Maintenance Facility to include changing area and other associated staff uses to the east of the service entrance to the Estate, subject to the capacity of the estate to absorb development without detracting from the estate’s landscape character and built and natural heritage context (Relocated Map Ref. 9) 10 Provide for the development of 3 no. detached houses associated with the estate’s sporting and recreational functions. 11 Provide for a house at the maintenance facility building associated with the estate’s sporting and recreational facilities. ____ Provide for estate maintenance/administration area at an appropriate location to replace existing maintenance facility building for the on-going management of the estate. 12 Provide for the development of 9 No. houses (8 No. 2 bed apartments and 1 No. 3 bed house) at the Golf Maintenance Yard subject to the capacity of the estate to absorb development without detracting from the estate’s landscape character and built and natural heritage context. (Relocated map Ref. 12)
- Chapter 5 Economic Development Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 57 5.3.3 Woodstock A Local Area Plan for Woodstock was first prepared in 2008 and extended in 2013 in anticipation of developing the estate. Under that plan no significant development occurred. A business plan was prepared for the Woodstock estate in 2018 (in conjunction with Coillte), which set out a vision of transforming Woodstock into a major tourism and recreation flagship project for the South East. It is a 10-year vision to transform Woodstock into a high-quality regional park as follows: • Woodstock House & Gardens Visitor experience centred around the gardens and house & interpretation • Woodstock Resort a 5-star glamping, lodge and recreational vehicle (RV) resort • Inistioge village A carefully curated resort village experience with better parking, ground transportation, orientation, retail, accommodation, eating and drinking options plus interpretation of the village’s rich history of monastic, trading and other themes. Through the Outdoor Recreational Infrastructural Scheme (ORIS) works have been completed on upgrading the forest walks. Further work on opening up the Woodstock estate as a recreational amenity in conjunction with Coillte will be carried out over the coming years. Kilkenny County Council will consider development proposals for appropriately scaled forest-based tourism accommodation at Woodstock that is sensitive to the woodland environment and can ensure appropriate protection of the important natural, cultural and architectural features of Woodstock House and setting. 5.3.4 Camping/Glamping sites The Council recognises that the provision of camping sites is an important element in the range of tourist accommodation offers. While the Council considers that camping sites should be located on appropriately zoned land within or adjacent to existing settlements, small scale camping sites and/or forest based tourism accommodation, may be appropriate in a rural location removed from any settlement where they support rural tourism initiatives developed upon rural enterprise, natural heritage assets and outdoor recreational activities. In general, camping sites should be located at appropriate locations within or adjacent to existing settlements where such proposals demonstrate the provision of safe pedestrian links to the settlement. Proposals for camping sites to complement a high potential tourism asset such as the Greenway, or other walking trails etc, should be located in existing settlements or at established centres which provide existing services to tourists, subject to the capacity of the site and the location to facilitate the proposal. The planning authority may facilitate proposals for camping sites which support rural tourism initiatives and which are located at a rural location removed from any settlement or high potential tourism asset, subject to the capacity of the site and the location to facilitate the proposal. The scale of any tourism accommodation will be determined by the nature and scale of the existing tourist attractions and/or the extent of existing Objective 5D To implement the Woodstock Business Plan on a phased basis as resources permit subject to the outcome of environmental assessments and the planning process.
- Chapter 5 Economic Development Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 58 underutilised agricultural/commercial/ancillary building stock available for reuse for the purposes of tourist accommodation and ancillary services. Proposals for the provision of standalone campervan facilities i.e. designated parking bays/electrical supply, within car parks, will be considered in terms of the availability of surplus car parking and the capacity of the site and the location to facilitate the proposal. 5.3.5 Outlook Notwithstanding the severe impact COVID 19 has had on the tourism sector, Kilkenny County Council will continue to develop the tourism offering in Kilkenny focusing on; • Developing and adding depth to Kilkenny’s Tourism Experience by implementing the Orientation and wayfinding plan for Kilkenny through both approved Destination towns funding and other funding streams. • Developing and delivering a unified tourist attraction at the Tholsel and Medieval Mile Museum. • Developing a Visitor plan for the South East Greenway incorporating the Kilkenny Greenway. • Supporting Butler Gallery to enhance the visitor experience at Evans Home. • Seeking opportunities to expand the offering at Woodstock through the Woodstock/Inistioge business plan. • Working with Kilkenny’s Festivals and Events organisers to support Kilkenny’s reputation as an international festival destination. • Selecting, preparing and delivering ORIS, or equivalent, funding schemes across the County. • Working with local communities and businesses to expand the tourism offering of County Kilkenny such as in the Lingaun Valley. • Working with Kilkenny Tourism and Fáilte Ireland to support and further develop a Marketing and Public Relations Campaign to promote Kilkenny both nationally and internationally as a top-class tourist destination. • Use the new Kilkenny – ‘Best of Ireland’ brand, the ‘Outdoor Kilkenny’ and ‘Taste Kilkenny’ brands and visitkilkenny.ie website to attract more visitors to Kilkenny.
- Chapter 5 Economic Development Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 59 5.3.6 Tourism Objectives The Council will continue the development of major flagship tourism projects within the county to enhance the tourism product and will develop Kilkenny City and County as a leading tourism destination through continued sustainable expansion of the tourism sector, with a focus on creating high-quality visitor services and the continued development and enhancement of visitor attractions and activities, capitalising on our natural and cultural heritage assets, whilst safeguarding these resources for future generations. 5.4 Third Level Educational Facilities Kilkenny County Council has proactively supported the case for the establishment of a multi-campus Technological University of the South East (TUSE). This is an objective of the Local Economic & Community Plan (LECP) (as per action 4.6), and has been prioritised by the Council’s Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) for Economic Development, Tourism and Enterprise Supports. This has also been supported through appropriate objectives in previous development plans. Technological Universities4 were recommended by the National Strategy for Higher Education as a new type of university in Ireland. Internationally, a technological university (TU) (often called university of applied science) is a higher education institution operating at the highest academic level and specifically focused on career- and labour-market-oriented education, research and innovation. TUs will be formed by the amalgamation of existing Institutes of Technology. In the SE, Carlow (ITC) and Waterford Institutes of Technology (WIT) have come together to form a multi-campus Technological University of the South-East (TUSE). The aim of the TUSE is to create “a new fully integrated entity, with physical campuses in Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford, and Wexford, creating a different and better whole that will broaden and deepen the academic, research and engagement activities across the new unified institution, while ensuring a strengthened platform on which to build 4 DES (2018, 24 January) TU Bill progress https://www.education.ie/en/Press-Events/Press- Releases/2018-press-releases/PR2018-24-01.html Objectives 5E Invest in public realm to create more multi-functional vibrant and inviting public spaces in urban areas and villages, which will greatly enhance the overall quality of place and act as a catalyst to stimulate private sector development. The public realm will be informed by the Kilkenny Access for All Strategy 2018-2021. The Council will ensure that the maintenance, cleanliness and animation of public spaces is manged in order to encourage visitors to dwell more in these spaces. 5F Development of the Kilkenny Greenway as part of the South East Greenway in South Kilkenny. 5G Development of the Waterford to Rosslare Greenway. 5H Continue the development of projects for submission under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) and other funding schemes (e.g. LEADER Programme).
- Chapter 5 Economic Development Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 60 an internationally recognised and nationally relevant Irish Technological University”5. A Project Office has been established by ITC and WIT and an application will be made to the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research and Innovation in early summer 2021 for an order to establish the TUSE. A joint venture between Kilkenny County Council, Waterford Institute of Technology (Telecommunications Software & Systems Group or TSSG) was successfully established on St Kieran’s College campus previously which is a 3rd/4th level Research and Innovation unit. The centre focuses on next generation internet services and service innovation. The Precision Agriculture Centre of Excellence (PACE), was established in Kilkenny city through Waterford Institute of Technology with assistance from Kilkenny County Council. It is a new digital innovation hub in Kilkenny which will drive digital transformation of Europe’s agri-food sector. There is a convincing educational, social and economic case for locating tertiary/higher education and training provision in Kilkenny6. The proposal for a third level campus in Kilkenny aligns well with regional policy, especially as regards providing counterweights to Dublin, based on making the South- East region more attractive than it currently is. Leveraging the advantages of smart specialisation, which is based on maximising regional expertise for national and global competitiveness, would be essential. The proposal also aligns with government policy across education. 5.5 Strategic Locations for Enterprise and Employment A targeted evidence-based Plan led approach has been applied to identify a number of strategically important sites intended to attract specific employment sectors based on a number of variables such as; the strategic location of the sites within the County; the proximity of the sites to a critical mass of skilled workers and public transport and the level of critical infrastructure provision at each location. Within County Kilkenny there are two nationally and regionally important strategic locations for enterprise and employment. These are Kilkenny City and Belview Port7 within the Waterford Metropolitan area which is in County Kilkenny. At a level below that, the four District Towns play an important role providing for local employment for their catchments and as drivers of development within the county. Notwithstanding Belview as a strategic location for employment the wider Waterford Metropolitan Area within County Kilkenny has potential as a strategic employment location. 5 TUSE website: https://www.tuse.ie/about/ 6 From Charter to Framework: The Case for Higher Education Provision in Kilkenny April 2018. 7 The Belview Port Industrial area & IDA Lands are identified as a strategic location for the Waterford MASP -RSES page 338 Objective 5I To secure the development of a third and/or fourth level campus(es) in Kilkenny as part of the development of a Technological University for the South East) and to encourage the fostering of links between industry and education within Kilkenny.
- Chapter 5 Economic Development Kilkenny City and County Development Plan Volume 1 61 This locational strategy of employment centres will help ensure a sustainable pattern of economic development across the county in both urban and rural areas. Strong quality of life and place-making attributes are critical components of the economic strategy, especially in attracting inward investment. The Government’s ‘Enterprise 2025 Strategy’ highlights the importance of placemaking, noting that: “…investment in the creation of ‘place’ is key to realising regional potential. Companies are attracted to invest in locations where they can access skills, where people will want to live and work and where the surrounding infrastructures are supportive of business investment and for people to live and work”8. Kilkenny City, as a strategic location for economic development, is addressed in detail in Volume 2. 5.5.1 Belview Port The Belview Port area is located approximately 5km downstream of Waterford City in the River Suir estuary. The Port at Belview is a strategic national, regional and county asset with good road and rail links. The Port is one of 5 ports of national significance within the terms of National Ports Policy 2013 and is classified as a comprehensive port on the EU’s Ten-T network. The Port is active in bulk handling, break bulk/project cargoes and container handling (Lo-Lo9). The bulk side of the business is predominantly import and focussed on agri-inputs. The container operation supports a wide range of imports and regional exporters from the food, pharmaceutical and other sectors. The annual value of goods through the Port was estimated at €1.7 billion in 2017 with just under 1,000 jobs in, or supported by businesses in, the port zone. The port is a significant economic facilitator with an important role to play in the economic development of the South East and further afield. To fulfil its role, the Port needs to be positioned to deliver the infrastructure and capacity required of it in a timely manner. The Port of Waterford Company is the commercial state company responsible for the operation and development of the Port and has prepared a masterplan setting out a strategic vision to position the Port as the preferred cargo gateway for the South East Region. The Port has a significant industrial hinterland including the IDA’s 55 ha Strategic Industrial landbank and the port has identified the need for further additional land and facilities to support port activity in the Master Plan. One of the main priorities for expansion in the Belview area is the attraction of FDI. The Belview area is dealt with in detail in the current Ferrybank/Belview Local Area Plan 2017. The Council will support the development of the necessary port infrastructure and associated road and rail connectivity required for the development of the Port, to enhance the role of the Port as an Economic Driver for the South-East subject to the outcome of appropriate appraisal, environmental 8 Enterprise 2025 Ireland’s National Enterprise Policy 2015-2025 https://dbei.gov.ie/en/Publications/Publicationfiles/Enterprise-2025-Summary-Report.pdf 9 Lo-Lo is load on and load off. See Volume 2 Section 3 Economic & Retail Strategy
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