Development plan · Leitrim County Council
Leitrim County Development Plan 2023–2029
The council's development plan written statement: its strategy, policies, objectives and development standards.
Leitrim County Council · 2023–2029 · 398 pages
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- 1.4 Climate Action Climate change impacts are currently experienced worldwide. Coastal areas in western parts of Europe, such as Ireland, can expect more heavy rain, higher risk of flooding from rivers and higher risk of storms in winter. The national Climate Action Plan (2021), and successor plans, sets out a course of action to address the impacts of climate change on Ireland’s environment, society, economic and natural resources. The Climate Action Plan identifies the scale of the challenge and examines impacts on a range of key sectors including electricity, transport, built environment, industry and agriculture and charts a course towards ambitious emission reduction targets. Leitrim County Council has adopted and is implementing a Climate Adaptation Strategy for the county. Climate change is an integral theme of the Plan and transcends all chapters throughout. 1.5 Planning Guidelines The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, issues statutory guidelines to Planning Authorities under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. Planning Authorities must have regard to them in carrying out their functions, including in the preparation of their County Development Plan. The Planning Guidelines cover a wide range of issues including architectural heritage, childcare facilities, landscape, residential density and design, environmental assessment and development management. Where planning guidance documents contain Specific Planning Policy Requirements (SPPR), such as in the Apartment Guidelines (2018) and Building Height Guidelines (2018) and also in the Interim Guidelines on Statutory Plans, Renewable Energy and Climate Change (2017), Local Authorities are required to be consistent with these documents in their Development Plans. LEITRIM COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2023-2029 – VOLUME I 11 1 Introduction
- 1.6 Environmental Reports The Plan has also been informed by the preparation of three Environmental Assessments, in tandem with the plan making process. In accordance with European and National legislation, the Planning Authority has carried out a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and an Appropriate Assessment (AA) under the SEA Directive and Habitats Directive respectively. These assessments are undertaken in order to ensure that the potential impacts of the objectives contained in the Plan on the environment can be evaluated. This process informs the content of the plan and ensures that development responds appropriately to the sensitivities and requirements of the wider natural environment. A Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) has also been undertaken for the plan area. This provides a broad assessment of flood risk within the county and will inform strategic land use planning decisions in this Plan. It is considered that the development objectives in the Plan are consistent, in as far as practicable, with the conservation and protection of the environment arising from these iterative assessments. 1.6.1 Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) This Plan was subject to a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), as required under the Planning and Development (Strategic Environmental Assessment) Regulations 2004, as amended. SEA is the formal, systematic evaluation of the likely significant environmental effects of implementing a plan or programme before the decision is made to adopt the plan or programme. The findings of the SEA process are included in the SEA Environmental Report that accompanies the Development Plan. The outcomes of the SEA process have been fully incorporated into the preparation and making of this Plan. The Environmental Report has been published as a separate document. 1.6.2 Appropriate Assessment (AA) This Plan has been prepared in accordance with the Appropriate Assessment requirements under EU Habitats Directive (43/92/EEC) and Section 177 of the Act. The Planning Authority is required to ensure that any plan or programme and any projects that arise therefrom, individually or in combination with other plans or projects, are subject to ‘Appropriate Assessment’ to ensure there are no effects on the integrity of any European site(s) and that the requirements of Article 6(3) and 6(4) of the EU Habitats Directive are fully satisfied. Where a plan/ project is likely to have an effect on the integrity of a European site, or there is uncertainty with regard to effects, it shall be subject to a Stage 2 Appropriate Assessment. The plan/project will proceed only after it has been ascertained that it will not affect the integrity of the site or where, in the absence of alternative solutions, the plan/project is deemed imperative for reasons of overriding public interest - all in accordance with the provisions of Article 6(3) and 6(4) of the EU Habitats Directive. The findings of the Appropriate Assessment carried out for this Plan are attached in the accompanying Natura Impact Report. 1.6.3 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) is an assessment of flood risk and includes mapped boundaries for indicative flood risk zones, taking into account factors such as local knowledge, site walkovers and flood risk indicators. SFRA is required under ‘The Planning System and Flood Risk Management Guidelines for Planning Authorities’ (Department of Environment and Office of Public Works, 2009) and the associated Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government Circular PL2/2014. All SFRA recommendations have been integrated into the Plan. The Strategic Flood Risk Assessment has been published as a separate document. LEITRIM COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2023-2029 – VOLUME I12 1 Introduction
- 1.7 Format of the County Development Plan The Plan consists of 4 volumes. The Plan also consists of a number of accompanying strategies, contained in separate document form. Volume I consists of the Written Statement which sets out the strategic direction for the development of Co. Leitrim during the six year period of the Plan and beyond. The Written Statement contains the Core Strategy and details a series of objectives across a wide range of policy areas. Each chapter of the Written Statement focuses on an individual policy area. However, no individual chapter is considered in isolation as there are significant interlinkages and indeed overlap between individual policy areas within the Written Statement. The most relevant and important of these cross cutting themes is that of climate change. This will become evident as each chapter is considered and there is a consistency in the thrust of the policy framework presented as a result. Other important themes which transcend individual chapters include the creation of compact towns and villages, of sustainable communities, of placemaking and tackling decline in smaller towns and villages, of regeneration and of protecting our natural environment and wider heritage. Volume I of the Written Statement is set out as follows: Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION Chapter 2 CORE STRATEGY Chapter 3 HOUSING Chapter 4 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCLUDING RETAIL Chapter 5 TOURISM Chapter 6 URBAN SETTLEMENTS Chapter 7 SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES Chapter 8 TRANSPORT Chapter 9 INFRASTRUCTURE AND ENERGY Chapter 10 RURAL DEVELOPMENT Chapter 11 HERITAGE & BIODIVERSITY Chapter 12 CLIMATE ACTION AND RENEWABLE ENERGY Chapter 13 DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT STANDARDS 13LEITRIM COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2023-2029 – VOLUME I 1 Introduction
- Appendix I of the Plan contains a Statement prepared in accordance with Section 28 (1A) of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended demonstrating how the Planning Authority in preparing the Development Plan has implemented the policies and objectives set out in Ministerial Guidelines issued under Section 28 of the Act. Volume II contains the individual Settlement Plans for our towns and villages. In the existing County Development Plan 2015-2023, the overall strategy for individual towns and villages consisted only of a land use zoning objectives map without the context being provided or other individual development objectives presented. Detailed Settlement Plans have been prepared for the Tier 2A Self-Sustaining Growth Towns of Ballinamore and Manorhamilton and for the Tier 2B Support Towns of Dromahair, Drumshanbo, Kinlough and Mohill. Separate Objectives Maps for each of these towns have been prepared along with maps identifying the respective Land Use Zoning Objectives. Volume II also contains concise Settlement Plans for the Key Villages and Villages along with individual Land Use Zoning Objectives Maps for each. Volume III comprises the Book of Maps for both Volume I (Written Statement) and for Volume II (Settlement Plans). Volume IV contains the proposed Record of Protected Structures and contains 274 no. structures. There are a range of supporting documents and strategies which have been prepared and these form Appendices to the Plan. They are listed in the order of their respective chapters: I Section 28 Guidelines Statement of Consistency II Economic Profile of the County (based on 2016 Census of Population). III Strategic Economic Development Objectives and the Development Plan – Leitrim Local Economic Community Plan. IV Retail Strategy – Health Check. V Housing Strategy for Co. Leitrim including Housing Needs Demand Assessment. This is turn was informed by a Housing Modelling/ Housing Needs Demand Assessment. VI Landscape Capacity Study for Commercial Forestry (March 2022). VII County Leitrim Landscape Character Assessment. VIII County Leitrim Landscape Designations. IX County Leitrim Views and Prospects. X Renewable Energy Strategy which was informed by a Landscape and Visual Capacity Assessment for Wind Farms and Wind Turbines. XI Northern & Western Regional Assembly Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy – Regional Policy Objectives considered when preparing Chapter 13 – Climate Action and Renewable Energy. XII County Geological Sites of Interest. The Plan has also been subject to 3 environmental assessments as outlined in Section 1.6. These comprise: 1 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment. 2 Strategic Environmental Assessment Environmental Report. 3 Natura Impact Report (Appropriate Assessment). These reports also form part of the Plan. LEITRIM COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2023-2029 – VOLUME I14 1 Introduction
- 1.8 Implementation and Monitoring 1.8.1 Implementation Leitrim County Council is fully committed to securing and monitoring the implementation of the key aims and objectives of this Plan. The Development Plan is the key strategy to structure the development of Co. Leitrim over the six-year statutory time period of the plan. It seeks to address the physical, economic, social and environmental needs of the community, in terms of supporting structured new development, enhancing valued assets and amenities and protecting the environment. The Council will continue to occupy a leadership role to progress and secure the Plan policies and objectives to achieve the sustainable development of the county. The implementation of the Development Plan is a key strategic focus for Leitrim County Council and requires a concerted range of actions by the entire organisation in order to be successfully implemented. The Local Authority will need to utilise its wide range of statutory powers and responsibilities to achieve the objectives of the Development Plan. The successful implementation of a significant number of the policies and objectives of this Plan will necessitate on-going collaboration and support from across a range of agencies and stakeholders. The implementation of this Plan will depend also on the economic climate, political support and the availability of funding from various sources including by the Council itself. The Planning Department of the Council is the main section responsible for monitoring the implementation of the Plan. However, it is important to note that this Plan co-ordinates the work and objectives of other key departments within Leitrim County Council, such as Economic Development, Local Economic Office, Tourism, Community, Roads, Environment and Emergency Services. In some cases, responsibility for the implementation of certain objectives may be external, such as by Irish Water, Waterways Ireland and Transport Infrastructure Ireland. In addition to those interdependencies, the achievement of certain objectives is also influenced by factors that are outside the control of the Council, including international and national economic circumstances, government funding and private sector investment confidence in the economy. This is most evident in the area of building affordable houses. In fulfilling the development management function of assessing individual planning application, this will be central to the implementation of the Plan objectives with regard to management of land and uses. Ensuring resources and establishing systems to effectively perform this monitoring and analysis function is therefore a key responsibility of the Planning Authority. A new approach to plan implementation and monitoring is required from that previously in place for the 2015-2023 County Development Plan. An effective Development Plan process will involve a positive cycle of policy development with measurable indicators formulated, implementation activities led by the Local Authority, monitoring, reporting and policy analysis. 1.8.2 Monitoring The objectives detailed in this County Development Plan have been developed where possible to be specific, achievable and measurable. In fulfilling the development management function of assessing individual planning application, this will be central to the implementation of the Plan objectives with regard to management of land and uses. Much of the data required for effective monitoring and evaluation will be readily available within Leitrim County Council, including established linkages between planning application databases and GIS. Utilisation of established mechanisms of this nature will facilitate on-going data capture and a spatial expression of results. This will be used in the preparation of a monitoring and evaluation report on the implementation of the Plan. In other instances, it will require the setting up and management of data capturing by other departments including the Housing and Environment Departments. In order to assess the success with which the Plan is being implemented, the Planning Authority commits to establishing a frequent, reliable and ongoing monitoring system for our Plan as a permanent function. This will comprise: ● Core Strategy Monitoring; and ● Plan Objectives Monitoring (including SEA Monitoring) LEITRIM COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2023-2029 – VOLUME I 15 1 Introduction
- Core Strategy Monitoring (Annual) The Plan has a primary role in land use and spatial development policy and in particular regarding the provision of new housing development. The monitoring role must provide a focus on development patterns occurring under the settlement strategy of the development plan and the tracking of the nature of new development that is occurring. The Planning Authority will report on these planning and development trends and analyse these trends spatially, with accompanying mapping, to illustrate the development trends being experienced at settlement level and to assess the consistency of such trends with the agreed housing and population targets as set out in the Core Strategy of the development plan. The data required for successful monitoring will be a mixture of information readily available in Leitrim County Council (e.g. from the development management function) and from externally/ independently provided sources (e.g. CSO). This ‘Core Strategy Monitoring’ shall occur annually and include the indicators contained in the recently published Development Plan Guidelines as applicable. Plan Objectives Monitoring Under the provisions of Section 15(2) of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, the Council has a statutory obligation to secure the implementation of the objectives of the Plan and to prepare a progress report on achieving the objectives not more than 2 years after the making of this Plan. The objectives to be included in the 2-year progress report must include indicators that are that aligned with reporting for other related national policies (e.g. climate change, water quality, etc) or for the purposes of monitoring the SEA. The monitoring of the significant environmental effects of the implementation of the Plan is a statutory requirement of the SEA Directive and the planning authority shall refer to the EPA’s guidance document ‘Guidance on Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Statements and Monitoring’ and any future review. Additionally, under Section 22A(2) of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, each Local Authority within the Regional Assembly is required, every 2 years, to prepare and submit a report to the Assembly setting out progress made in supporting objectives, relevant to that authority, contained in the RSES. 1.9 Interpretation In interpreting this document, in all cases should any conflict arise between the written word and accompanying maps, the written word shall take precedence. LEITRIM COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2023-2029 – VOLUME I16 1 Introduction
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- 2.1 Introduction The Core Strategy provides a medium to longer term strategy for the spatial development of Co. Leitrim. It demonstrates how the Plan, and in particular the Housing Strategy, is consistent with national and regional development objectives set out in the National Planning Framework and Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy for our region and with the Specific Planning Policy Requirements specified in Section 28 Guidelines issued by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. This consistency relates to issues such as the role of settlements, the number of houses proposed in each settlement and in rural areas adhering to the targets provided in the higher level national and regional plans or more recently by the Minister of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, how the amount of land zoned for houses has been determined and is adequate to cater for this growth, demonstrate how future development supports public transport/ existing services, etc. These are then expressed in the land use zoning objectives for each settlement contained in Volume III (Book of Maps). There is also a requirement for the Core Strategy to provide estimates for additional retail development which is likely to be required based on the stated population targets and having regard to the Section 28 Retail Planning Guidelines. The Core Strategy must provide sufficient evidence to demonstrate such compliance which requires a series of tables to be produced; this is referred to as ‘evidence based planning’. The Core Strategy is diagrammatically represented in the Core Strategy Map overleaf (see Figure 2.1) and Map No. 1 in Volume III. 2.2 Vision and Strategic Aims This Plan provides a positive vision for Co. Leitrim which will enable the county to continue to make a significant contribution to national economic recovery by promoting sustainable development. The vision for Leitrim proposed for the County Development Plan 2023-2029 is: “Co. Leitrim to be a vibrant, creative, ececononomomicicalallyly sstrong,g, socociaiallllyy ininclclususivive,e, progressivivee anandd didiststininctctivivee cocoununtyty,, prp ovididiningg aa ququalalitityy expep rience fforor aalll who llivivee inin, work ininn,, inininveveststst iiinnn anananddd viisiitt ouourr coc unty, fostering the deevelopmennt annd wellbeing of our communities, offering excellent opportunities for employmenttt acacacacacacaaacaca rossssssssssssssss a diverse range of sectors, embbracing thhththththththththhhthhhhhthheeeeeeeeeeeeee chchchchchchchchhchhhhaaalaaaala leleeeeeeeeengngn eses wwhihichch cclimamatete cchahangngee prprese ents ininininininininininininninininininniini aaaaaaaaaaaaaa rrrrrrrrrrrrreseseseseseseseseseseseeeesesesesespopopopopopopopoppopoooopopopoppppop nsnsnsnsnsnsnsnsnn ibibibbibbibibiblelelelelelele aaaaaaandndnddndnddndnd ppppppppppprarararararactctctcticiciciciccalalalalaal mmmmananannenenerrr whhwhw ilililee prprprprprprprprrprprprprprrrprotottototototototoototototoototececececececececececececececceccecttttitititiitititititititititingngngngnnngngnnng, cococococococcococcoccooooonsnsnsnsnnsnsnsnsnnnsnsnsnnsnsssnssnsererererererrererereerrerrrrrvivivivivivivvivvivivvivvivivvivingngngngngngnggnggngngngngnngnggg aaaaaaaaandndndndndndndndnddnnddddndd eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeenhnhnhnhnhhnhhnhnhnhnhnhnhnhnhnhnhhhnhhhnhhaananaanananananannaaaaa ciciiiciccc ngg the bestt ofofofofofofofofofofofofoffofofo tttttttttttttttthehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehhheeehe nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnaaataaaaaaaaaa urururururururururrrururururuu alalalalalalalalalaaaalaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaandndndndndndnddnddnddddnndndd bbbbbbbbbbbuiuuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuuiuiuuuu ltlltltllllltltlltlttlttllt eeeeeeeeeeeeeeenvnvnvnvvnvnvnvnvnvnvnnn iriririririririrririririirriri ononononononononnononnoonnoonnnnmemememememmememememmmeemmmeementntntntntntntnttntntnntntnttntt”. “Co. Leitrim to be a vibrant, creative, economically strong, socially inclusive, progressive and distinctive county, providing a quality experience for all who live in, work in, invest in and visit our county, fostering the development and wellbeing of our communities, offering excellent opportunities for employment across a diverse range of sectors, embracing the challenges which climate change presents in a responsible and practical manner while protecting, conserving and enhancing the best of the natural and built environment”. 18 LEITRIM COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2023-2029 – VOLUME I
- In order to achieve this Vision, the Plan contains a number of strategic aims which are set out in this section. These aims are then expanded upon in the individual chapters which follow: 1 To guide the future development of Co. Leitrim in line with the principles and objectives provided in the NPF and in the RSES for our region including the population projections set out therein; 2 To promote and facilitate the development of the county in accordance with the provisions of the Core Strategy, including directing appropriate levels of residential development in line with the Settlement hierarchy; 3 To ensure that towns and villages grow at a sustainable and appropriate level whilst pursuing a compact growth policy and seeking to better integrate transport and land use planning at a level practicable to Co. Leitrim; 4 To develop Carrick-on-Shannon (Key Town) as a settlement of regional scale for accelerated population growth through the delivery of significant compact growth and developing identified derelict and under utilised sites, with an initial focus within the town core. Carrickon-Shannon is also identified as a key driver of economic development in the county; 5 To deliver at least 30% of all new homes that are targeted in Carrick-on-Shannon, Ballinamore and Manorhamilton within the existing built-up footprints on infill and/or brownfield sites with a reduced target of 20% for the remaining lower tier settlements in the Settlement Hierarchy; 6 To pursue balanced growth elsewhere within the county at an appropriate scale based upon the varied growth potential of different places to include individual houses in rural areas. The Core Strategy targets housing and employment growth in settlements that have the capacity to absorb such growth in a sustainable manner with the commensurate provision of the required supporting social infrastructure and community facilities; 7 To support a rural housing policy for the open countryside which will seek to balance the need to sustain rural communities with the need to protect Leitrim’s natural heritage, environment and landscape qualities. The rural housing policy will differentiate between the pressure for one off housing in the areas surrounding large towns (Carrick-on-Shannon and the impact of Sligo extending into Co. Leitrim), where an economic and social tie to an area must be established, from the remainder of the countryside; 8 To support the appropriate and sustainable development of rural areas by encouraging growth and arresting decline in areas that have experienced low population growth or decline in recent decades and by managing the growth of areas that are under strong urban influence to avoid over-development, while sustaining vibrant rural communities. 9 To promote Carrick-on-Shannon as the main retail centre in the county with the provision of retail in other centres commensurate with their roles; 10 To support the vitality and viability of existing town and village centres and facilitate a competitive and healthy environment for the retailing sector by ensuring that future growth in retail floorspace responds to the identified retail hierarchy, the sequential approach, and the needs of the projected population of the settlement areas; 11 To create the appropriate conditions necessary to foster a healthy and vibrant retail environment in the county; 12 Include objectives to support proposals for regeneration, rejuvenation of vacant and derelict sites, town and village centre renewal and public realm enhancement; 13 To support, in principle, development that addresses climate change in terms of adaptation and mitigation measures including increasing flood resilience, the promotion of sustainable transport options and the development of renewable energy technologies where possible to achieve a successful transition to a low carbon economy. LEITRIM COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2023-2029 – VOLUME I 19 2 Core Strategy
- Figure 2.1: Core Strategy Map LEITRIM COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2023-2029 – VOLUME I20 2 Core Strategy
Source Leitrim County Council: Leitrim County Development Plan 2023–2029 (2023–2029) · 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.