Development plan · Limerick City and County Council
Limerick Development Plan 2022–2028 (as varied)
The council's development plan written statement: its strategy, policies, objectives and development standards.
Limerick City and County Council · 2022–2028 · 414 pages
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- Chapter 5: A Strong Economy159 5.9.3 Limerick Greenway The Limerick Greenway is a 40km off-road walking and cycling route that follows part of the former Limerick to Tralee rail line. It links the market towns of Rathkeale, Newcastle West and Abbeyfeale. Following a major investment in 2020/21, it is now a significant recreational and tourism amenity. The greenway extends to the Kerry/Limerick border where the proposed link to Listowel is scheduled to open in 2022. It is anticipated that the North Kerry Greenway will extend to Tralee/Fenit in the lifetime of the Plan. It is the ambition of Limerick City and County Council to extend the Limerick Greenway to Adare and Patrickswell and develop a wider greenway network. (Refer also to Section 6.3.7 Blue and Green Infrastructure Chapter 6: Environment, Heritage, Landscape and Green Infrastructure). Objective ECON O48 Limerick Greenways It is an objective of the Council to support: a) The provision of car parking, bike hire and ancillary facilities at suitable locations along the Limerick Greenway. b) Extend the Limerick Greenway from Rathkeale to Adare/Patrickwell. c) Extend the greenway from the University of Limerick to Annacotty. d) Develop a greenway from the University of Limerick to Montpelier. e) Support the development of the Limerick to Scariff/Tuamgraney Greenway in partnership with Waterways Ireland and Clare County Council. f) Examine the potential for a greenway from Patrickswell, Bruree to the Limerick/Cork Border (Charleville). g) Support the development of a greenway link from Limerick City to connect with the Suir Blueway in Cahir, County Tipperary, in so far as it falls within County Limerick, subject to ecological assessment and design. ** Tourism projects will be required to adhere to adequate environmental and ecological assessment to ensure that they do not cause adverse environmental and ecological effects.
- LIMERICK DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022-2028160 5.9.4 Tourism Facilities and Accommodation There is an often delicate balance to be struck between cultural and natural attractions and associated facilities and amenities designed to cater for various tourist requirements. Tourism facilities should be planned in a sensitive and proactive manner. The framework for planning tourist facilities shall consider the following: 1. Public facilities and amenities of a type and scale incidental to natural, cultural or recreational attractions. 2. Larger scale tourism developments such as hotels, restaurants and holiday homes, which can be located singly or in clusters, these can be located away from the tourist attractions and should generally be located in settlements where services exist and the use of which thereby can support these settlements and reduce pressure on the tourist attractions. 3. Niche tourism and rural based activities which might include pony trekking, paint balling, quad racing. The suitability of their location depends on the requirements of the use, its impact (such as noise and associated traffic) and any special characteristics that the environment has to offer the proposed use. 4. Uses that bring new life to the built and natural heritage, such as the use and restoration of old buildings as guesthouses, museums or as restaurants, expansion of the programme of construction of cycling and walking routes, or by encouraging owners to reinstate historic gardens. Objective ECON O49 Tourism Facilities and Environmentally Sensitive Areas It is an objective of the Council to ensure that tourism facilities, are not located or designed where they would be significantly detrimental to environmentally sensitive areas, such as designated ecological areas, areas of archaeological potential or historic landscapes either existing or which may arise in the future, as a result of any surveys. Objective ECON O50 Facilities and Amenities incidental to Tourist and Recreational Attractions and Scenic Views It is an objective of the Council to consider public facilities and amenities of a type and scale that are incidental to tourist attractions and associated services where they would: a) Allow these attractions to be enjoyed and accessed by the public; b) Cater for basic needs of the public, incidental to the enjoyment of these attractions; c) Help to protect sensitive features through information and by appropriate management; d) Be adequately serviced and managed; e) Be inclusive to all members of the community. Applications must be accompanied by a management plan and justified by reference to a coherent, evidence-based tourism and recreational strategy applicable to the area. Such development should not impair the capacity of the road network. Objective ECON O51 Clustering of Tourist Facilities It is an objective of the Council to cluster niche tourist/ visitor services and infrastructure, including locations where the service or tourist attraction currently exists.
- Chapter 5: A Strong Economy161 Objective ECON O52 Location of Tourism Accommodation It is an objective of the Council to: a) Ensure that holiday accommodation including campsite (i.e., static and touring caravans, campervans, glamping pods and tents) developments should be concentrated within or adjoining existing towns, villages and settlements, where they can best support the provision of services and minimise the impact on the open landscape. Such developments should respect the existing fabric of the settlement, both in scale and design. In limited cases, such accommodation may be appropriate in rural locations, where it compliments an existing tourism asset/ service and where there is a justifiable need, such as its proximity to established tourism trails/ routes/ food and craft businesses. In rural locations, structures should be integrated into the existing landscape or proposals should demonstrate that an appropriate landscape will be designed around the structure. b) Proposals to reinstate, conserve and/ or renovate existing, vacant, derelict or disused buildings for holiday accommodation in both urban and rural areas, will be considered subject to normal planning and environmental criteria. All such development will be considered, having regard to the environmental conditions and sensitivities, scenic amenity, availability of services and the cumulative impact of such developments on the environment. Objective ECON O53 Digital Innovations to support the Tourism Industry It is an objective of the Council to support digital innovations to facilitate the tourism industry throughout Limerick.
- LIMERICK DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022-2028162 5.10 Marine Spatial Planning The 2020 Programme for Government, Our Shared Future, committed to reaching Ireland’s target of 10% under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) as soon as is practical and aim for 30% of Marine Protection Areas (MPAs) by 2030. This is in line with the EU Biodiversity Strategy. Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) is a new way of looking at how we use the marine area and planning how best to use it into the future. MSP will try to balance the different demands for using the sea, including the need to protect the marine environment. It is about planning when and where human activities take place at sea and ensuring these activities are as efficient and sustainable as possible. 5.10.1 National Marine Planning Framework Ireland’s Marine Spatial Plan, the National Marine Planning Framework (NMPF) was published in June 2021. The NMPF brings together all marine-based human activities for the first time, outlining the Government’s vision, objectives and marine planning policies for each marine activity. Ireland’s National Marine Planning Framework will be a key decision-making tool for regulatory authorities and policy makers into the future in a number of ways, including decisions on individual consent applications, which will have to have regard to the provisions of the plan in the same way that terrestrial plans form part of the decision making tool-kit in the on-land planning process. 5.10.2 Maritime Area Planning Act 2021 The Maritime Area Planning Act (MAP) is the State’s leading response to the muchneeded reform of marine governance. This legislation intends to put in place a comprehensive and coherent planning system for the entire Maritime Area. The constituent elements of this system are: •• A forward planning regime for the maritime area; •• A new streamlined development management system for the maritime area incorporating consenting for the occupation of the maritime area (Maritime Area Consents and licencing) and a new planning consenting regime (to be implemented by coastal Local Authorities and An Bord Pleanála); •• The establishment of a new agency, the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA) to manage the occupation of the maritime area and to enforce the provisions of the new regime. The Act provides the legal underpinning to an entirely new marine planning system, which will balance harnessing our huge offshore wind potential with protecting our rich and unique marine environment. The Act is a key enabler of Ireland’s decarbonisation goals. The Act will provide for a completely new regime for the entire maritime area underpinned by the NMPF. Foreshore Consents will be replaced by a more focused and streamlined Maritime Area Consent regime. The planning permission system will be extended into the entire maritime area with development subject to a single comprehensive environmental assessment. Compliance and enforcement activities are supported through robust provisions. Section 4: Marine Economy
- Chapter 5: A Strong Economy163 Objective ECON O54 National and Regional Marine Planning It is an objective of the Council to: a) Support and facilitate the implementation of the National Marine Planning Framework (NMPF) and the Maritime Area Planning Act 2021. b) Continue to work with the relevant Government Departments and other relevant stakeholders in the promotion of integrated marine management and following the adoption of the NMPF to identify those areas that may have particular management requirements and, where appropriate set out any requirement that may exist for Maritime Spatial Plans (MSPs) and Designated Maritime Area Plans (DMAPs). c) Support the potential of the marine environment by nurturing opportunities for innovation in the maritime economy while ensuring that its ecosystems are managed sustainably. 5.11 Shannon Estuary - Limerick Docklands and Foynes The marine economy is vital for Limerick’s future economic development, with considerable potential for expansion through strengthening established resources and diversification into new areas. The marine economy is identified as an emerging sector in the RSES (Objective RPO76). The Shannon Estuary, its ports and future development are a significant economic driver and transport corridor in the region. With the presence of Shannon Foynes Port and Limerick’s location on the Shannon Estuary, Limerick is ideally placed to enhance economic growth through the sustainable use of its marine resource. The potential of the Shannon Estuary is given recognition in the Strategic Integrated Framework Plan for the Shannon Estuary (SIFP), which is a land and marine based framework plan to guide the future development and management of the Shannon Estuary. It aims to transforms the Shannon Estuary into an international economic hub. The SIFP identified an additional 1,200 ha. for marine related development across 9 no. strategic development locations and proposes building on existing industry connectivity and synergy, as well as the existing infrastructure, to create a more sustainable and attractive network for further investment (refer to SIFP in Volume 6). The following strategic development locations are located in Limerick: 1. Lands at the Port of Foynes (See Foynes Zoning Map in Volume 2) 2. Foynes Island (See Map 5.4) 3. Askeaton (See Map 5.1) 4. Aughinish Island (See Map 5.5) 5. Limerick Docklands and lands adjacent (see Map 3 of Volume 2 Limerick City and Suburbs(in Limerick) including Mungret and Annacotty- Zoning Map.
- LIMERICK DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022-2028164 Map 5.4 Map of Foynes Island Map 5.5 Map of Aughinish
- Chapter 5: A Strong Economy165 Shannon Foynes Port Company (SFPC), which is an important economic stimulus and growth point in Limerick, is responsible for Limerick’s Port activities both at Limerick Docklands and Foynes. It is a port of national and international significance. SFPC has set out its 30-year masterplan Vision 2041 which aims to double port throughput to 20m tonnes per annum over the plan period. In order to facilitate this growth, capacity enhancements are required within and external to the port, including: •• Ongoing expansion of jetty infrastructure (€47m); •• Reinstatement of Limerick to Foynes Rail line (€45m); •• Upgrade of Limerick to Foynes road network (€450m); New deep-water berth at Foynes Island (€175m). Limerick City and County Council recognises the importance of the Docklands Framework Strategy. The Limerick Docklands Plan aims to grow existing commercial activity at Shannon Foynes Port Company at Ted Russell Docks. The Local Authority recognises that it is crucial for the full potential of the Shannon Estuary, one of Limerick’s natural assets to be realised. It is important to encourage existing and new industries around the Estuary to spread the economic impact of these throughout Limerick, generating local employment and providing a more diverse employment base. Careful consideration is required to ensure that harnessing economic growth and development opportunities within the Estuary does not place undue restriction, pressure or impact on some of the area’s most precious resources. Fishing and mariculture have an important role to play in the future development of the Estuary, as these activities can help play a role in promoting the economic prosperity in the Estuary area. This can be in terms of direct employment in enterprises and indirect employment in processing and retail outlets. A considerable range of different fishing activities take place within the Shannon Estuary, providing an important commercial enterprise, employment source and recreational amenity for the local communities within the Estuary. Objective ECON O55 Marine Economy It is an objective of the Council to: a) Encourage, facilitate and promote the Shannon Estuary’s economic growth potential and promote marine related industrial development, while ensuring that the environment and natural resources of the area are protected, managed and enhanced. b) Facilitate and encourage the environmentally sustainable development of maritime industries at appropriate locations within the Shannon Estuary. Objective ECON O56 Strategic Integrated Framework Plan It is an objective of the Council to support and facilitate the Strategic Integrated Framework Plan for the Shannon Estuary. Objective ECON O57 Safeguard Strategic Development locations along the Estuary It is an objective of the Council to safeguard the Strategic Development Locations at Foynes Port, Foynes Island and Aughinish Island for the sustainable growth and development of marine related industry and industrial development at Askeaton. All proposed developments shall be in accordance with regional and national priorities and the SEA Directive, Birds and Habitats Directive, Water Framework Directive, Shellfish Waters Directive, Floods Directive and EIA Directive. Buffer zones shall be incorporated into proposals for developments where necessary to preserve potentially valuable habitats, for example, areas of estuary, shallow bays and inlets, mudflats, lagoon, salt marsh and woodland habitat, which occur at or surrounding these Strategic Development Locations. The extent of such buffer distances shall be established
- LIMERICK DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022-2028166 in consultation with relevant statutory bodies. Detailed botanical, faunal and ornithological surveys should be undertaken in relation to proposed developments at these Strategic Development Locations, to fully consider the potential effects of the development and inform how to best avoid significant ecological effects. Objective ECON O58 Shannon Foynes Port It is an objective of the Council to: a) Support the expansion of the Port at Foynes and promote the economic and industrial development of the Shannon Estuary as a strategic transport, energy and logistics Hub, serving Limerick and the wider region by utilising naturally occurring deep water characteristics and by identifying and safeguarding existing and future strategic transportation links, subject to fulfilling the requirements of the Habitats Directive and the conservation objectives of the Lower River Shannon SAC site. b) Promote and support Shannon Foynes Port Company’s Masterplan Vision 2041. 5.12 Offshore Renewable Energy The Council supports the Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (OREDP) published in 2014 by the Department of Communications Energy and Natural Resources, in the progressive development of Ireland’s offshore renewable energy potential and will cooperate with state and semi-state agencies in relation to the implementation of projects in the Shannon Estuary. Refer also to Chapter 9: Climate Action, Flood Risk and Transition to Low Carbon Economy. Objective ECON O59 Offshore Renewable Energy It is an objective of the Council to: a) Support in conjunction with other relevant agencies, wind energy initiatives, both on-shore and offshore and wave energy, when these are undertaken in an environmentally acceptable manner. b) Promote Limerick to become the primary hub for the development of Ireland’s west coast renewable energy, with potential in research, innovation, logistics, development, maintenance and administration.
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Source Limerick City and County Council: Limerick Development Plan 2022–2028 (as varied) (2022–2028) · 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.