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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- LIMERICK DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022-202840 Section 1: Introduction and Overall Objectives 3.1 Introduction This chapter sets out the spatial strategy for the sustainable population growth of Limerick, in accordance with the Core Strategy, whilst achieving a balance between social, economic and environmental factors. This chapter comprises the following sections: •• Section 1 Compact Growth which sets out the key concepts and objectives for achieving the spatial strategy, including compact growth, place making and active land management initiatives; •• Section 2 Spatial Strategy which sets out the pattern of envisaged development including: –– Section 2a Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area (in Limerick), which outlines the strategies accompanying this Plan which combine to inform the overall spatial strategy, the key revitalisation initiatives to help transform Limerick City Centre, the key opportunity sites and areas which will enable the transformation of the City’s urban environment and an outline of the spatial development of the remainder of the Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area (in Limerick). –– Section 2b Limerick County, which outlines the spatial strategies for the Level 2 to 6 settlements and initiatives facilitating the revitalisation of towns and villages. Key concepts in the setting out of the spatial strategy include revitalisation and compact growth. Limerick City and Suburbs (in Limerick), Mungret and Annacotty, towns and villages in Limerick have significant capacity for revitalisation of the built environment and the development of infill, brownfield and underutilised urban lands. Development within existing settlements will ensure the efficient use of infrastructure, achieve compact growth objectives and cater for the residential and employment targets for Limerick set out in the National Planning Framework, in a sustainable manner. The highest qualitybuilt environments will be achieved through the principles of place-making outlined in this chapter. This chapter also outlines the various types of sites which will facilitate the achievement of compact growth in our urban settlements and the measures of active land management in place, to stimulate development on public and private owned lands. Place-making, compact growth, active land management, as well as addressing the impact of climate change, are some of the key themes to be considered in terms of the spatial strategy for Limerick. There is also the key objective, which is to create attractive and liveable environments, where more people will choose to live. In order to deliver compact growth, whilst ensuring a high quality of life for residents in Limerick, it is imperative that the Council protects and enhances residential amenities, through enabling the creation of vibrant, sustainable neighbourhoods. This will be facilitated through access to good housing choice, regeneration and revitalisation,
- Chapter 3: Spatial Strategy41 open space and recreation, a range of quality and sustainable transport options and appropriate levels of retail, social and community infrastructure to support our residential communities as set out in the various chapters of this Plan. Limerick has plans for unprecedented, transformative, dynamic and compact revitalisation that will reposition it as an extremely attractive European destination in which to invest, work and live, now and in the future. The economic, physical and social revitalisation of Limerick is changing the face of the City and County and leading the transformation of the Mid-West of Ireland, into an attractive and dynamic national and international destination. Further to the concept of compact growth, a number of accompanying strategies have combined to develop and inform the spatial strategy for the Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area (in Limerick). In this regard, the spatial strategy is underpinned by the Housing Strategy, Limerick 2030 Plan, the Draft Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy (LSMATS), the Building Heights Strategy and Retail Strategy. This chapter briefly introduces these plans, as well as a number of revitalisation projects and opportunity sites and areas, supported by the Limerick Regeneration Framework Implementation Plan (LRFIP), which will contribute to the transformation of Limerick’s urban environments. 3.2 Policy Context 3.2.1 National Planning Framework The National Planning Framework (NPF) aims to strengthen and grow our cities and metropolitan areas, harnessing the combined strength of our four regional cities, as a counterbalance to Dublin, through quality development, revitalisation and compact growth. The NPF envisages Limerick as the principal focus within the Region with the potential to generate and be the focus of significant employment and housing growth. The NPF supports ambitious growth targets to enable Limerick City to grow by at least 50% to 2040 and to enhance its significant potential to become a city of scale. The NPF set out proposals for the preparation of a Metropolitan Area Strategic Plan (MASP) for the Limerick Metropolitan Area, incorporating Shannon. The NPF recognizes the Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area’s growth potential with existing third level institutes and international airport and port facilities. The NPF aims to build on these strengths, while improving liveability with key growth enablers, including proposals to implement and extend Limerick City Centre in accordance with the Limerick 2030 Economic and Spatial Plan, enhance opportunities for education and employment and road connectivity to Shannon Airport and Shannon Foynes Port, Cork and Waterford. The NPF also aims to provide a citywide public transport network with enhanced accessibility from the centre to the National Technology Park, university and airport, develop a strategic cycleway network, encourage inner city development and regeneration and develop and diversify the existing communities in the city.
- LIMERICK DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022-202842 The NPF recognises that in order to achieve more compact development, focus is required on the following four key areas: •• The ‘liveability’ or quality of life of urban places; •• Making the continuous revitalisation and development of existing builtup areas as attractive and viable as greenfield development; •• Tackling legacies such as concentrations of disadvantage in central urban areas; •• Linking revitalisation and redevelopment initiatives to climate action. The National Planning Framework acknowledges that there are many examples of vibrant rural communities across Ireland in towns and villages, as well as within the open countryside. However, the NPF also acknowledges the challenges facing rural communities. The role of rural towns as local drivers for their surrounding area, supporting homes, jobs, clusters of services and transport hubs is recognised. The NPF acknowledges that changing settlement patterns have resulted in increased building vacancy within many towns and villages, adversely impacting on the vitality of these settlements. The NPF objectives therefore seek to strengthen and diversify rural towns to be a focus for local housing and employment growth, based on compact growth, revitalisation and development of vacant and derelict sites and utilising new technology and digital connectivity. The decline of villages also needs to be tackled by sustainabletargeted measures that address vacant premises and deliver sustainable reuse and revitalisation outcomes. 3.2.2 Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy for the Southern Region The Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy for the Southern Region (RSES) is a 12-year strategic regional development framework to guide evolution of our society, environment, economy and use of land. The RSES supports the delivery of Project Ireland 2040 comprising the National Planning Framework (NPF) and the National Development Plan 2021-2030. The RSES includes a Metropolitan Area Strategic Plan for Limerick Shannon (MASP) to secure long term transformational and rejuvenation focused city growth. In setting out the Spatial Strategy, consideration must be given to the Regional Planning Objectives (RPOs) of the RSES including those which support the compact growth, revitalisation, brownfield and infill development objectives of the National Planning Framework. To achieve compact growth, the RSES seeks to prioritise housing and employment development in locations within and contiguous to existing urban footprints, where it can be served by public transport, walking and cycling networks such as proposed under the Draft Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy. Strategic initiatives, which will achieve the compact growth targets on brownfield and infill sites, are sought, including site assembly for revitalisation and the promotion of brownfield lands over greenfield developments in all urban areas. The RSES also seeks the targeting of measures to reduce vacancy in our building stock and investment in refurbishment, to bring underutilised properties into residential use. These concepts set the basis for the formation of the spatial strategy for settlements across the Limerick Metropolitan Area and County Limerick and are a cross cutting theme of the various chapters of this Development Plan.
- Chapter 3: Spatial Strategy43 3.2.3 Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area Strategic Plan The Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area Strategic Plan (MASP) Policy Objectives aim to promote a cohesive Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area with: •• The City Centre as the primary location at the heart of the Metropolitan Area and Region; •• Compact growth and revitalisation of Limerick City Centre and Suburbs (in Limerick), Mungret and Annacotty; •• Active land management initiatives to deliver housing and employment locations in a sustainable, infrastructure led manner. The MASP supports the consolidation, revitalisation and continued investment in Limerick City through Limerick 2030 and Limerick Regeneration, to drive its role as a vibrant living, retailing and working City, as the economic, social and cultural heart of the Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area and Region. The MASP supports innovative approaches to securing long term transformational and rejuvenation focused compact City growth, including unlocking the potential of centrally located sites. Sustainable densification will be facilitated through the assembly of brownfield sites for revitalisation of the City Centre. High quality, mixed-use sustainable and transformative projects will set national and international good practice standards in innovation, quality design, exemplary urbanism and place-making. The MASP supports a number of key infrastructure and transformative projects within Limerick City of relevance to setting out the spatial strategy including: •• City Centre Consolidation and Revitalisation based on Limerick 2030, comprising social, physical and economic revitalisation and formation of a higher density Georgian Living City with all essential services and community facilities; •• Densification of development in the City Centre, including identification and assembly of brownfield sites for development; •• Development of key strategic sites including Opera Square, Cleeves, Arthur’s Quay and continuation of the riverside links; •• Continued investment in the City’s Regeneration Areas; •• Public realm improvements in the City Centre including the development of a City- wide interconnected set of public parks, urban renewal within the Georgian Neighbourhood; •• Progressing the sustainable phased development of areas for housing and the development of public transport and infrastructure, in areas such as Mungret; •• The continued expansion of the City’s third level institutions and integration with the wider City and Region, including the provision of specific facilities to address educational and social deprivation; •• The World Class Waterfront Project along the River Shannon to reinvent the City Quays as the main entertainment and leisure destination for the City. In addition to the above, Limerick City and County Council will have regard to the following plans, guidance documents and initiatives (and subsequent relevant publications): •• Limerick 2030: An Economic and Spatial Plan for Limerick; •• Limerick Regeneration Framework Implementation Plan; •• Urban Regeneration and Development Fund; Living City Initiative; •• Our Rural Future: Rural Development Policy 2021-2025; •• Rural Regeneration and Development Fund.
- LIMERICK DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022-202844 3.2.4 A Collaborative Approach The Southern Region’s three Cities (Cork, Limerick and Waterford) and their Metropolitan Areas are primary economic engines for the Region. The RSES promotes a co-ordinated, co- operative, and collaborative intra-regional partnership between the Region’s three Cities and their Metropolitan Areas and Galway in the Northern and Western Region. Limerick City and County Council is committed to a collaborative intra-regional partnership approach between the Limerick-Shannon, Cork, Waterford and Galway regions. Limerick City and County Council recognise that it is a national and regional priority that the Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area achieves its full potential and are committed to achieving the objectives set out therein. In this regard, Limerick City and County Council are committed to continuing the collaborative approach undertaken with Clare County Council to ensure the sustainable and co-ordinated development of the Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area. There is a history of public and private stakeholders working together for the betterment of the area, including the collaborative preparation of the Mid- West Strategic Area Plan, the Strategic Integrated Framework Plan for the Shannon Estuary and the Joint Retail Strategy. In addition, a current example is the Shannon Consortium, comprising a collaborative alliance between the three higher-level institutes of UL, Mary Immaculate College and Technological University of the Shannon, aiming to establish the region as an area of excellence in teaching, learning and learner support. 3.3 Compact Growth The National Planning Framework’s National Strategic Outcome of Compact Growth is fundamental for achieving the sustainable growth of our urban settlements. Limerick City and County Council acknowledges the social and economic benefits of more compact settlements and is committed to delivering compact growth, through active land management and initiatives to revitalise urban settlements. The policies and objectives in this Plan promote the efficient use of urban lands to achieve compact growth, through the intensification, consolidation and positive revitalisation of the City, towns and villages throughout Limerick. The compact growth concept requires the provision of higher densities and mixed-use developments in urban settlements, in order to ensure a more efficient use of scarce lands and optimise public investment in infrastructure. This requires the integration of land use and transport, an intensification of use of existing underutilised lands and the consolidation of the built environment through the development of brownfield and infill lands, as well as the reuse of vacant and derelict buildings in urban settlements. In conjunction with the provision of social and green infrastructure, the principles of compact growth set the foundations for a higher quality of life, through the promotion of mixed-use settlements, served by sustainable modes of transport and the creation of an attractive environment in which to live, work and do business. Successful compact growth requires enhanced connectivity and accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists, as well as the provision of viable public transport services through the concentration of higher density developments at strategic employment locations and along public transport nodes. There are many sustainability benefits of the compact growth concept compared to that of urban sprawl or greenfield developments at the edge of settlements. Such benefits include maximising the viability and cost efficiency of providing public transport and other infrastructure, as well as reduced car dependency and commuting times, which will facilitate the mitigation of climate change, through a reduction in traffic congestion, energy
- Chapter 3: Spatial Strategy45 consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Strategies such as the Draft Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy and the Climate Action Plan are essential elements which support the objective of compact growth. In accordance with the National Strategic Outcome of Compact Growth, the National Planning Framework requires 50% of all new housing in Limerick City to occur within the existing City and Suburbs (in Limerick), Mungret and Annacotty footprint, through the development of brownfield and infill sites and revitalisation. Outside of Limerick City, 30% of all new homes are to be provided within the existing built-up footprints of settlements. The Local Authority acknowledges the social and economic benefits of more compact settlements as outlined above. Therefore, this Plan will continue to support the sequential approach to the delivery of development, with priority given to the revitalisation of settlements and the consolidation of the existing built environment, through the development of brownfield, infill and backland urban sites. Policy CGR P1 Compact Growth and Revitalisation It is a policy of the Council to achieve sustainable intensification and consolidation, in accordance with the Core Strategy, through an emphasis on revitalisation and the delivery of more compact and consolidated growth, integrating land use and transport, with the use of higher densities and mixeduse developments at an appropriate scale on brownfield, infill, backland, statelands and underutilised sites within the existing built footprint of Limerick’s City, Towns and Villages. Objective CGR O1 Prevention of Urban Sprawl It is an objective of the Council to prevent linear roadside frontage development on roads leading out of towns and villages in order to retain the identity of towns/ villages, to prevent sprawl and to ensure a distinction in character between built up areas and the open countryside. 3.3.1 Place-making Place-making is a collaborative approach to shaping, improving and creating high quality public places that are at the centre of every community. The concept is essential for the successful revitalisation of settlements and achieving compact growth in an attractive manner for all. Place-making involves the planning, urban design and management of public spaces in order to achieve an inclusive high quality of life and create a strong character, sense of place and belonging. Place-making should have cognisance of the physical, environmental, cultural and social characters that define a particular place. The key contributor to and component of good place-making is community engagement. Urban design principles such as those set out in the Best Practice Urban Design Manual, (2009) and Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets (2013), play a key role in place-making. Good urban design aims to create public spaces that are vibrant, distinctive, safe, secure and accessible and which promote and facilitate social interaction. The following principles of place-making should be incorporated into the design of any projects: •• Creation of character and sense of place through valuing and understanding the cultural, built and natural heritage; •• Creating diversity of functions and activities to enable viability and vitality; •• Provision of a highly adaptable urban structure for the future proofing of society and the economy; •• Providing an inclusive, high quality and safe network of connected streets and spaces; •• Providing priority for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport, avoid unnecessary street clutter and providing opportunities for improved health and wellbeing; •• Coherent, legible and attractive streetscapes – providing continuity and a strong sense of enclosure, variety of frontages, vibrancy and interest; •• Integration of various characteristics of quality places.
- LIMERICK DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022-202846 Place-making offers the opportunity to differentiate Limerick from other locations by delivering competitive and attractive urban areas in which to reside, work, invest and do business. The creation of urban areas that offer an attractive environment and a range of services and facilities to achieve a good quality of life are essential to allow investors attract and retain the skilled workforces and talent necessary to support and facilitate business and economic growth. Limerick City and County Council is committed to place-making and improving the quality of life for all. 3.3.1.1 Universal Design Universal Design is the design and composition of an environment so that it can be accessed, understood and used to the greatest extent possible, by all people regardless of their age, size or ability. Universal Design involves a considered approach to place-making based on an integrated assessment and understanding of the context and user needs. Universal Design permeates the principles that underpin our national and regional planning priorities and can add value at all levels in our planning system, creating responsive, functional and inclusive place-making and enabling the sustainable development of cities, towns and villages across Limerick. By considering the diverse needs and abilities of everyone in the design process, Universal Design creates products, services and environments that meet the needs of all people who wish to use them. This concept is not a special requirement for the benefit of a particular cohort of the population, but is a fundamental basis for good design. In this regard, an accessible, usable, convenient and pleasurable environment is of benefit to all of society. The National Disability Authority’s Centre for Excellence in Universal Design (CEUD) was established in 2007 under the Disability Act 2005. CEUD is dedicated to the achievement of Universal Design, enabling people to participate in a society that takes account of human difference and interact with their environment to the best of their ability. The CEUD sets out seven principles of Universal Design to guide the design of public spaces, products and communications. The Seven Principles of Universal Design include: •• Equitable Use; •• Flexibility in Use; •• Simple and Intuitive; •• Perceptible Information; •• Tolerance for Error; •• Low Physical Effort; •• Size and Space for Approach and Use. 3.3.1.2 Public Realm The public realm generally refers to all areas to which the public has access, including roads, streets, lanes, footpaths, cycle lanes, signage, street furniture, parks, squares, open spaces and public buildings and facilities. The public realm therefore can create character and identity and has a significant impact on how the urban fabric functions, on social interaction and quality of life and on competitiveness and attractiveness as a place in which to live, work, invest, hold events or as a tourism destination. The planning, design and management of the public realm is therefore fundamental to successful revitalisation and is a cross cutting theme of this Plan. Responsibility for the public realm rests with both the public and private sector landowners and service providers. Elements such as overhead cables, utility boxes, excessive or poorly designed signage and shopfronts and a poorly considered mix of street furniture can combine to form poor visual amenity in the public realm. A simple, uncluttered and consistent design approach is fundamental to achieving a successful public realm. In areas of historic importance, traditional style signage, lighting columns and benches should be considered in any project.
- Chapter 3: Spatial Strategy47 The National Planning Framework references the Limerick 2030 Plan, which aims to create a modern City Centre that includes world-class office accommodation and residential developments, linked through a series of transformational City Centre public realm projects, including the Great Streets Programme. Limerick City and County Council is committed to improving public realm and support projects, which contribute positively to the revitalisation of the public realm of Limerick including for example the O’Connell Street Revitalisation Project and the Wayfinding Strategy. Objective CGR O2 Place-making, Universal Design and Public Realm It is an objective of the Council to: a) Ensure that all developments are designed to the highest quality with respect to the principles of placemaking, universal design and public realm including the guidance set out under the Urban Design Manual – A Best Practice Guide (2009) and theDesign Manual for Urban Roads and Streets (2013) the Whole of Government National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS) 2017-2022 and the 2020 DMURS Interim Advice Note – Covid 19 Pandemic Response. b) Prepare and facilitate implementation of Public Realm Plans for settlements including Limerick City, Adare and Rathkeale. c) Ensure the construction of the highest quality and innovative designed buildings, in particular on the approaches to Limerick City, along the Riverfront/Quays, on important street corners or junctions, corner sites, the end of vistas and gateways, Town Centres and the edges of public squares or open space. 3.3.1.3 Brownfield Sites Brownfield land is a term used to describe previously developed land that is not currently in use and which has the potential for redevelopment. Often such lands are of large scale and have previously been in use for industrial or commercial purposes and became derelict due to obsolescence, vacancy or demolition of structures. Some brownfield sites may have a legacy of contamination from operational activities or waste disposal. Redeveloping brownfield sites provides opportunities for revitalisation of the built environment and reuse of existing infrastructure including roads and utilities. The Planning Authority will encourage the redevelopment of brownfield sites in settlements throughout Limerick, in accordance with the concept of compact growth and the Development Management Standards of this Plan. A number of strategic brownfield consolidation sites have been identified for redevelopment in Limerick City Centre, which will have transformational effects on the revitalisation of the City. Such strategic consolidation sites include, for example, Opera Square, Cleeves Riverside Quarter, the University of Limerick Riverside Campus and Colbert Station Quarter. Some of these projects are briefly outlined under the Strategic Revitalisation section further below. 3.3.1.4 Infill Sites Infill land is a term used to describe vacant or underutilised sites of all scales within existing developed areas of settlements. Such sites tend by definition to be relatively small and comprise lands that fill gaps in otherwise continuously built-up frontages. A large number of infill type sites have been identified for development throughout Limerick City and County. The development of infill sites will facilitate the most sustainable use of urban land and existing infrastructure, while facilitating compact growth. Infill development can often form one aspect of larger revitalisation schemes, including in the Regeneration Areas in Limerick City.
- LIMERICK DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022-202848 The Planning Authority will encourage the appropriate development of infill sites in accordance with the Development Management Standards of this Plan. However, in certain limited circumstances the Planning Authority may consider a justified relaxation of planning standards in the interest of achieving sustainable compact growth. Infill developments should be appropriate to the character of the streetscape, enhancing its context and integrating with its surroundings. In this regard, infill development should respect and complement the prevailing scale of the built environment while ensuring the preservation of the amenities of adjoining residential properties. 3.3.1.5 Backland Sites Backland is a term used to describe sites which are located to the rear of existing buildings, often with no street frontage and usually within predominantly residential areas. A backland site is usually a section of large garden with road access at the rear or side of a property. Larger backland sites can be formed through the amalgamation of a number of large adjoining rear gardens. Along with rear gardens, which may contain garages or other ancillary buildings, backland sites often comprise larger areas of lands left over after development, or perhaps, industrial or other non-residential structures. The Planning Authority will encourage the development of backland sites where appropriate opportunities exist in accordance with the Development Management Standards of this Plan. When poorly designed, the development of individual backland sites can conflict with the established pattern and character of development in an area and result in the loss of potential access to larger amalgamated backland areas. Therefore, the Planning Authority will encourage landowners to prepare masterplans for the development of all backland sites in a particular row to avoid a piecemeal approach and ensure the long-term maximum development potential of such lands are realised. The design of any backland development shall avoid significant loss of amenity to existing residential properties by reason of loss of privacy, overlooking and excessive overshadowing. Objective CGR O3 Urban Lands and Compact Growth It is an objective of the Council to: a) Deliver 50% of new homes within the existing built-up footprint of Limerick City and Suburbs (in Limerick), Mungret and Annacotty and 30% of new homes within the existing built-up footprint of settlements, in a compact and sustainable manner in accordance with the Core and Housing Strategies of this Plan. b) Encourage and facilitate sustainable revitalisation and intensification of brownfield, infill, underutilised and backland urban sites, subject to compliance with all quantitative and qualitative Development Management Standards set out under Chapter 11 of this Plan. c) Continue to work proactively with key state agencies, such as the LDA to bring forward, brownfield urban underutilised state land, which can contribute to the delivery of compact growth within an urban context, subject to Development Management Standards set out under Chapter 11 of this Plan. d) Encourage residential development in the City Centre zone by requiring at least 20% of new development to comprise residential use. Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis, where residential use is not deemed compatible with the primary use of the site e.g. museums/tourist attractions etc.
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.