Development plan · Longford County Council

Longford County Development Plan 2021–2027

The council's development plan written statement: its strategy, policies, objectives and development standards.

Longford County Council · 2021–2027 · 486 pages

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LONGFORD COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2021-2027
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Table of Contents Terms of Reference and Plan Layout �� xvii Chapter 1: Introduction and Strategic Context ��1 1�1 Statutory Context ��2 1�2 Vision and Aims ��2 1�3 Compliance with Requirements of Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR) and Statement of Compliance ��2 1�4 Review Process ��3 1�5 Consultation ��3 1�6 Draft Development Plan Public Display and Adoption of Final Plan ��4 1.7 Development Plan Supporting Documents ��4 1.7.1 Strategic Environmental Assessment ��4 1.7.2 Appropriate Assessment ��4 1.7.3 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment ��5 1�8 Planning Context ��5 1�9 Global Level ��6 1�9�1 UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030��6 1�10 European Level ��6 1�10�1 Europe 2020 ��6 1�11 National Planning Context - Project Ireland 2040 ��7 1�11�1 National Planning Framework (NPF) ��7 1�11�2 National Development Plan (NDP) 2018- 2027 ��7 1�11�3 National Development Plan (NDP) 2018- 2027 ��9 1�12 Regional Planning Context �� 10 1�12�1 Eastern and Midland Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy 2019-2031 �� 10 1�13 Other Relevant National and Regional Guidelines, Plans and Strategies �� 13 1�13�1 National Ministerial Guidelines �� 13 1�13�2 Irish Water National Plans �� 13 1�13�2�1 Water Services Strategic Plan �� 14 1�13�2�2 Irish Water Strategic Funding Plan 2019-2024 �� 14 1�13�2�3 Irish Water Capital Investment Plan 2020-2024 �� 14 1�13�2�4 National Water Resources Plan (due for completion in 2021) �� 14 1�13�3 Enterprise 2025 Renewed �� 15 1�13�4 Midlands Regional Enterprise Plan (MREP) to 2020�� 16 1�13�5 Action Plan for Rural Development: Realising our Rural Potential �� 16 1�13�6 Local Level Policy �� 17 1.13.7 Government Response and launch of Just Transition Fund �� 17 1�13�8 The Shannon Mighty River of Ireland: A Tourism Masterplan (2020-2030) �� 17 i County Development Plan 2021–2027
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1�14 Local Level Policy �� 17 1�14�1 Longford County Council Corporate Plan 2019-2024 �� 17 1�14�2 Longford Local Economic and Community Plan 2016-2022 �� 18 1�14�3 Longford Climate Adaptation Strategy 2019 �� 19 1�15 Longford County Development Plan 2021-2017 Layout �� 19 Chapter 2: County Profile��21 2�1 Introduction �� 22 2�2 Geographic and Administrative Context. �� 23 2�3 Historical Settlement Context. �� 23 2�4 Demographic Profile. �� 25 2�4�1 Population Distribution �� 25 2�4�2 Population Growth and Change �� 25 2�4�2�1 Historic Change �� 25 2�4�2�2 Future Change�� 28 2�4�3 Structure and Age Profile �� 30 2�4�4 Ethnicity �� 33 2�4�5 Households�� 33 2�5 Socio-economic Profile �� 37 2�5�1 Education. �� 37 2�5�2 Employment �� 37 2�5�3 Economy �� 39 2�5�4 Household Income �� 40 2�5�5 Affluence and Deprivation�� 41 2�6 Development Profile�� 43 2�6�1 Infrastructure and Investment Trends �� 43 2�6�2 Retail� �� 44 2�6�3 Housing. �� 44 Chapter 3: Climate Change ��49 3�1 Introduction. �� 50 3�2 Statutory Context �� 50 3�2�1 Planning and Development Act 2000 �� 50 3�3 Policy Context. �� 50 3�3�1 European ‘Green Deal’ 2019 �� 51 3�3�2 National Adaptation Framework (NAF 2018) �� 51 3�3�3 Local Authority Adaptation Strategy Development Guidelines (2018) �� 52 3�3�4 Climate Action Plan 2019 �� 53 3�3�5 Climate Action Charter 2019 �� 53 3�3�6 National Planning Framework (NPF) �� 53 3.3.7 Climate Action Fund �� 53 Longford County Council ii
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3�3�8 Eastern & Midlands Assembly – Regional Spatial Economic Strategy (RSES) �� 54 3�3�9 Midlands Just Transition Fund 2019 �� 57 3�3�10 Longford County Council Climate Change Adaptation Strategy 2019 – 2024 �� 57 3�4 Climate Change.�� 59 3�5 Greenhouse Gas Emissions�� 60 3�6 County Longford Climate Strategy �� 61 Chapter 4: Core, Settlement and Housing Strategies ��67 4�1 Introduction �� 68 4�2 Core Strategy Statutory Context �� 68 4�3 Core Strategy Policy Context �� 68 4�3�1 Project Ireland 2040 - National Planning Framework �� 68 4�3�2 Implementation Roadmap for the National Planning Framework (2018) �� 71 4�3�3 Housing Supply Target Methodology for Development Planning (2020) �� 72 4�3�4 Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy �� 73 4�4 Core Strategy Relationship with other Plans and Strategies �� 76 4�4�1 County Longford Housing Strategy �� 76 4�4�2 County Longford Housing Need Demand Assessment (HNDA) �� 76 4�4�3 County Longford Retail Strategy 2021-2027�� 78 4�5 County Longford Development Plan Strategy (Core Strategy)�� 78 4�6 Core Strategy Strategic Aims �� 79 4.7 Core Strategy Considerations �� 80 4.7.1 Economic Development �� 80 4.7.2 Population Trends and Targets �� 82 4.7.3 Population Distribution �� 82 4.7.4 Population Structure �� 82 4.7.5 Housing Stock �� 84 4.7.6 Area already zoned in the Longford County Development Plan 2015-2021 �� 85 4�8 Settlement Strategy – Overview �� 85 4�8�1 Settlement Strategy - Key Principles �� 85 4�8�2 Settlement Strategy Methodology �� 87 4�8�3 Consistency with Population Estimates and Projections �� 88 4�8�4 Settlement Hierarchy Methodology �� 89 4�8�5 County Longford Settlement Hierarchy Tiers �� 93 4�8�6 Population Allocation at Settlement Level �� 94 4.8.7 Key Town – Longford Town �� 96 4�8�8 Self-Sustaining Town – Granard �� 97 4�8�9 Self-Sustaining Towns – Edgeworthstown, Ballymahon and Lanesborough�� 97 4�8�10 Towns and Villages �� 98 4�8�11 Rural (Serviced Rural Villages, Rural Settlement Clusters and Open Countryside)�� 99 4�8�12 Rural Settlement Strategy �� 102 County Development Plan 2021–2027 iii
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4�9 Core Strategy Map �� 109 4�10 Core Strategy Table �� 110 4�11 Monitoring and Implementation �� 112 4�12 Housing Strategy�� 113 4�12�1 Housing Need Demand Assessment (HNDA)�� 113 4�13 Housing Legislation and Policy �� 113 4�13�1 Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015 �� 113 4�13�2 Project Ireland 2040 - National Planning Framework and National Development Plan �� 113 4�13�3 Rebuilding Ireland – An Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness (2016)�� 114 4�13�4 Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy for the Eastern and Midland Region �� 114 4�13�5 Longford County Housing Strategy 2015-2021�� 114 4�13�6 Longford County Council Traveller Accommodation Programme 2019-2024 �� 114 4�14 County Longford Housing Strategy and Housing Need Demand Assessment 2021 - 2027 – Overview�� 115 4�14�1 Future Housing Requirements �� 115 4�14�2 Existing Social Requirement and Targets �� 116 4�14�3 Average Household Size �� 116 4�14�4 Household Size Cohort �� 116 4�14�5 Household Composition �� 116 4�14�6 Tenure �� 117 4.14.7 Residential Densities �� 118 4�14�8 Layout and Design �� 119 4�14�9 Apartment Development �� 119 4�15 Housing Strategy County Policy Objectives �� 119 4�16 Environmental Conservation and Protection�� 122 4�16�1 Ecosystems Services Approach and Natural Capital �� 122 4.17 Housing Climate Context and Associated Actions �� 123 Chapter 5: Transport, Infrastructure, Energy and Communications ��125 5�1 Introduction �� 126 5�2 Transportation �� 127 5�2�1 Transport Policy Context �� 127 5�2�1�1 The National Planning Framework – Ireland 2040 �� 127 5�2�1�2 Climate Action Plan 2019 �� 127 5�2�1�3 Smarter Travel – A Sustainable Transport Future – A New Transport Policy for Ireland 2009-2020 �� 127 5�2�1�4 The National Cycle Policy Framework 2009-2020 �� 127 5�2�1�5 Spatial Planning and National Roads – Guidelines for Planning Authorities, 2012 �� 127 5�2�1�6 2020 DMURS Interim Advice Note – Covid-19 Pandemic Response �� 128 5.2.1.7 National Cycle Policy Framework 2009-2020 �� 128 Longford County Council iv
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5�2�1�8 Strategy for the Future Development of National and Regional Greenways, 2018 �� 128 5�2�1�9 Local Link Rural Transport Programme Strategic Plan 2018-2022�� 128 5�2�1�10 Eastern and Midland Regional Spatial Economic Strategy 2019-2031 �� 128 5�2�1�11 National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS) 2017-2022 �� 129 5�2�1�12 United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) 2018 �� 129 5�2�2 Land Use and Transportation Planning�� 129 5�2�3 Road and Street Network �� 130 5�2�4 Parking�� 137 5�2�5 Sustainable Transport �� 138 5�2�5�1 Rail �� 140 5�2�5�2 Bus �� 140 5�2�6 Electric Vehicles�� 141 5.2.7 Cycling and Walking �� 143 5�2�8 Aviation �� 145 5�3 Water Supply and Wastewater Services �� 146 5�3�1 Water Supply �� 146 5�3�2 Wastewater �� 148 5�3�2�1 Serviced Areas�� 148 5�3�2�2 Unserviced Areas �� 149 5�4 Surface Water Management - Sustainable Drainage Systems �� 151 5�5 Flood Risk Management �� 152 5�5�1 Climate Change and Flooding�� 153 5�6 Environmental Services �� 157 5�6�1 Waste Recovery and Disposal�� 157 5�6�1�1 Construction and Demolition Waste �� 157 5�6�1�2 Bring Facilities and Civic Amenity Facilities �� 157 5.7 Energy Networks Infrastructure �� 158 5.7.1 Electricity Network �� 158 5.7.2 Gas Network �� 158 5�8 Renewable Energy �� 160 5�8�1 Wind Energy �� 162 5�8�1�1 Commercial Wind Energy Developments �� 162 5�8�1�2 Micro and Community Wind Energy Developments �� 162 5�8�2 Solar Energy �� 164 5�8�3 Hydro Energy �� 166 5�8�4 Geothermal Energy �� 167 5�8�5 Bio-Energy �� 167 5�8�5�1 Combustion �� 167 5�8�5�2 Biochemical Processes (Anaerobic Digestion)�� 167 County Development Plan 2021–2027 v
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5�9 Information and Communication Infrastructure �� 168 5�9�1 Telecommunications Infrastructure �� 168 5�9�2 Broadband �� 169 5�10 Major Accidents Directive �� 170 5�11 Transport, Infrastructure, Energy and Communications - Climate Context and Associated Actions�� 171 Chapter 6: Regeneration ��175 6�1 Introduction �� 176 6�2 Statutory Context �� 177 6�3 Policy Context �� 177 6�3�1 National Planning Framework (NPF) 2018 �� 177 6�3�2 Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly Spatial Economic Strategy (RSES) �� 177 6�3�3 Action Plan for Rural Development: Realising our Rural Potential �� 178 6�3�4 Framework for Town Centre Renewal �� 178 6�3�5 Longford Regeneration Initiative �� 178 6�4 Regeneration Typology �� 179 6�4�1 Compact Growth Urban Regeneration (Housing) �� 179 6�4�2 Economic Urban Regeneration �� 182 6�4�3 Heritage Urban Regeneration �� 184 6�4�4 Rural Regeneration �� 185 6�5 Mechanisms to Deliver Regeneration�� 186 6�5�1 Active Land Management �� 186 6�5�1�1 Collaboration with National Land Development Agency �� 186 6�5�1�2 Application of Vacant Site Levy (VSL) �� 187 6�5�2 Designation of ‘Regeneration Areas’ �� 188 6�5�3 Master Planning �� 188 6�5�3�1 Camlin Quarter Masterplan �� 188 6�5�3�2 Draft Ballyminion Regeneration Masterplan 2019 �� 189 6�5�3�3 Other Potential Masterplans.�� 189 6�5�4 Securing Funding Streams. �� 191 6�5�4�1 Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF). �� 191 6�5�4�2 Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) �� 191 6�5�4�3 Town and Village Renewal Scheme �� 192 6�5�4�4 Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS). �� 192 6�6 Longford Regeneration Opportunities �� 192 6�6�1 Longford Key Town. �� 192 6�6�2 Other Locations �� 195 6�6�3 Climate Change and ‘Just Transition’ Fund Opportunities�� 196 6.7 Regeneration Climate Context and Associated Actions �� 197 Longford County Council vi
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Chapter 7: Placemaking ��199 7.1 Introduction �� 200 7.2 Statutory Context �� 201 7.3 Policy Context �� 201 7.3.1 National Planning Framework (NPF) �� 201 7.3.2 Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly Spatial Economic Strategy �� 201 7.3.3 Framework for Town Centre Renewal �� 201 7.4 County Longford Placemaking Strategy �� 201 7.4.1 Healthy Placemaking �� 201 7.4.2 Elements of Placemaking �� 204 7.4.2.1 Public Realm Improvements �� 204 7.4.2.2 Universal Design �� 207 7.4.2.3 Town Centre Placemaking �� 208 7.4.2.4 Regeneration �� 209 7.4.2.5 Industry and Enterprise Placemaking �� 209 7.4.3 Social and Community Infrastructure�� 210 7.4.3.1 Growing Population �� 210 7.4.3.2 Growing Youth Cohort �� 210 7.4.3.3 Ageing Population �� 210 7.4.3.4 Disabled Population �� 211 7.4.3.5 Ethnic Groups �� 211 7.4.3.6 Traveller Community �� 212 7.4.4 Social and Community Infrastructure Requirements �� 212 7.4.5 Healthcare and Care Facilities �� 214 7.4.6 Education �� 215 7.4.7 Recreation and Open Space Provision�� 217 7.4.8 Sports Facilities�� 218 7.4.9 Libraries �� 219 7.4.10 Fire Services �� 220 7.4.11 Places of Worship �� 221 7.4.12 Burial Grounds �� 221 7.5 Placemaking Climate Context and Associated Actions �� 222 Chapter 8: Economic Development ��223 8�1 Introduction �� 224 8�2 Policy Context �� 224 8�2�1 Project Ireland 2040 �� 224 8�2�2 Eastern and Midland Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy 2019 – 2031�� 224 8�2�3 Putting People First – Action Programme for Effective Local Government �� 225 8�2�4 Enterprise 2025 Renewed �� 225 8�2�5 Future Jobs Ireland 2019 �� 226 County Development Plan 2021–2027 vii
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8�2�6 Winning: Foreign Direct Investment 2015-2019 �� 226 8.2.7 Food Wise 2015-2025 �� 226 8�2�8 Midlands Regional Enterprise Plan to 2020 �� 226 8�2�9 Just Transition�� 226 8�2�10 Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 & Longford Local Development Strategy �� 226 8�2�11 Longford Local Economic and Community Plan (LECP) 2016-2022 �� 226 8�3 County Longford Economic Context �� 227 8�3�2 Economic Profile�� 227 8�3�3 Demographic Context�� 229 8�3�4 Economic Activity in County Longford�� 229 8�4 Employment �� 230 8�4�1 Labour Force Participation Rates and Principal Economic Status�� 230 8�4�3 Employment Sectors �� 230 8�4�4 Socio-Economic Profile of Persons at Work in Longford �� 232 8�4�5 Educational Attainment �� 232 8�4�6 Commuting �� 232 8�5 Quality of Life �� 233 8�6 Impact of COVID-19 �� 233 8.7 County Longford Economic Development Strategy �� 233 8.7.1 Economic Development Hierarchy �� 239 8.7.1.1 Primary Economic Growth Town – Longford Town �� 239 8.7.1.2 Secondary Economic Growth Town – Granard�� 240 8.7.1.2.1 Key Employment Centres – Ballymahon, Edgeworthstown and Lanesborough �� 241 8.7.1.4 Local Employment Centres �� 242 8.7.1.5 Rural Areas �� 242 8.7.2 Retail Development �� 243 8.7.2.1 Position of Longford Town and Granard in the Regional Retail Hierarchy �� 243 8.7.2.3 Spatial Distribution of Additional Retail within the County Retail Hierarchy �� 245 8.7.2.4 Core Retail Areas (Longford Town) �� 245 8.7.2.5 The Sequential Approach �� 246 8.7.2.6 Consideration of Need �� 246 8.7.2.7 Evening Economy �� 246 8.7.2.8 Consideration of Vacancy �� 247 8.7.2.9 Online Retail�� 247 8.7.2.10 Retail County Policy Objectives �� 247 8.7.2.11 Strategic Retail County Policy Objectives �� 248 8.7.2.12 General Retail County Policy Objectives �� 250 8.7.2.13 Longford Town Specific County Policy Objectives �� 252 8.7.3 Smart Enterprises �� 252 8.7.4 Tourism �� 253 8.7.5 The Green and Circular Economy �� 254 8.7.6 ‘Just Transition’ �� 254 8.7.7 Home Based Economic Activity and Remote Working �� 256 8�8 Economic Development Climate Context and Associated Actions �� 257 Longford County Council viii

Source Longford County Council: Longford County Development Plan 2021–2027 (2021–2027) · 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.