Development plan · Monaghan County Council
Monaghan County Development Plan 2025–2031
The council's development plan written statement: its strategy, policies, objectives and development standards.
Monaghan County Council · 2025–2031 · 376 pages
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- 139 Site No Site Name Description Townland(s) /Location CGS 5 CLONTIBRET Small wooded stream section and its banks Tullybuck, STREAM on which the remains of two mine shafts are Lisglassan found. Recognised as a CGS both because of the presence of stibnite, which led to the attempts to develop the Country’s only known antimony mine, and of gold which has sustained significant exploration efforts over the last 50 years and have resulted in the recognition of extensive zones of anomalous gold concentrations in the Ordovician rocks of the Longford-Down inlier. CGS 6 CREEVY CAVE Mile River sinks and rising and the intervening Cloghvalley Lower, Creevy Cave system, the largest in County Creevy Monaghan. The cave system is probably a post-glacial development formed in the last 11,000 years. Longest cave in County Monaghan. CGS 7 DONAGHMOYNE A significant spring rising and an associated Donaghmoyne, RISING doline. A complement to the Moylan Lough Carrickmacross site and as part of a suite of karstic features within the limestone terrain surrounding Carrickmacross. CGS 8 FINN MC COOL’S Site comprises a wooded area of karstic Doohatty, CHAIR AND enclosed depressions, with an enigmatic Kilmactransa KILLMACTRASNA cliff feature (Fin McCool’s Chair) and an CAVE old quarry exposing a small cave (Kilmactrasna Cave). Site is of County Geological Site importance, both as a local landmark and as a somewhat enigmatic karstic landscape feature within a complex of dolines with an associated cave. CGS 9 HOPE MINE Hope Mine was one of a number of lead Cornalough, and silver mines in County Monaghan Castleblayney exploited in the mid-19th century. It was probably in operation between 1852 and 1869, and possibly up to 1874. The main feature of importance on the site is the Cornish engine-house chimney, the only example of its kind in County Monaghan. CGS 10 KNOCKNACRAN This is a large open-cast gypsum mine, Drummond, GYPSUM MINE with numerous intersections into old Dernascore underground mine workings. It is probably Knocknacran West the largest man-made excavation in Knocknacran East Ireland. Derrynaglah CGS 11 LEEG DRUMLIN The Leeg drumlin is a drumlin which assumes Leeg, a barchan, or crescent, shape. This form is Carrickmacross extremely rare with only a few known out of about 25,000 drumlins in Ireland. heritage, conservation and landscapechapter 06
- 140 Site No Site Name Description Townland(s) /Location CGS 12 LEMGARE This is a former mine site occupying an Lemgare overgrown area at the edge of cattle pasture. Annayalla Mine waste, in the form of two small boulder piles, a collapsed, filled-in shaft and covered adit portal are the only surface remains of mining. The mine features are poorly preserved and insufficiently interesting to require any designation for the site. However, the presence of rare wulfenite means Lemgare warrants CGS status. CGS 13 MOKEERAN This is a large working quarry, producing Mokeeran QUARRY agricultural lime. Killgally CGS 14 MOYLAN The turlough is situated within Lower Tullyvaragh Upper, LOUGH Carboniferous limestones that are found Tullyvaragh Lower, around and to the northeast of Monnanagirr, Carrickmacross. It has formed in Tullymackilmartin, post-glacial times over the last 11,000 years. Garrifly CGS 15 ROCKORRY- These moraines form part of the largest field Multiple COOTEHILL of ribbed moraines found anywhere in the Townlands (75) RIBBED world (which also includes the Scotshouse- MORAINE Redhills cross cutting ribbed moraines). The entire field includes over 3,000 features and this subset, covering an area of 18 by 10 kilometres, contains approximately 160 individual features. The ribbed moraines were formed on bedrock of Silurian and Ordovician metasediments and volcanic rocks. The features themselves are Quaternary in age, having been deposited at the base of the ice sheet as it moved in a southeasterly direction during the maximum period of the last Ice Age. CGS 16 SCOTSHOUSE These ribbed moraines form part of the This portion of - REDHILLS largest field of ribbed moraines found the field covers CROSSCUTTING anywhere in the world, and which also over 75 individual RIBBED includes the Rockcorry-Cootehill ribbed townlands, MORAINES moraines. The entire field includes over across an area 3,000 individual features and this subset, of 70 km2 covering an area of 10 by 7 kilometres, contains approximately 50 individual features. It includes the only mapped area of cross-cutting ribbed moraines in the world. Nowhere else in the world have ribbed moraines been noted where they record two separate ice flows. Here, the major orientation of the features is northwest to southeast, but there are also forms adjoined to these that are oriented northeast to southwest. The features therefore record flow from two different directions. In plain view they appear as irregular, wavy, snake-like forms. Monaghan County Development Plan 2025 – 2031
- 141 Site No Site Name Description Townland(s) /Location CGS 17 TAMLAT The main interest in the site, apart from the Tamlat, geotechnical issue of potential subsidence Drumfaldra along the line of old mine workings, is that it is probably one of the oldest mines in the County. CGS 18 TASSAN Tassan was the largest and most productive Tassan, of the County Monaghan district lead mines. Annayalla Production appears to have commenced in the late 1840s from two NNW-SSE-trending, east-dipping lodes and continued, with some interruptions, until 1865 or 1866. The site presents a good mixture of extant mine features, including mine buildings and solid waste, that allow an appreciation of the extent and disposition of works on the site. CGS 19 TIRAGARVAN This site comprises a river sink and rising, with Tiragarvan, an intervening cave system, which itself is Lossets segmented by two potholes that provide windows to the surface. The site is a good example of karstic drainage and cave development and is relatively uncommon in a County Monaghan context. The limestone and cave conduits are very vulnerable to groundwater pollution. CGS 20 TULLYVARAGH This site is a complex active sinkhole in Tullyvarnagh Upper, karstic limestone, north of Carrickmacross. Tullyvarnagh Lower, The site includes a stream sink, a cave and the enclosed depression containing them. The karstified limestone is of Lower Carboniferous age. 6.13 GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE Green Infrastructure is a network of green spaces, habitats and ecosystems within a defined geographical area which can vary in size from the local level to the County level. Green Infrastructure incorporates wild, semi natural and developed environments and can include features such as uplands, bogs and wetlands to urban parks, canals etc, refer to Figure 6.2. The Green Infrastructure approach can provide a range of benefits to quality of life and the maintenance and improvement of ecosystems including biodiversity management, water management, recreational and tourism opportunities, regulation of climate change and the promotion of sustainable movement patterns. Green Infrastructure planning results in environmental, economic and social benefits by providing nature-based solutions to development objectives. This approach results in resilient urban landscapes adapted for and reducing the negative effects of climate change. Green Infrastructure forms a valuable asset in supporting biodiversity, supporting stormwater and flood risk management, optimising carbon storage whilst also offering opportunities for eco-system services, active travel, amenity and recreation. Investing to maintain and enhance the natural environment and Green Infrastructure will provide a range of benefits that help to manage and reduce the risks of climate change and help build resilience by reducing soil erosion, absorbing and slowing water run-off, providing cooling and shading in urban areas, increasing wildlife and biodiversity, and contributing to health and wellbeing. Green Infrastructure and our natural heritage perform key functions for our communities. For example, our parks and open space promote health and wellbeing and make County Monaghan a better place to live in. Green Infrastructure also enhances opportunities for recreation and tourism, sustains our food industry and encourages new businesses to invest in the County. heritage, conservation and landscapechapter 06
- 142 By providing a network of multifunctional green and blue spaces and protecting the natural environment, there are opportunities to contribute to urban sustainability, climate resilience while increasing access to nature and providing a good quality of life for people. It is also recognised that Green Infrastructure is a vital component in building resilient communities capable of adapting to the consequences of climate change. It is an objective of this Development Plan to prepare a Green Infrastructure Strategy for the County which will identify, connect and protect Green Infrastructure resources and enhance their environmental and human benefits. The achievement of this objective will require partnership and stakeholder engagement from state agencies, local communities and interest groups. It is notable that many of the features that make up County Monaghan’s Green Infrastructure have a crossborder dimension i.e. Sliabh Beagh/Bragan, Mullyash, the River Fane and the Ulster Canal and these require and can foster a more co-ordinated approach. FIGURE 6.2 INTERFACE BETWEEN NATURAL AND BUILT HERITAGE FEATURES AND GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE CONCEPT Monaghan County Development Plan 2025 – 2031
- 143 6.14 WETLANDS The Ramsar Convention is an intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for national action and international co-operation for the conservation of, and wise use of wetlands. County Monaghan contains a wide range of wetlands which provide a habitat for a range of species of national and international importance. These wetland habitats include cutover raised bog, blanket bogs, fens, marshes, large riverine species and an abundance of lakes, some fine turloughs, springs and wet woodland. County Monaghan contains some of the finest examples of transition mire fens and mesotrophic inter drumlin lakes in the Country. Monaghan County Council has undertaken extensive wetland surveying and mapping as part of implementation of the Heritage Plan. This has resulted in new important wetland areas being recorded and mapped in order to improve wildlife knowledge and conservation of biodiversity. heritage, conservation and landscapechapter 06 GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE OBJECTIVES GIO 1 To prepare a Green Infrastructure Strategy for the County which considers ecology, climate change mitigation and adaptation, environmental protection considerations, increased climate resilience, and a wide range of ecosystem services, while also enhancing biodiversity, during the lifetime of this Plan. GIO 2 To prepare a detailed Green Infrastructure Network for the towns of Monaghan, Carrickmacross, Castleblayney, Ballybay and Clones, during the lifetime of this Plan. GIO 3 To support the improvement and enhancement of existing Green Infrastructure within the settlements. GIO 4 To contribute towards the protection and enhancement of biodiversity and ecological connectivity, including woodlands, trees, hedgerows, wetlands, rivers, streams, other landscape features and associated wildlife where these form part of the ecological network and/or may be considered as ecological corridors or stepping stones in the context of Article 10 of the Habitats Directive. GIO 5 To encourage and facilitate, in consultation with relevant stakeholders, the development of Green Infrastructure that recognises the synergies that can be achieved with regard to the following: k Provision of open space amenities k Sustainable management of water k Protection and management of biodiversity k Protection of cultural heritage k Protection of protected landscape sensitivities. GIP 1 Development proposals located within or adjacent to areas of Green Infrastructure shall incorporate any important biodiversity features into the overall development in a sustainable manner. GIP 2 Any development which impacts on the integrity of existing Green Infrastructure shall be resisted, an exception to this may be where compensatory features comprising of native species can be provided. GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE POLICIES
- 144 Wetlands perform a range of important functions which include water filtration, flood attenuation and they function as a habitat for a broad range of flora and fauna. Wetlands are important assets that deliver a range of economic benefits in relation to water supplies, fisheries, the maintenance of water tables, pollution control, timber and agricultural production, carbon sequestration, and are a recreation and tourism asset. To date the economic and environmental benefits of wetlands have been undervalued, and their benefits are often unrecognised by people until the wetland habitat has been degraded and its ecosystem functions are no longer performed. Our wetlands are under threat from development pressures such as land drainage/reclamation, pollution and turf cutting. It is important therefore to protect this precious resource and to consider the potential impacts before making decisions likely to affect any wetland area. The locations of some wetlands in County Monaghan are detailed on Map 8.3 Area of Natural Vegetation, Wetlands and Wet Soils in Chapter 8 Environment, Energy and Climate, of this Development Plan. In accordance with the provisions of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 (as amended), planning permission is now required for drainage and/or land reclamation of all wetlands where the area involved is over 0.1 ha. In some instances, a development proposal may be subject to the requirement for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). A mandatory EIA is required for any land reclamation works exceeding 2 ha. 6.15 TREES, HEDGEROWS AND WOODLANDS Trees, hedgerows and woodlands contribute significantly to County Monaghan’s natural landscape and biodiversity. They enhance the setting of rural and urban environments, provide shelter for wildlife and people, and perform an important role in regulating pollution by filtering and absorbing air-borne particulates and regulate the climate by absorbing carbon dioxide. Hedgerows are important habitats and wildlife corridors for small mammals, birds and bat species. Trees and hedgerows in the rural area have been under pressure from modern agricultural practices and the development of one-off housing. The County Monaghan Hedgerow Survey undertaken by the Heritage Office in 2010, found that there was approximately 9.93 kilometres of hedgerow per square kilometre. A total of 35 shrub and tree species were recorded, with hawthorn been the most common species and ash the most common tree. 72% of hedgerows comprised of solely native species. In 2021, a Monaghan Hedgerow Appraisal Survey – A Decade of Change, jointly funded by Monaghan County Council and the Heritage Council was produced which re-assessed the hedgerows surveyed in 2010. The Monaghan Hedgerow Appraisal Survey provided a number of recommendations based on the survey results and in with regard to current best conservation practice. The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) commissioned a National Survey of Native Woodland in Ireland over 10 years ago and found that only 1.72% of the County had native woodland cover. WLP 1 Development that would destroy, fragment or degrade any wetland will be resisted. WLP 2 Where it is proposed to infill or reclaim a wetland area, an Ecological Impact Assessment will be required. WLP 3 To implement the relevant parts of the Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2011 and the European Communities (Amendment to Planning and Development) Regulations 2011 which require planning permission to be applied for where the area impacted by works relating to the drainage or reclamation of a wetland exceeds 0.1 hectares or where such works may have a significant effect on the environment. Such planning applications shall be supported by an Appropriate Assessment where necessary. WETLANDS POLICIES Monaghan County Development Plan 2025 – 2031
- 145 Hedgerows are subject to protections under legislation. Restrictions on cutting hedgerows are set out in Section 40 of the Wildlife Act 1976 as amended by the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000. These Acts stipulate that it is an offence to destroy vegetation on uncultivated land between the 1st of March and the 31st of August each year. It is an objective of the Planning Authority to seek to protect and enhance existing trees, hedgerow and woodlands. Monaghan County Council has identified trees/groups of trees in the main towns and in the wider rural area which are worthy of protection due to their special amenity value. These are listed in Table 6.8. The Local Authority has scope to protect specific trees/groups of trees or woodland by utilising the provisions of the Tree Preservation Guidelines 1994 to designate Tree Preservation Orders (TPO’s). TPO’s will prevent the removal, topping down or wilful destruction of specific trees. Any tree/trees which are subject to a TPO cannot be felled without the prior consent of the planning authority. TABLE 6.8 TREES OF SPECIAL AMENITY VALUE Location Type of Trees OS Reference Blackwater Vale, Monaghan Mixed 9-7/11 Connabury Hill, Castleblayney Mature Beech woodland 20-13 Glen, Rockcorry Conifers 18-14 Knockconan Mature Scots Pine, Sycamores, Beech trees 3-8 Laragh Village Ash, Beech, Elm, Sycamore, Hazel, 27 some mature Oaks Legacurry, Monaghan Row of Beech 6-11 Swans Cross, Dromore Row of Conifers 18-6 Tullybuck, Clontibret Avenue of Lime 14 heritage, conservation and landscapechapter 06 TWP 1 To minimise loss of tree(s) and hedgerow associated with any development proposal and encourage the retention of existing mature trees, hedgerows and woodlands in new developments. Where removal is unavoidable, transplanting trees and/or providing compensatory planting of native tree species on the site shall be provided, as appropriate. TWP 2 To preserve trees and/or groups of trees that have a significant amenity value, and to designate Tree Preservation Orders where appropriate. TREES AND WOODLANDS POLICIES 6.16 INVASIVE SPECIES Invasive species are species that have been introduced (either accidentally or on purpose) by humans to areas outside their normal habitat range. Invasive species represents the second biggest threat to biodiversity globally. Once such species become established, they can spread quickly and the economic and environmental costs of controlling and eradicating them can be considerable. Some of the most well-known invasive species include Grey Squirrel, Rhododendron, Giant Hogweed and Japanese Knotweed to name but a few. Japanese Knotweed in particular can grow through concrete and tarmac and therefore can cause substantial damage to the built environment. Preventing the introduction and spread of invasive species is even more important with respect to European Designated sites.
- 146 INVASIVE SPECIES OBJECTIVES INVASIVE SPECIES POLICY ISO 1 To support, as appropriate, the National Parks and Wildlife Service’s efforts to seek to control and manage the spread of non-native invasive species on land and water. Where the presence of non-native invasive species is identified at the site of any proposed development or where the proposed activity has an elevated risk of resulting in the presence of these species, details of how these species will be managed and controlled will be required. Monaghan County Development Plan 2025 – 2031 ISP 1 To ensure that development proposals do not lead to the spread of invasive species and to ensure that landscaping proposals do not include invasive species. 6.17 ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE AND ARCHITECTURAL CONSERVATION AREAS (ACAS) 6.17.1 ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE The Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) requires Planning Authorities to include in their Development Plans, policies and objectives for the protection, enhancement and preservation of the built heritage in their functional area. The principle means of doing this is by maintaining a Record of Protected Structures (RPS), which identifies buildings of special architectural, historical, artistic, cultural, scientific, social or technical interest. The full record of Protected Structures is listed in Appendices 1(a) and 1(b) Record of Protected Structures for County Monaghan of the Development Plan. County Monaghan has 701 Protected Structures on record. The continued conservation of these structures and their setting is important in retaining the quality of the County’s built environment. Structures may be added to and deleted from the Record of Protected Structures outside of the Development Plan review process in accordance with Section 55 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended). Protected Structures and proposed Protected Structures cannot avail of usual exempt development provisions. An owner or occupier of a Protected Structure can make a written request to the Planning Authority to seek a Declaration under Section 57 of the Act 2000 (as amended) to determine the types of works which it considers would or would not affect the character of the structure or any element of the structure which contributes to its special architectural, historical, archaeological, artistic, cultural, scientific, social or technical interest. The owners and occupiers of a Protected Structure can avail of certain grant initiatives such as the Historic Structures Fund (HSF), or the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) to carry out certain works to repair and conserve historic structures. These grants are available annually. Applications for permission to carry out works to a Protected Structure will require the submission of drawings, photographs and surveys of the existing building together with a method statement for the proposed works. The Planning Authority may request an Architectural Impact Assessment and/or a Conservation Plan to make an informed decision on any proposed works to a Protected Structure. Following a detailed survey of County Monaghan for the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH) in 2015, a recommendation was made by the Minister for the Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht for additions to the Record of Protected Structures. 78 structures were added to the Record of Protected Structures in 2016 and 2017 which include post boxes, stone bridges, water pumps, religious buildings, industrial buildings/structures and houses. There are also structures of distinctive traditional styles throughout County Monaghan and whilst these may not be included in the record of protected structures, they reflect the unique local history and character of place. Vernacular structures are extremely vulnerable due to the changing needs and demands of the modern generation. The re-use and adaption of existing buildings is preferable to their demolition. One of the Objectives of ‘Places for People’ - the National Policy on Architecture, published in April 2022 is to prioritise and support sustainable practices with respect to reuse, refurbishment and conservation of buildings.
- 147 heritage, conservation and landscapechapter 06 PROTECTED STRUCTURE OBJECTIVES BHO 1 To protect and conserve all structures included in the Record of Protected Structures and to encourage the sympathetic re-use and long-term viability of such structures without detracting from their special interest and character. BHO 2 To contribute, as appropriate, towards the protection of archaeological heritage, in particular by implementing the relevant provisions of the Act 2000 (as amended). BHO 3 The Council aims to conserve the built fabric of the Ulster Canal, Great Northern Railway, historic mills and other industrial heritage structures throughout the county and planning permission will be required for their removal or alteration. BHO 4 To support and promote best practice conservation in works to Protected Structures and to encourage the use of tradespeople and professionals trained in the use of traditional skills, materials and building techniques. BHO 5 To encourage the retention, rehabilitation and reuse of older buildings that are not Protected Structures in recognition of their contribution both individually and collectively to the unique character, heritage and identity of local areas and the County. BHO 6 To protect vernacular architecture, such as thatched cottages, farm buildings and old school-houses in the County for the benefit of future generations. BHP 1 To contribute towards the protection of architectural heritage by requiring that proposals for works shall be carried out in accordance with best practice, the legislative provisions of the Act 2000 (as amended) in relation to architectural heritage, and the policy guidance contained in the Architectural Heritage Protection Guidelines 2011 (and any new or updated/superseding versions). BHP 2 To review, maintain and update the Record of Protected Structures in consultation with the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage and to encourage the sympathetic conservation, renewal and repair of these structures. BHP 3 Planning permission for the demolition or inappropriate alteration of any protected structure shall not be granted except in exceptional circumstances and in accordance with Section 57(10)(b) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended). BHP 4 To ensure that any new development proposed to or in the vicinity of a Protected Structure will complement and be sympathetic to the structure and its setting in terms of its design, scale, height, massing and use of materials and to resist any development which is likely to impact on the building’s special interest and/or any views of such buildings and their setting. PROTECTED STRUCTURE POLICIES
- 148 Monaghan County Development Plan 2025 – 2031 BHP 5 To facilitate the retention and sympathetic re-use of protected structures and their settings in circumstances where the proposal is compatible with their character and special interest. In certain instances, land use zoning restrictions and site development standards may be relaxed to secure the conservation and reuse of a protected structure and to provide a viable use for any building which is at risk by virtue of being derelict or vacant. BHP 6 To use the provisions of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) and the Derelict Sites Act 1990 to prevent the loss or deterioration of the County’s Architectural Heritage. PROTECTED STRUCTURE POLICIES 6.17.2 ARCHITECTURAL CONSERVATION AREAS (ACAS) Architectural Conservation Areas (ACAs) are areas of special architectural, historical, archaeological, artistic, cultural, scientific, social or technical interest or areas that are important to the setting of a Protected Structure. An ACA may or may not contain Protected Structures within it. An ACA can consist of a town centre, a group of buildings, a terrace or street or the setting of a country house. The main purpose of an ACA designation is to control inappropriate development for the purpose of preserving and enhancing the character of the area. Like Protected Structures, works to a building within an ACA are not exempted development if the works would alter the character of the ACA. The protected status of the ACA applies to the exterior and streetscape (unless a structure in an ACA is also designated as a Protected Structure). There are 20 designated ACAs in County Monaghan, the majority of which are located in the town centres of Monaghan, Carrickmacross and Clones. Glaslough Village also designated as an ACA, has guidance to homeowners, developers, architects and planning professionals on the type of works that require planning permission due to its designation as an ACA. Details of the ACAs are listed in Tables 6.9 – 6.13. It is an objective of this Development Plan to carry out a comprehensive review of the ACAs within the County during the lifetime of this Plan. ACO 1 To carry out a comprehensive review of the Architectural Conservation Areas within the County during the lifetime of this Plan. ACO 2 To prepare character appraisals for each of the designated Architectural Conservation Areas in the County to guide new development proposals and environmental improvements by identifying the character of each Architectural Conservation Areas and designing objectives to ensure that their distinctiveness and special interest are preserved and enhanced. ACO 3 To support and promote best practice conservation in works to structures and buildings within Architectural Conservation Areas and to encourage the use of tradespeople and professionals trained in the use of traditional skills, materials and building techniques. ARCHITECTURAL CONSERVATION AREAS OBJECTIVES
Source Monaghan County Council: Monaghan County Development Plan 2025–2031 (2025–2031) · 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.