Offaly County Development Plan 2021–2027 (as varied) — Chapter 3: Climate Action Energy

1. Page 31

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   Offaly County Development Plan 2021-2027 Chapter 3 Climate Action and Energy Page 97 Micro Renewable Energy CAEP-48 It is Council policy to facilitate micro-renewable energy installations and auto-generator installations where it is demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Council that they will not result in a significant adverse impact on residential, visual or environmental amenity. Low Carbon District Heating CAEP-49 It is Council policy to support Ireland's renewable energy commitments outlined in national policy by promoting the use of district heating systems in new residential and commercial developments where such development does not have a negative impact on the surrounding environment, landscape, biodiversity or local amenities. CAEP-50 It is Council policy to consider using heat mapping to support developments which deliver energy efficiency and the recovery of energy that would otherwise be wasted. Electric Vehicles, Fuel Cell Vehicles and Autonomous Vehicles CAEP-51 It is Council policy to support the growth of Electric Vehicles, E-Bikes, Fuel Cell Vehicles and Autonomous Vehicles with support facilities, through a roll-out of additional electric charging points and refuelling infrastructure in collaboration with relevant agencies and in accordance with the siting criteria set out in the National Policy Framework Alternative Fuels Infrastructure for Transport in Ireland 2017-2030. Smart City Technologies CAEP-52 It is Council policy to support the use of smart city technologies in Offaly’s settlements to assist in energy reduction through integrating public lighting infrastructure with EV charging points and also providing real time data on street lighting energy usage, atmospheric pressure, CO2 emissions and average noise pollution levels. Flood Risk Management CAEP-53 It is Council policy to support, in co-operation with the OPW, the implementation of the EU Flood Risk Directive, the Flood Risk Regulations (S.I. No. 122 of 2010) and the ‘The Planning System and Flood Risk Management Guidelines for Planning Authorities (2009) and Department Circular Pl2/2014 or any updated / superseding version. CAEP-54 It is Council policy to protect Flood Zone A and Flood Zone B from inappropriate development and direct developments/land uses into the appropriate Flood Zone in accordance with The Planning System and Flood Risk Management Guidelines for Planning Authorities 2009 (or any superseding document) and the guidance contained in Development Management Standard DMS-106. Where a development/land use is proposed that is inappropriate within the Flood Zone, then the development proposal will need to be accompanied by a Development Management Justification Test and sitespecific Flood Risk Assessment in accordance with the criteria set out under with The Planning System and Flood Risk Management Guidelines for Planning Authorities 2009 and Circular PL2/2014 (as updated/superseded). In Flood Zone C, (See DMS-106 where the probability of flooding is low (less than 0.1%, Flood Zone C), site-specific Flood Risk Assessment may be required and the developer

2. Page 32

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   Offaly County Development Plan 2021-2027 Chapter 3 Climate Action and Energy Page 98 should satisfy themselves that the probability of flooding is appropriate to the development being proposed. The County Plan SFRA datasets (including Benefitting Lands mapping), emerging CFRAMS mapping (including National Indicative Fluvial mapping), and the most up to date CFRAM Programme climate scenario mapping should be consulted by prospective planning applicants and the planning authority in determining planning applications. CAEP-55 It is Council policy to require a Site-specific Flood Risk Assessment (FRA) for all planning applications in areas at risk of flooding (fluvial, pluvial or groundwater), even for developments deemed appropriate in principle to the particular Flood Zone. The detail of these site-specific FRAs will depend on the level of risk and scale of development. A detailed site-specific FRA should quantify the risks, the effects of selected mitigation and the management of any residual risks. The assessments shall consider and provide information on the implications of climate change with regard to flood risk in relevant locations. The 2009 OPW Draft Guidance on Assessment of Potential Future Scenarios for Flood Risk Management (or any superseding document) and available information from the CFRAM Studies shall be consulted with to this effect. CAEP-56 It is Council policy to ensure that applications to existing developments in flood vulnerable zones provide details of structural and non-structural risk management measures to include, but not be limited to specifications of the following - floor levels, internal layout, flood resilient construction, flood resistant construction, emergency response planning, access and egress during flood events. CAEP-57 It is Council policy to work with other bodies and organisations, as appropriate, to help protect critical infrastructure, including water and wastewater, within the county, from risk of flooding. Any potential future variations to the Plan shall consider, as appropriate any new and/or emerging data, including, when available, any relevant information contained in the CFRAMS Flood Risk Management Plans and as recommended in the SFRA for the Plan. CAEP-58 It is Council policy to have regard to the findings and recommendations of the current Strategic Flood Risk Assessment prepared as part of the County Development Plan. CAEP-59 It is Council policy to consult with the Office of Public Works (OPW) in relation to proposed developments in the vicinity of drainage channels and rivers for which the OPW are responsible, and the Council will retain a strip of 10 metres on either side of such channel where required, to facilitate access thereto. CAEP-60 It is Council policy to consult, where necessary, with Inland Fisheries Ireland, the National Parks and Wildlife Service and other relevant agencies in the construction of flood alleviation measures in Offaly. CAEP-61 It is Council policy to work with the OPW and other relevant Departments and agencies to implement the recommendations of the CFRAM programme to ensure that flood risk management policies and infrastructure are progressively implemented, and to also work with catchment-based Flood Planning Groups, (including where catchments go beyond the Council’s administrative boundary) in the development and implementation of catchment-based strategies for the management of flood risk – including those relating to storage and conveyance. CAEP-62 It is Council policy that where resources are available and subject to compliance with the Habitats and Birds Directives, the Council will contribute towards the improvement and / or restoration of the natural flood risk management functions of flood plains.

3. Page 33

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   Offaly County Development Plan 2021-2027 Chapter 3 Climate Action and Energy Page 99 CAEP-63 It is Council policy to take account of and incorporate into local planning policy and decision making, including possible future variations to this plan, the recommendations of the Flood Risk Management Plans (FRMPs), including planned investment measures for managing and reducing flood risk. Green Infrastructure and Afforestation CAEP-64 It is Council policy to maintain existing green infrastructure and 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: • Provision of open space amenities; • Sustainable management of water; • Protection and management of biodiversity; • Protection of cultural heritage; and • Protection of protected landscape sensitivities. CAEP-65 It is Council policy to promote forestry development of appropriate scale and character whilst ensuring that the development does not have a negative visual impact on the countryside or cause pollution or degradation to wildlife habitats, natural waters or European designated sites. CAEP-66 It is Council policy to support the fulfilment of the vision of carbon neutrality in the agriculture, forest and land use sector through better sustainable agricultural, land management and resource efficiency. Green Infrastructure and Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems CAEP-67 It is Council policy to minimise and limit the extent of hard surfacing and paving and require the use of sustainable urban drainage systems (SuDs) where appropriate, for new developments or for extensions to existing developments, in order to reduce the potential impact of existing and predicted flooding risks. CAEP-68 It is Council policy to discourage the use of hard non-porous surfacing and pavements within the boundaries of rural housing sites that are within 100 metres of watercourses of a significant conveyance capacity or adjacent to Flood Zone A or B areas. CAEP-69 It is Council policy to encourage the use of Green Roofs and Green Walls particularly on apartment, industrial, commercial, leisure and educational buildings. CAEP-70 It is Council policy to encourage and facilitate the maintenance of rivers and waterways by statutory authorities and the cleaning of drains in urban areas where appropriate subject to the requirements of OPW Best Practice Guidelines.

4. Page 34

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   Offaly County Development Plan 2021-2027 Chapter 3 Climate Action and Energy Page 100 Climate Change and Archaeological Heritage CAEP-71 It is Council policy to promote awareness and the appropriate adaptation of Ireland’s built and archaeological heritage to deal with the effects of climate change. CAEP-72 It is Council policy to identify the built and archaeological heritage in local authority ownership and areas at risk from climate change including, but not necessarily restricted to, the Record of Monuments and Places, protected structures and Architectural Conservation Areas designated in the development plan. CAEP-73 It is Council policy to undertake climate change vulnerability assessments for the historic structures and sites in Offaly. CAEP-74 It is Council policy to develop disaster risk reduction policies addressing direct and indirect risks to the built and archaeological heritage in Offaly. CAEP-75 It is Council policy to develop resilience and adaptation strategies for the built and archaeological heritage in Offaly, in line with Department Guidance and an associated methodology.

5. Page 35

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   Offaly County Development Plan 2021-2027 Chapter 3 Climate Action and Energy Page 101 3.9 Climate Action and Energy Objectives Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation CAEO-01 It is an objective of the Council to implement the current Climate Change Adaptation Strategy for County Offaly. CAEO-02 It is an objective of the Council to consider a variation of the development plan within a reasonable period of time, or to include such other mechanism, as may be appropriate, to ensure that the development plan will be consistent with the approach to climate action recommended in the revised Development Plan Guidelines as adopted or any relevant guidelines. Renewable Energy CAEO-03 It is an objective of the Council to achieve a reasonable balance between responding to government policy on renewable energy and in enabling the wind energy resources of the county to be harnessed in an environmentally sustainable manner. Wind Energy CAEO-04 It is an objective of the Council to ensure the security of energy supply by supporting the potential of the wind energy (and other renewable) resources of the County in a manner that is consistent with proper planning and sustainable development of the area. CAEO-05 It is an objective of the Council to implement the Council’s Wind Energy Strategy as follows: 1. In ‘Areas Deemed Open for Consideration for Wind Energy Development’ as identified in Map No. 10 ‘Wind Energy Strategy Designations’, the development of windfarms and smaller wind energy projects will be considered; 2. In all other areas, wind energy developments shall not normally be permitted – except as provided for under relevant exemption provisions in the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 (as amended); and 3. Applications for re-powering (by replacing existing wind turbines) and extension of existing and permitted wind farms will be assessed on a case by case basis and will be subject to criteria listed in Development Management Standard 109 contained in Chapter 13 of Volume 1 of this County Development Plan and the Section 28 Ministerial Wind Energy Development Guidelines. Peatlands CAEO-06 It is an objective of the Council to source E.U. and national funding to support projects which assist the transition of the industrial peatlands to sustainable after uses. CAEO-07 It is an objective of the Council to ensure that renewable energy projects located on peatlands or in close proximity to peatlands do not negatively impact on any rehabilitation measures including enhanced rehabilitation measures (i.e. drain blocking and rewetting).

6. Page 36

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   Offaly County Development Plan 2021-2027 Chapter 3 Climate Action and Energy Page 102 Low Carbon District Heating CAEO-08 It is an objective of the Council to carry out a feasibility assessment for district heating in County Offaly and identify local waste heat sources or renewable energy sources. Gas CAEO-09 It is an objective of the Council to support the further extension of the gas grid into County Offaly to serve existing and envisaged future residential, commercial and industrial development. CAEO-10 It is an objective of the Council to support and facilitate the; (i) production of low carbon renewable biogases such as hydrogen and biomethane, produced largely from agricultural organic matter, that can be exported to the National Grid; and (ii) development of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicle usage and refuelling infrastructure on appropriate sites. Flood Risk Management CAEO-11 It is an objective of the Council to ensure that flood risk management is incorporated into the preparation of Local Area Plans in accordance with 'The Planning System and Flood Risk Management - Guidelines for Planning Authorities (2009). CAEO-12 It is an objective of the Council to co-operate with the Office of Public Works (OPW) in the delivery of the Birr, Portarlington and Rahan Flood Relief Schemes and other schemes that may be brought forward in the lifetime of this Plan. Mobility Management and Travel Plans CAEO-13 It is an objective of the Council to prepare Mobility Management and Travel Plans for Tullamore and Edenderry to bring about behaviour change and more sustainable transport use. Local Authority Housing CAEO-14 It is an objective of the Council to introduce minimum standards in the Local Authority social housing stock as part of retrofit works being carried out on older stock or refurbishment of vacant dwellings. LED Luminaires CAEO-15 It is an objective of the Council to ensure LED luminaires display warmer colours (i.e., CCT values at or below 2700K) in future installations to avoid environmental impacts associated with bluerich LED light in keeping with Dark Sky Ireland Lighting Recommendations.

Source Offaly County Council: Offaly County Development Plan 2021–2027 (as varied) — Chapter 3: Climate Action Energy (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.