Development plan · Roscommon County Council
Roscommon County Development Plan 2022–2028
The council's development plan written statement: its strategy, policies, objectives and development standards.
Roscommon County Council · 2022–2028 · 238 pages
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- 1 Introduction and Vision 1.1 Introduction and Legislative Basis The Roscommon County Development Plan (RCDP) sets out the overall strategy and vision for the proper planning and sustainable development of the county over the 6 year plan period and has been prepared in accordance with Part II, Chapter I of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended). 1 Project Ireland 2040 encompasses both the National Planning Framework(NPF) and the National Development Plan (NDP). 2 Gov.ie – planning content, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, December 2020. The Plan does not exist in a vacuum and is the local level policy expression within a policy hierarchy which includes national, regional and local plans. Figure 1.1 demonstrates the position of the County Development Plan in the overall hierarchy of the Planning System, including its interlinkages with and obligations to adhere to EU and national legislation and policy. The County Development Plan is set within the f ramework of Project Ireland 2040: National Planning Framework (NPF)1 at national level, and at regional level by the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES) (2020) for the Northern and Western Regional Assembly area. Additionally, it has been prepared to accord with Ministerial Guidelines as issued under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended). “At a policy level, planning means ensuring that the right development takes place in the right locations and at the right time.”2 The Plan consists of a written statement, accompanying maps, a number of associated documents and strategies and environmental reports undertaken on the Plan. Further detail on the components of the Plan are contained in Section 1.3. The development planning process, as embodied in this document, endeavours to facilitate the future progress of Roscommon in a measured, calculated and plan led sustainable m a n n e r a c ro s s t h e co u n ty. T h e Co u n ty Development Plan is a material consideration in making decisions on future planning applications. 2Roscommon County Development Plan 2022-2028 – Volume I2
- Figure 1.1: Plan Hierarchy and Interlinkages EU Directives Planning Legislation Ministerial Guidelines Government Policy Capital Programmes Local Economic & Community Plan (LECP) Housing Strategy Retail Strategy Capital Programme Climate Change National Planning Framework (NPF) Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES) County Development Plan Local Area Plans EU, National Legislation and Policy Local Authority 33Roscommon County Development Plan 2022-2028 – Volume I Chapter 1: Introduction and Vision
- 1.2 Strategic Context The Roscommon County Development Plan 2022-2028 has been prepared in the context of a policy environment which has altered significantly since the preparation of the Roscommon County Development Plan 2014-2020, with the principles of sustainability now being at the core of spatial planning. 3 Eastern and Midlands Region, Southern Region and the Northern and Western Region. 4 Section 1.1, Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy, Northern and Western Regional Assembly (2020). Ireland has been a signatory to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (refer to Figure 1.2) since 2015 and those goals in turn have shaped new national and regional plans which have been adopted in recent years. At national level, Project Ireland 2040 – National Planning Framework (NPF) sets out the national spatial planning policy for the period to 2040 and is the cornerstone of the hierarchy of spatial plans, including regional and local plans. At regional level, a Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES) has been prepared for each of the three regional assembly areas3. As noted in the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy for the Northern and Western Region, the “RSES provides a highlevel development framework …….that supports the implementation of the National Planning Framework and the relevant economic policies and objectives of Government.”4 At county level, the County Development Plan will provide an overall strategy for development for the county. Figure 1.2: United Nations Sustainability Goals 4Roscommon County Development Plan 2022-2028 – Volume I4 Chapter 1: Introduction and Vision
- 5 The National Development Plan is intended to support the delivery of the NPF’s 10 National Strategic Outcomes, to 2027. 6 Project Ireland 2040 – National Planning Framework, Chapter 1, The Vision, pg. 13. PROJECT IRELAND 2040 - NATIONAL PLANNING FRAMEWORK The NPF was adopted in 2018, replacing the previous National Spatial Strategy (2002) as the national strategy, providing a sustainable f ramework to guide where development and investment occurs in Ireland in the period to 2040.5The NPF identif ies ten national policy objectives - National Strategic Outcomes (NSO’s) as set out in Figure 1.1. The NPF includes a 75 strong suite of National Policy Objectives (NPO’s) which support the Strategic Outcomes, and collectively set the framework under which all lower order plans i.e. regional, county (and local area) plans must are required to be prepared. Sustainability is at the heart of the National Planning Framework, in accordance with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to which Ireland has been a signatory since 2015. Key areas of alignment between the SDGs and the NPF include climate action, clean energy, sustainable cities and communities, economic growth, reduced inequalities, innovation, infrastructure, education and health. All of the foregoing have subsequently been reflected in the Roscommon County Development Plan 2022-2028. Figure 1.3: National Planning Framework - National Strategic Outcomes6 1. Compact Growth 2. Enhanced Regional Accessibility National Strategic Outcomes 3. Strengthened Rural Economies and Communities 4. Sustainable Mobility 9. Sustainable Management of Water, Waste and other Environmental Resources 8. Transition to a Low Carbon and Climate Resilient Society 7. Enhanced Amenity and Heritage 6. High-Quality International Connectivity 10. Access to Quality Childcare, Education and Health Services 5. A Strong Economy supported by Enterprise, Innovation and Skills 55Roscommon County Development Plan 2022-2028 – Volume I Chapter 1: Introduction and Vision
- REGIONAL SPATIAL AND ECONOMIC STRATEGY (RSES) 2020-2032: NORTHERN AND WESTERN REGIONAL ASSEMBLY The Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy 2020-2032 for the Northern and Western Region has as its vision “to play a leading role in the transformation of this region into a vibrant, connected, natural, inclusive and smart place to work and live.” In simple terms, it sets out that the Strategy is concerned with “getting from where we are to where we want to be” and in order to achieve this, the RSES focuses on five Growth Ambitions, all of which are mutually complementary. The Growth Ambitions are essentially the regional expression of the development approach already set out in the National Planning Framework. A series of Regional Policy Objectives (RPO’s) have been developed around the identified Growth Ambitions. The Roscommon County Development Plan has in turn been prepared in accordance with the identified Growth Ambitions and associated RPO’s. Figure 1.4: Growth Ambitions (NWRA RSES 2020-2032) PEOPLE AND PLACES SPATIAL AND ECONOMIC STRATEGY KEY INGREDIENTS AND METRICS VIBRANT AMBITION NATURAL AMBITION CONNECTED AMBITION INNOVATIVE PEOPLE INCLUSIVE AMBITION INFRASTRUCTURE AMBITION SUPPORTIVE INFRASTRUCTURE GREAT PLACE TO LIVE LOW CARBON FUTURE SUSTAINABLE GROWTH COMPACT GROWTH 66Roscommon County Development Plan 2022-2028 – Volume I Chapter 1: Introduction and Vision
- 1.3 Roscommon County Development Plan 2022-2028 The Roscommon County Development Plan 2022-2028 builds on the foundations laid in previous Plans for the spatial development of the county and demonstrates how the vision for the future development of the county has adapted to achieve consistency with current national and regional strategies as set out in the National Planning Framework and in the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy for the Northern and Western Region. This County Development Plan is the first to be prepared for County Roscommon under Project Ireland 2040 – National Planning Framework. While the NPF sets out the national strategic direction for Ireland for the long term period to 2040, this County Development Plan is for a six year period and subsequent Plans in the period to 2040 will build on the strategic direction set out in this initial plan. The County Development Plan consists of two volumes - Volume I consists of the written statement and Volume II includes Settlement Plans, Village Plans and Area Plans and accompanying maps. The Plan also consists of number of accompanying strategies, contained in separate document form. VOLUME I – WRITTEN STATEMENT Volume I consists of the written statement which sets out the local level strategic direction for the development of County Roscommon during the six year period of the Plan and beyond, having regard to the longer term horizons, as planned for in the National Planning Framework to 2040 and in the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy for the Northern and Western Region to 2032. The written statement sets out the Core Strategy, and details a series of mandatory and discretionary objectives across a wide range of policy areas. Each chapter of the written statement focuses on either individual policy areas or grouped policy areas which share commonality. It should also be noted that there are significant interlinkages between chapters in the Plan, and cross cutting themes are evident throughout the Plan, arising from the overall Strategic Objectives. In particular, the Plan has been prepared against the critical need to address climate change and while Chapter 8 focuses on this in depth, if forms a critical consideration across all aspects of the Plan, with a range of actions and policy positions expressed across all aspects of the Plan in order to give expression at local level to climate action. Other cross cutting themes emanating from climate action considerations and evident throughout the Plan include placemaking, regeneration, the creation of sustainable communities, and green infrastructure provision. 77Roscommon County Development Plan 2022-2028 – Volume I Chapter 1: Introduction and Vision
- In the interests of creating a Plan format which is as streamlined and clear as possible, policy objectives are generally set out in detail in one instance only, but in many cases will be relevant across several chapters. In such instances reference will be made to applicable policy objectives contained elsewhere in the Plan. In the interests of clarity, any reference to a policy / objective/ policy objective in the text of this County Development Plan, shall be construed as an ‘objective’, compliant with the requirements of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended). In addition, whilst the Plan has been prepared, as required, in accordance with all higher order plans (including the NPF and the RSES) and Ministerial Guidelines issued under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended), in order to avoid repetition policy objectives and content which already exists in Plans, Guidelines, legislation and other regulatory codes and mechanisms have been referred to where relevant, but not quoted extensively. The twelve chapters contained in the Written Statement consist of: g Chapter 1 – Introduction and Vision; g Chapter 2 – Core Strategy and Settlement Policy; g Chapter 3 – People, Places and Housing; g Chapter 4 – Towns and Villages; g Chapter 5 – Rural Development and Natural Resources; g Chapter 6 – Economic Development; g Chapter 7 – Infrastructure, Transport and Communications; g Chapter 8 – Climate Action, Energy and Environment; g Chapter 9 – Built Heritage; g Chapter 10 – Natural Heritage; g Chapter 11 – Social, Community and Cultural Development; and g Chapter 12 – Development Management Standards 7 This refers to the Athlone West area of County Roscommon, which functions as part of the wider Athlone area. Chapter 2 sets out the Core Strategy which is an evidence based strategy for the development of the county. As legislatively required, it has been prepared taking account of policies relating to national and regional population targets, as well as Ministerial guidelines. The Core Strategy set out in Chapter 2 has been developed to consider and address three key areas - future household targets, population targets and land requirements and settlement hierarchy/population and household distribution. Chapters 3 and 4 of the Plan concern the interlinked themes of ‘People, Places and Housing’ and ‘Towns and Villages’ respectively. Whilst recognising the rural traditions of the county and planning for the continued development and prosperity of rural areas, the Plan seeks to promote sustainable growth patterns, with particular emphasis on planning for increased population growth in Athlone7 and Roscommon town, given their designations in higher order national and regional plans as a Regional Growth Centre and a Key Town respectively. Chapters 3 and 4 set out a clear policy position promoting the concept of compact urban growth, including the efficient use of infill and brownfield lands, in all of the settlements and villages of County Roscommon. In conjunction with this, Chapter 4 explores the concept of place making, which is essentially about creating quality places where people are attracted to live, work, play. A number of means by which people may be attracted back to living in the heart of the county’s settlements are also promoted, including a range of redevelopment options for vacant upper floor properties. Appendix 1 of the Written Statement contains a Statement prepared in accordance with Section 28 (1A) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) demonstrating how the Planning Authority in preparing the Development Plan has implemented the policies and objectives set out in Ministerial Guidelines issued under Section 28 of the Act. 8Roscommon County Development Plan 2022-2028 – Volume I8 Chapter 1: Introduction and Vision
- VOLUME II – SETTLEMENTS, VILLAGE AND AREA PLANS AND ASSOCIATED MAPS Volume II contains a number of Settlement Plans, Village Plans and Area Plans and accompanying maps. In an effort to ensure that the planning system at local level does not present itself as excessively complex, and to also ensure that detailed plans for the towns of the county are kept up to date, a number of Local Area Plans prepared under the Roscommon County Development Plan 2014-2020 have been reviewed in the context of their identified roles in this new County Development Plan. Accordingly, Volume II contains Settlements Plans for the ‘Self-Sustaining Growth Towns <2000 population’ of Ballaghadereen, Castlerea, Elphin and Strokestown. It also includes twenty-nine Village Plans for smaller rural settlements which have been identified as having the potential to accommodate modest levels of growth, compatible with their existing scale, services and function. Volume II also includes Area Plans for the Hodson Bay / Barrymore area in the south of the county, and Lough Key Area in the north, with the latter replacing the Lough Key Local Area Plan 2015-2021. ASSOCIATED STRATEGIES AND ASSESSMENTS g Housing Strategy for County Roscommon, including a Housing Need Demand Assessment (HNDA) - The Housing Strategy assesses the need for housing in the county for the plan period and puts forward strategies to ensure that the overall supply of housing is sufficient to meet the needs of the existing and future population. Following the introduction in the NPF of a requirement for all Local Authorities to prepare a Housing Need Demand Assessment (HNDA),8 in order to that a robust methodology and evidence base is used to inform policies, the Housing Strategy includes a HNDA. The Housing Strategy and HNDA were prepared by Deloitte Ireland LLP on behalf of Roscommon County Council and the analysis and conclusions formed essential considerations in respect of the development of the Core Strategy and settlement and housing policy set out in this Plan. 8 As referred to under National Policy Objectives 20 and 37 of the National Planning Framework. g Renewable Energy Strategy (RES) - The primary aim of the Renewable Energy Strategy is to ensure that the County Roscommon continues to address climate change through facilitating appropriately located renewable energy developments and through supporting energy efficiency in all sectors of the economy. The Strategy details a number of Strategic Aims relating to renewable energy, which are reflected as policy objectives in Chapter 8 of the Plan (Climate Action, Energy and Environment). g County Roscommon Retail Strategy – The Retail Strategy has been prepared in accordance with the Retail Planning – Guidelines for Planning Authorities (DECLG, 2012). The Retail Strategy recognises the importance of the retailing sector to County Roscommon in economic and social terms. It identifies the key issues facing the county in respect of retailing activity and sets out the framework to consolidate and revitalise retailing. The conclusions have informed the policy position set out in Chapter 6 (Economic Development) in respect of retailing, and have also assisted in developing wider strategies for the future development of the towns and villages of the county. g Landscape Character Assessment (LCA) – The Landscape Character Assessment has been reviewed and updated. The key actions and recommendations identified in the LCA have been incorporated into the Plan across a broad range of policy objectives. g Record of Protected Structures (RPS) – A protected structure is a structure that forms part of the architectural heritage of the county and which is of special architectural, historical, archaeological, artistic, cultural, scientific, social or technical interest, and which warrants protection. The Record of Protected Structures lists all protected structures in County Roscommon. 99Roscommon County Development Plan 2022-2028 – Volume I Chapter 1: Introduction and Vision
- ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS The County Development Plan has been the subject of three environmental assessments. Figure 1.5: Environmental Assessments Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Appropriate Assessment (AA) Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is a systematic process for evaluating the likely significant environmental effects of implementing the County Development Plan. This is a mandatory process under the terms of the Planning and Development (SEA) Regulations 2004 as amended and informs the Plans preparation. APPROPRIATE ASSESSMENT An Appropriate Assessment (AA) of the County Development Plan was undertaken in accordance with the requirements of Article 6(3) of the EU Habitats Directive (directive 92/43/EEC). The initial iteration of the Plan was found to have the potential to result in impacts to the integrity of the Natura 2000 network if unmitigated. Accordingly, the inclusion of mitigation measures in the Plan will prioritise the avoidance of impacts and mitigate impacts where these cannot be avoided, thus resulting in this Plan excluding significant adverse effects on the integrity of Natura 2000 sites. STRATEGIC FLOOD RISK ASSESSMENT A Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) for the County Development Plan was undertaken with the purpose of setting out how flood risk relates to the planning process. The assessment considered and analysed the management of flood risk and examined means of reducing its impacts on human health, the environment, culture and heritage and economic activity. The Plan, including the incorporated Area Plans takes cognisance of flood risk management in their preparation in accordance with the DEHLG Flood Risk Management Guidelines (2009) and EU Flood Directive 2007/60/EC. The assessments have cumulatively considered the potential effects of the Plan on the environment, habitats and species protected by EU designation. 10Roscommon County Development Plan 2022-2028 – Volume I10 Chapter 1: Introduction and Vision
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