Development plan · Tipperary County Council
Tipperary County Development Plan 2022–2028
The council's development plan written statement: its strategy, policies, objectives and development standards. Variations adopted since are not in this text.
Tipperary County Council · 2022–2028 · 226 pages
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- TIPPERARY COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022 – 2028 VOLUME 1 152 • The delivery of quality employment and enterprise in new areas of opportunity. The Council will support the Climate Action Plan (DECC, 2019) as it relates to renewable energy production, having consideration to the strategic importance and potential benefits of renewable energy investment to rural communities, and to small and medium enterprises in Tipperary. 10.2.2 Review of the Wind Energy Guidelines The National Wind Energy Development Guidelines (DEHLG, 2006) are currently under review. The review focuses on several areas including new mechanisms for local community engagement with consideration to investment/benefit, setback from turbines and noise limits. The Council will seek to apply the Wind Energy Development Guidelines, and any review thereof, in assessing proposals for wind energy developments. 10.2.3 National Policy Statement on the Bioeconomy (2018) The National Policy Statement on the Bioeconomy (Government of Ireland, 2018) sets out a vision for Ireland to be a global leader for the bioeconomy with common principles, strategic objectives, and a framework for implementation. The Council will support the National Policy Statement on the bioeconomy having consideration to the strategic importance of the bioeconomy to rural Tipperary. 10.3 Energy Consumption Patterns Accroding to the ‘Energy in Ireland Report’ (SEAI, 2020) in 2019 56.5% of all energy consumed in Ireland was from oil and 16% was from gas. Renewables made up 12.0% of gross final consumption, relative to a 2020 target of 16.0%. The share of electricity generated from renewable sources increased from 33.2% in 2018 to 36.5% in 2019 (normalised). The 2020 target was 40%. The renewable share of energy used for transport (including weightings) increased from 7.2% in 2018 to 8.9% in 2019. The 2020 target was 10%. The renewable share of energy used for heat remained flat at 6.3% in 2019. The 2020 target was 12.0%.
- TIPPERARY COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022 – 2028 VOLUME 1 153 Figure 10.1: Total Final Energy consumption by Fuel (SEAI 2019) According to the EPA51, the dramatic decline in economic activity and travel in 2020, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic translated into GHG emissions reductions of only 5.9% in 2020, compared to 2019 levels. This illustrates the challenge for us all of achieving a year on year GHG reduction of 7% to 2030 in line with targets as we move away from the restrictions imposed during the Covid-19 lockdowns of 2020 and 2021. 10.4 Renewable Energy Policy In producing this Plan, the Council has had regard to the Interim Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Statutory Plans, Renewable Energy and Climate Change (July 2017), which sets out the requirement for the Planning Authority to comply with a Specific Planning Policy Requirement under section 28(1C). The Tipperary Renewable Energy Strategy is set out in Volume 3, Appendix 2. Chapter 4 of the Renewable Energy Strategy identifies the renewable energy resources of Tipperary, including bioenergy, energy from waste, wind, solar, hydro and geothermal energy. It is a strategic aim of the Renewable Energy Strategy to facilitate a low-carbon future in Tipperary by supporting the sustainable development of the renewable energy sector in Tipperary. In addition, the Renewable Energy Strategy supports the active participation of communities in renewable energy generation. The Council will continue to support sustainable renewable energy development through its own economic programmes and actions and through supporting the private sector. The policies and objectives of the Renewable Energy Strategy (and any review thereof) will apply to proposals for 51 The impact on 2020 greenhouse gas emissions of COVID-19 restrictions, January 2021
- TIPPERARY COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022 – 2028 VOLUME 1 154 renewable energy development in Tipperary along with the relevant Development Management Guidelines set out in Volume 3. New development proposals will be subject to required environmental assessment processes where necessary, and balanced with the importance of maintaining and protecting the natural landscape. The Renewable Energy Strategy for Tipperary will be reviewed by the Council, in collaboration with stakeholders, over the lifetime of the Plan, and will incorporate the provisions of national government as they relate to renewable energy and climate action, the Tipperary Climate Action Plan (when complete) and the Wind Energy Development Guidelines (when available). Section 10.4.1 Renewable Energy Targets The national Climate Action Plan (DECC, 2021) raises the target for renewably-sourced electricity from 70% to 80%, which will involve increased investment in solar and onshore wind as key resources in Tipperary. The county has already contributed significantly to renewable wind energy generation, with its installed wind capacity representing approximately 11% of the total installed wind capacity in the Republic of Ireland to date (based on the national installed wind capacity of 4,309 MW (Irish Wind Energy Association)). It is estimated that 1MW of wind capacity can provide enough electricity to supply approximately 650 homes, therefore, having consideration to the current estimated output of Tipperary of 475MW and the 75,820 private housing units in the county, Tipperary produces enough electricity to power three times the number of homes of the county. In terms of solar electricity generation, there are approximately 15 ground mounted solar farms permitted, these will have an estimated output of 117MW. Having consideration to investment to date in renewable electricity, it can be seen that Tipperary is a strong net exporter to the national grid, and has already exceeded its minimum targets for renewable electricity on a per capita basis. However, in line with the Renewable Energy Strategy currently in place, the Council will seek to further build on this achievement, and to continue to proactively support the export of renewable electricity to contribute to national targets. In line with the Core Strategy, and the Interim Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Statutory Plans, Renewable Energy and Climate Change (DHPCLG,2017) the Council has considered how the implementation of the Plan to 2028 will contribute to realising overall national targets on renewable energy and climate change mitigation, and in particular wind energy production. Table 10.1 Renewable Energy Targets for County Development Plan period Resource Approved/Operational (MW) 2028 target-approx. 25% increase over permitted capacity Wind 475 Operational 600MW Operational Solar 117 Permitted 150MW Operational
- TIPPERARY COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022 – 2028 VOLUME 1 155 These targets will be reviewed subsequent to the emergence of regional targets for wind and solar energy, and as part of a review of the Renewable Energy Strategy. 10.5 Renewable Energy, Economy and Communities The Council is committed to the rural economy and employment, including through investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency. The objectives of the LECP as they relate to rural development, support for small and medium enterprises and local community investment, are also reflected in this Plan, and it is expected that the development of a sustainable energy base, training and development programmes along with investment in efficiency, will confer an economic advantage to rural areas in the form of jobs and investment. The RSES seeks to support renewable energy projects in Ireland, including the consideration of frameworks and supports for community participation though micro-generation, auto-production and investment in commercial energy production in their localities. The Council strongly supports the active participation of local communities and SECs in renewable energy production as proposed by the RSES, the Climate Action Plan 2019 and the Draft Wind Energy Development Guidelines, and local community investment is seen as important to rural communities and a key opportunity for future investment. Climate active communities are further addressed in Chapter 3 Low Carbon Society and Climate Action. 10.6 Supporting the Bioeconomy The National Policy Statement on the Bioeconomy (Government of Ireland, 2018) sets out the ambition for Ireland to be a global leader for the bioeconomy, through a co-ordinated approach that harnesses Ireland’s natural resources, and competitive advantage. It seeks to promote greater coherence between the sectors of the bioeconomy, to strengthen the development of biobased products and grow the relevant markets for them, and to access funding available at EU level as well as leveraging private investment. The National Policy Statement seeks to deliver: • Sustainable economy and society - putting Ireland’s economy on a more sustainable footing by encouraging the efficient use and re-use of resources. • Decarbonisation of the economy - playing a part in lowering GHGs, for example, the development of new practices to improve efficiency in agriculture and forestry production. Bioprocessing and bio-refining can replace high embedded carbon products such as concrete, steel, plastics and chemicals with bio-based alternatives and new products. • Jobs and Competitiveness - fostering employment, as many of the inputs for the bioeconomy are sourced nationally, so its development has a greater impact compared to other areas of the economy that are more reliant on imports.
- TIPPERARY COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022 – 2028 VOLUME 1 156 • Regional Prosperity - one of the advantages of the bioeconomy is that many of the businesses rooted in it are located in rural areas and can assist in halting rural decline. The NPF highlights the potential of the bioeconomy in promoting more efficient use of renewable resources and in supporting rural economic development and employment. Tipperary, through its National Bioeconomy Campus in Lisheen, will support the southern region to become a ‘European Model Demonstrator Region’ for the bioeconomy. This proposal for a national campus at Lisheen was developed through the Irish Bioeconomy Foundation, bringing together relevant stakeholders, including universities, private enterprise and is supported through Enterprise Ireland. The campus will have a range of facilities which will enable industry, entrepreneurs and researchers to scale technologies that convert Ireland’s natural resources to products of high value for use in a wide variety of sectors including food ingredients, feed ingredients, pharmaceuticals, natural chemicals, biodegradable plastics and more. The proposed centre is supported by the EU Bioeconomy Strategy and ‘Horizon 2020’ for the sustainable use of natural resources from traditional and non-traditional sectors. As set out in the Renewable Energy Strategy, the county has potential to support the bioeconomy and produce bioenergy52 through its agriculture sector, including anaerobic digestion technologies, forestry, and related industries and from industrial and municipal waste. Bioenergy from biomass can be used to generate electricity, heat and transport fuels. The Council supports the sustainable development of the bioenergy sector in the county, and will promote the efficient use of bio-based waste resources as part of a broader strategy to develop a Bioenergy Implementation Plan for the Southern Region. 10.6.1 Mid-Tipperary Decarbonisation Zone The Climate Action Plan (DECC, 2019) states that ‘Each local authority will identify and develop plans for a spatial area(s), in which a range of climate mitigation, adaptation and biodiversity measures and actions are identified to address local low carbon energy, greenhouse gas emissions and climate needs to contribute to national climate action targets’. ‘Decarbonisation Zones’ (DZ) should address wider co-benefits including air quality, improved health, biodiversity, embodied carbon, agricultural practices, sustainable land management, lower noise levels, waste, water, circular economy etc. A DZ can also explore the co-benefits of climate adaptation, and local measures such as climate proofing, afforestation, green and blue infrastructure, reducing heat island effects, citizen awareness and behavioural change. 52 The three main categories of bioenergy are biomass, bioliquids and biofuels.
- TIPPERARY COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022 – 2028 VOLUME 1 157 The Council has already identified the Lisheen Mine and Lisheen Bog area, centred on the National Bioeconomy Campus, as the first candidate DZ in the county, with co-benefits in terms of tourism and amenity (Littleton Labyrinth and Bushcraft Survival Destination Plan). This DZ designation recognises the importance of the bioeconomy in Tipperary and the potential for synergies with other areas including wind energy and tourism and amenity. Building on this first designation of a strategic DZ, the Council will support the development of further DZs and energy activation zones (as the case maybe) in the county in line with national and regional guidance) over the lifetime of the Plan. 10.7 Disruptive Technologies and Energy Storage The Council understands that a move to a low-carbon society will need innovation in terms of technologies that will significantly alter the way we live and do business. The ‘Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund’, under Project Ireland 2040, supports innovative approaches to technology, where it is demonstrated that there will not be an adverse impact on the environment. Energy storage technologies enable a decarbonised electricity system, and support renewable energy production. Short term energy storage typically uses battery energy storage systems, whilst longer term storage technologies may include pumped hydro, compressed air and liquid air energy storage. Emerging technologies may provide other solutions. Carbon capture systems include sustainable forestry, native tree planting and better management of peatland and soils, to support carbon sequestration and enhancement of biodiversity. The Council will also support innovation in both sustainable energy storage technologies, and natural carbon capture systems as further addressed in Chapter 11 Environment and Natural Assets. This Plan, and its supporting Renewable Energy Strategy, seeks to support innovation and development of new technologies, synergies and concepts that will support ways, for example to generate renewable energy, to ensure carbon sequestration, to deliver energy storage etc. The only electricity generating project planned for Ireland under the European Network of Transmission Systems Operators for Electricity plan for 2018 to 2028, is proposed for Tipperary. This “pumped-storage hydroelectricity plant” proposed to be located at Silvermines, would be one of the largest private infrastructure projects in the history of the State and generate 360 megawatts of electricity. The Council will support this development, subject to planning and environmental protection standards.
- TIPPERARY COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022 – 2028 VOLUME 1 158 10.8 The Circular Economy and Sustainable Waste Management The ‘Circular Economy’ concept is part of the EU’s Waste Framework Directive, which sets out to prioritise waste prevention, followed by re-use, recycling, and recovery and finally disposal into landfill. The Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy (DECC, 2020) is Ireland’s new roadmap for waste planning and management. This Plan shifts focus away from waste disposal and instead supports the preservation of resources by creating a circular economy. The Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy (DECC, 2020) sets out a range of national aims and targets and the measures by which these will be achieved, including increased regulation and measures across various waste areas such as the Circular Economy, Municipal Waste, Consumer Protection and Citizen Engagement, Plastics and Packaging, Construction and Demolition, Textiles, Green Public Procurement and Waste Enforcement. European and national policy is implemented at the regional level through the Regional Waste Management Plan (Southern Region of Ireland 2015-2021). The new National Waste Management Plan for a Circular Economy (Government of Ireland, 2022) will replace the Southern Region Waste Management Plan 2015-2021. The National Waste Management Plan for a Circular Economy (Government of Ireland, 2022) will include the new guidance document Waste Management Infrastructure – Guidance for Siting Waste Management Facilities , the scope of which includes broad siting criteria and facility specific guidance for consideration when siting a waste facility. It is a key objective of the Council to support the sustainable management of waste in line with the National Waste Management Plan for a Circular Economy (Government of Ireland, 2022) and associated guidance across the delivery of its services and in the management of new development. 10.9 Planning Policy It is the policy of the Council to: 10 - 1 Support and facilitate new development that will produce energy from local renewable sources such as hydro, bioenergy, wind, solar, geothermal and landfill gas, including renewable and non-renewable enabling plant, subject to compliance with normal planning and environmental criteria, in co-operation with statutory and other energy providers. The provisions of the Tipperary Renewable Energy Strategy (and any review thereof) as set out in Volume 3, will apply to new development. 10 - 2 Support and facilitate disruptive technologies and innovations, including natural carbon capture systems that will support the generation of energy from local renewable energy sources and support energy storage and carbon capture, subject to compliance with
- TIPPERARY COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022 – 2028 VOLUME 1 159 normal planning and environmental criteria, in co-operation with statutory and other energy providers. 10 - 3 Support and facilitate the development of a sustainable and economically efficient agricultural and food sector and bioeconomy, balanced with the importance of maintaining and protecting the natural services of the environment, including landscape, water quality and biodiversity. 10 - 4 Ensure the sustainable management of waste and the application of the ‘Circular Economy’ concept in line with the provisions of the National Waste Management Plan for a Circular Economy and the Waste Management Infrastructure – Guidance for Siting Waste Management Facilities, (Government of Ireland, 2022) in the development and management of new development. 10 - 5 Support and facilitate the co-location of renewable energy development and technologies to ensure the most efficient use of land identified as suitable for renewable energy generation. 10.10 Planning Objectives It is the objective of the Council to: 10 - A Support the Climate Action Plan (DECC, 2019) as it relates to renewable energy production, having consideration to the strategic importance and potential benefits of renewable energy investment to rural communities. 10 - B Support the National Policy Statement on the Bioeconomy (Government of Ireland, 2018) and any review thereof, having consideration to the strategic importance of the bioeconomy to rural Tipperary and support the preparation of a Bioenergy Implementation Plan for the Southern Region in conjunction with the Local Authorities and the Southern Regional Waste Management office. 10 - C To continue to support renewable energy development and to maintain a positive framework for development through the review of the Renewable Energy Strategy over the lifetime of the Plan. 10 - D Support the emerging bioeconomy sector, including continued support for the National Bioeconomy Campus at Lisheen, Co. Tipperary. 10 - E Support the diversification of the agriculture sector as part of decarbonisation, and its role in energy production, including anaerobic digestion and green gas production. 10 - F (a) Work in partnership with stakeholders and landowners to develop a multifaceted plan to support the development of the Mid-Tipperary DZ at Lisheen having regard to normal planning and environmental criteria. (b) As opportunities arise, to identify additional DZs in Tipperary in line with national and regional guidance.
- TIPPERARY COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022 – 2028 VOLUME 1 160 10 - G Support the development of a ‘Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Energy’ in Nenagh, thereby harnessing economic specialism in the sector. 10 - H Support the development of a proposed Hydroelectric Power station at Silvermines as identified in the European Network of Transmission Systems Operators for Electricity plan for 2018 to 2028, subject to compliance with normal planning and environmental criteria, in co-operation with statutory and other energy providers. 10 - I Support, in collaboration with stakeholders such as the Tipperary Energy Agency and SEAI, Small and Medium Enterprises in Tipperary in developing a culture of sustainability and in addressing climate change, through training programmes and support networks.
- TIPPERARY COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022 – 2028 VOLUME 1 161 11.0 Environment and Natural Assets 11.1 Introduction The NPF and the RSES aim to protect and value our important and vulnerable habitats, landscapes, natural heritage and green spaces. They highlight the importance of the interrelationships between biodiversity, natural heritage, landscape and our green spaces. The NPF states that integrated planning for green infrastructure, and the natural services that our environment provides is to be incorporated into the preparation of statutory land use plans. It also refers to the importance of biodiversity, and how the planning system can respond to challenges such as climate change, and ensure that development has regard to the requirements of relevant environmental legislation. The Tipperary Heritage Plan 2017 – 2021 (Tipperary County Council, 2017) seeks to support heritage in all its forms. In accordance with the Heritage Act of 1995, heritage is defined as monuments, archaeological objects, heritage objects, architectural heritage, flora, fauna, wildlife habitats, landscapes, seascapes, wrecks, geology, heritage gardens and parks and inland waterways. This Plan, through its supporting Environmental Reports (SEA Environmental Report, Natura Impact Statement and Strategic Flood Risk Assessment) as set out in Volume 5, focuses on the way that the natural environment works as a system. Environmental protection is a core objective, and the Council will seek, at all times, to integrate sustainable economic and social development with the protection and enhancement of our natural environment, and the natural services on which we depend. 11.2 Biodiversity Biodiversity is the variety of plant and animal life in an area, and how it interacts within habitats and ecosystems. The protection of biodiversity is a cross-sectoral matter, and the Council will support stakeholders and sectors in achieving the objectives of the National Biodiversity Plan, ‘2017-2021’, (DCHG 2017) as follows: 1. To mainstream biodiversity into decision-making across all sectors, Tipperary has a rich and diverse natural environment and landscape, with mountain ranges, uplands and valleys, forestry, rivers, lakes, and peatlands. These living and non-living natural assets benefit our society and economy, with outcomes including food, fibre and fuel provision, and cultural services such as recreation and appreciation of nature. Other services are not so well known, however, are of great importance to our well-being. These services include, for example, the regulation of our climate, the purification of air and water, flood protection, soil formation, pollination and nutrient cycling.
Source Tipperary County Council: Tipperary County Development Plan 2022–2028 (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.