Development plan · Waterford City and County Council
Waterford City and County Development Plan 2022–2028 — Chapter 3
One part of the council's development plan written statement, which the council publishes in parts. Variations adopted since are not in this text.
Waterford City and County Council · 2022–2028 · 46 pages
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- WATERFORD CITY & COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022 – 202869 3.3.8 MASP Rural Area A substantial proportion of the City Area, approximately 40%, retains its rural character. This rural or urban fringe area wraps around the built-up area and provides an outer boundary to the development of the City. The area is subject to development pressures arising from the expansion of the City. The development strategy of enhancing the compactness of the city and of providing a clear demarcation between the built up and rural areas are designed to: • Protect the special character and landscape setting of the City, • Provide for the orderly development and growth of the built footprint of the City and prevent urban sprawl and ribbon development. • Safeguard the countryside from encroachment by urban generated development, • Assist in compact growth and urban regeneration by encouraging the renewal of obsolete areas within the existing built-up area. The rural area of the City is predominantly in agricultural use. This area is subject to development pressures including demand for urban generated housing and industrial/commercial development. These pressures, combined with location on the urban fringe, can make the continuation of sustainable agriculture difficult. This area of the city will be subject to the relevant policy objectives set out in the Development Plan relating to the relevant land use zoning pertaining to the area. In addition, the rural area provides opportunities for both passive and active recreation for the citizens and this usage, where compatible with sustainable agricultural practices, will be encouraged. 3.3.9 City Centre While the neighbourhoods set out above will facilitate population increase and sustainable growth over the lifetime of the Development Plan, we consider that the city centre and inner urban areas will play a significant role in the development of the Waterford MASP area as they give expression to Waterford’s identity as a modern, dynamic, innovative European city and to its future status as a Learning City, a Smart City, and a University City. The spatial expression of the City Centre consists of a number of distinct quarters or nodes, each presenting opportunities for change while an integrated approach to develop the node locations and link them together will contribute significantly to the change dynamic. Over time other nodes will be identified as the City Centre becomes more diverse and vibrant with more people living in or close to the City. The principle nodes can be summarised as: • The Retail Node around City Square, George Street and developing into the Apple MarketArea. • The Tourism and Heritage Node around the Viking Triangle and The Mall. • The Evening and Night-time Node around John Street and Apple Market. • The Cultural Node around O’Connell Street and Garter Lane – The Waterford Cultural Quarter. • The North Quays Node comprising the mixed-use development of the SDZ area – the North Quays Innovation District; and, • The Court House and Environs – Lifting the Quality of the urban environment for a wider urban area extending out from the City Centre. Actions to influence the change dynamic and deliver the potential of these nodes includes, active land management and regeneration of underutilised lands and buildings above ground floor, actions to support the mixed use function of the city centre (including inter alia retail, residential & community,
- WATERFORD CITY & COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022 – 202870 cultural, entertainment, employment & education), enhanced public realm (particularly the South Quays), enhanced amenity spaces and enhanced mobility along with delivery of key infrastructure. The policy objectives of this Development Plan will support these actions in terms of public and private capital investment and the appropriate management of development. The city centre has experienced significant public capital investment in recent years i.e. the Viking Triangle, Applemarket and public realm, building regeneration, flood relief works on South Quays and along John’s River; however notwithstanding these recent achievements the redevelopment of the South Quays has not progressed and has heretofore remained unzoned despite its capacity to deliver transformational change in the heart of the historic city centre in terms of significant amenity spaces to assist in the delivery of the Cultural Quarter, acting as a terminus for the Waterford and New Ross Greenways and other sustainable transport and biodiversity corridors in addition to dispersed opportunities for commercial uses to complement the mixed use function of the city centre and utilising opportunities presented by heritage and other assets located along the South Quays . The Development Plan has zoned this area for Regeneration purposes while the more detailed spatial configuration for the entire area will require further consideration by way of an urban design framework to address the following: • Site appraisal including the historic context i.e. ACA’s RPS. • Mobility links, both internal and external including that from the Waterford Greenway, riverside walkways / cycleways and connections across the South Quays carriageway. • Significant public realm and public amenity areas as part of the broader wide-open space and amenity strategy proposed in policy objective W City 20. • The sustainable transport bridge link to the North Quays and Ferrybank neighbourhood. • Pockets of new commercial development. • Traffic demand management and displacement of car parking; and, • River leisure uses which promote and support diverse uses along the riverside and within the river including public baths and a maritime museum where feasible. • A review of traffic management along the R680. Given the outstanding location, the existing and potential quality of the physical environment and the existing infrastructure in the area it is therefore an objective of the Development Plan to complete an urban design framework for the South Quays area during the lifetime of the Plan. In the interim it will be possible
- WATERFORD CITY & COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022 – 202871 to progress the implementation of the final section of the Waterford Greenway, the new sustainable transport bridge and other planned public amenities and public realm improvements prior to finalising any design framework which can then incorporate these important elements. 3.4 Vitality and Viability Vitality and Viability concepts are central to sustaining and enhancing the city centre and supporting the implementation of the town centre first concept, compact growth and placemaking. Vitality is a measure of how active and buoyant an urban centre is while viability is concerned with the commercial well-being of the centre. They both are dependent upon many factors, including its community, the range and quality of activities in a centre and its mix of uses, its accessibility and ease of mobility, and its amenity, appearance, maintenance and safety. The overall strategy of maintaining and enhancing the role of the City Centre will be pursued by maintaining and developing policies to help existing uses, through regenerating the historic centre; through encouraging conservation and urban renewal activities; through managing and controlling traffic; and by co-ordination and collaboration between public and private actors and investment. Many of the policies set out elsewhere in the Development Plan relating to these strategies can be applied across all urban centres throughout Waterford County and the neighbourhoods outside the city centre i.e. the retail strategy, mobility, placemaking etc. The policies set out in this section hereunder should be considered in the context of the city centre in the first instance but can be applied elsewhere as appropriate.
- WATERFORD CITY & COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022 – 202872 Vibrancy & Vitality: Entertainment, Evening/ Night-Time Uses Policy Objectives W City 10 We will have regard to the following when considering development proposals for evening and night-time uses: • Avoidance of an undue proliferation of fast-food take-away outlets, pubs, nightclubs, casinos/ gaming arcades, betting offices and similar uses in any particular area. • Avoidance of the development of taxi/hackney offices and ranks where they are likely to cause traffic congestion or traffic hazard. • Proposals for new night-time uses such as fast-food take-away outlets, pubs, nightclubs, casinos/gaming arcades, betting offices and restaurants or the enlargement of such uses existing the following material issues apply: • The effect of the proposed development on the amenities of the area, including residential amenity. • The effect of the proposed development on the existing mix of land uses and activities including the retail function, in the particular locality. • The size, scale and location of existing similar type and mix of uses in the vicinity. 3.4.1 Entertainment and Evening/ Night-Time Uses The development of the evening and night-time economy is an important part of any city/town and it is essential to ensure that vitality and viability of the City/Town Centre is retained after hours. In this regard we will seek the integration of retail, leisure, restaurants and bars in development proposals and apply a series of policy objectives to ensure that the City/Town centre retains a high level of amenity for both residents and visitors and a welcoming and safe character during evening and night time periods. Waterford City and County Council will also require proposals for casinos and gaming arcades to be subject to the relevant legislative provision of the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956 as amended and regulate the development of such land uses accordingly. Vibrancy & Vitality: Land Use Mix Policy Objectives W City 09 In the interest of vitality and viability of the city centre and the delivery of a vibrant diverse community and mix of uses across the city centre we will: • Manage the spread of uses that could lead to a reduction in the attractiveness of, and the retailing function of the principal shopping streets. • Promote and support the provision of retail, service and employment uses across the city centre in order to enhance its commercial resilience and vitality and the experience of visitors and residents alike while managing the extent of retail and commercial developments, of a type and scale which are more appropriate to the City Centre, outside the central area; • Promote and enhance the evening economy in the City Centre with a view to enhancing the function of the broader City Centre area in this regard. • To adhere to the principle of the primacy of the City Centre as set out in the Retail Planning: Guidelines for Planning Authorities 2012 (DOECLG) and the Waterford City and County Retail Strategy; and, • Facilitate where appropriate “meanwhile uses” and temporary uses of vacant or underutilised properties/opportunity sites where such uses are consistent with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.
- WATERFORD CITY & COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022 – 202873 3.4.2 Public Realm The revitalisation of the City Centre is very much dependent upon the creation of new retail, cultural, amenity and other attractions with associated environmental improvements to the public realm. The identified opportunity sites within the City Centre present opportunities for additional new retail led mixed use developments which in turn will sustain the vibrancy and vitality of the City Centre. Accordingly, through our active land management role, we will pursue and promote the redevelopment of these sites during the period of the Development Plan period. As some of the identified opportunity sites are more peripheral to the centre investment in environment improvement along the principal intervening area and other enabling infrastructure will be required to ensure that commercial synergy between these areas and the centre is enhanced. Vibrancy & Vitality: Entertainment, Evening/ Night-Time Uses Policy Objectives W City 11 We will support proposals for development involving evening and late-night commercial, retail, cultural, food and beverage or entertainment uses within, or immediately adjacent to, the defined city/town centres or local service centre, where it can be demonstrated that the development will enhance the character and function of the area and will not have a detrimental impact on the existing amenities of the area (including residential); this may include but is not limited to; extended opening hours, proposals for outdoor dining and event spaces, and proposals for the greater utilisation and public access to existing heritage assets. Vibrancy & Vitality: Public Realm Policy Objectives W City 12 To improve the experience of visitors and residents in the City Centre and continue the enhancement of a high-quality city centre which invites, encourages and supports sustainable movement we will: • Facilitate the development of an accessible city centre, with particular reference to persons with disabilities, pedestrians and cyclists and improve the availability of public transport, and short-term parking, within easy reach of the central area. • Continue to implement transformational enhancement across the public realm, in particular along the South Quays, Spring Garden, Jenkins Lane and the Cultural Quarter and in the delivery of a network of quality amenity/biodiversity spaces where opportunities arise. • Engage in active land management in collaboration with the LDA and landowners in order to deliver transformational change on opportunity and other redevelopment sites identified in the Development Plan and on our vacant sites register; and, • With a view to securing higher order retail uses on the main shopping streets/core shopping area and of improving the visual appearance and quality of the City Centre we will consider the preparation of a Special Planning Control Scheme for the area during the lifespan of the Development Plan.
- WATERFORD CITY & COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022 – 202874 3.4.3 City Centre Residential Neighbourhood Providing opportunity and scope for new residents to move into the City Centre will require the continued improvement to the amenity and character of the area and we are committed to continued investment in this regard. It is recognised however that there can be significant challenges to redeveloping older properties to a modern standard of living with particular reference to achieving stringent building standard and economic barriers. There is scope however to identify innovative solutions to overcome some of these challenges. We will collaborate with key stakeholders such as SETU, the LDA and property owners in this regard over the lifetime of the Development Plan and seek capital investment through the URDF and other funding streams to improve the resilience of our building stock. We will also promote inner city living in our role as a housing authority where feasible as we did successfully at Chairman’s Arch and in any mixed-use development proposals in a manner consistent with the Housing Strategy. Vibrancy & Vitality: Residential Neighbourhood Policy Objectives W City 13 In order to provide opportunities for the growth of a sustainable City Centre neighbourhood we will apply the following when assessing proposals for development: • In order to maintain existing residential communities and attract new residents to the City Centre permission we will discourage the conversion of residential properties to nonresidential use. However, on the main entry routes to the City Centre, consideration may be given to the conversion to commercial use of the ground floor of large residential properties where the residential use can be retained. • A separate access to the above ground floor accommodation will be required where upgrade works are proposed to ground floor retail/commercial uses. • The retention of residential accommodation on the upper floors of city centre properties will be encouraged. • An innovative application of residential standards in line with Ministerial Guidelines. In terms of securing sustainable City Centre living spaces across the building stock we will be favourably disposed to the amalgamation of existing substandard sized residential units with a view to providing better living space. • New infill development across the core shopping area and its peripheral streets should be designed to facilitate flexibility in terms of multiple uses over time, for example higher floor to ceiling heights to enable easy conversion between retail/commercial/residential use if the demand so necessitates. The feasibility of developing alternatives such as live work units and professional services/own door offices in such infill schemes will also be investigated. • The retail function of the City Centre’s core shopping area will be protected and we will discourage non-retail uses on the ground floors of properties fronting these streets. However, in order to facilitate a more resilient City Centre, proposals for other commercial uses will be considered on their own merits with a view to ensuring vibrancy and vitality. Furthermore, the use of an entire building for residential purposes will be considered in terms of the extent of vacancy on the relevant street and the intended tenure and mix of residential units proposed to be developed. There will be a preference for owner occupation in order to enhance the resilience of the City Centre community; and, • Proposals for commercial development which encroach on established residential areas in the centre will be considered in terms of the nature of the use, its hours of operation and the material impact on residential amenity relevant to the location.
- WATERFORD CITY & COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022 – 202875 3.5 Strategic Employment Locations Waterford’s location on the south coast accessible via our ports and airports to Dublin, continental Europe and Britain underlines the importance of Waterford as a Regional City of scale. The potential for further sustainable and resilient growth will be underpinned by expansion of a range of services and facilities to support growth in the enterprise dynamic and build critical mass into the economy. The City and its Metropolitan Area are already home to a diverse economic base including: • Life Sciences: BioPharma, Pharmaceuticals, Medical Device, Biotechnology, and Nutraceuticals. • ICT: Ecommerce, VR, Cloud, IoT, Retail Tech, Device Management, AI, Data Intelligence, and Mobile Development. • Engineering: Advanced Manufacturing, Engineering, Equipment Manufacturing, and Construction. • Financial Services: Global business, Financial Services, Fintech, Regtech, Insurtech, and Global Payments. • Agri: Agri Food and Drink, Agri-Tech, Bioeconomy, and Ingredients manufacturing. • Creative: Design, Craft Industry, and TV & Film Production; and, • Tourism: Viking Triangle, Waterford Greenway, Waterford Cultural Quarter, Heritage and Natural Capital, Mt. Congreve.
- WATERFORD CITY & COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022 – 202876 In addition to our commitment to enhance the opportunities for employment across the City and County as set out in Chapter 4 Economy, Education and Retail, the function of Waterford as a Regional City of Scale will be dependent on the creation of the critical mass of an additional 9,130 jobs to 2026 and a further 4,565 jobs to 2031, based on a jobs to workers ration of 1.6:1 as envisaged in the NPF and RSES. To assist in this regard and to build capacity for expansion across our diverse economic base the following strategic employment locations have been identified: • Waterford City Centre including Viking Triangle. • North Quays Innovation District. • Port of Waterford – Belview. • The Belview Port Industrial area & IDA Lands - located approximately 5km downstream of Waterford City in the River Suir estuary. The Port at Belview is a strategic national, regional and county asset with good road and rail links. The role and status of the port nationally and regionally and its industrial land capacity should be strengthened to support and promote a balanced multi-modal freight transport policy that safeguards the importance of rail transport as a means of access to the Port. • Waterford Airport and Business Park plays a critical role in the development of Waterford and the South East, in terms of accessibility, supporting economic development and tourism. Reflecting this, lands have been zoned at this location to facilitate the development and expansion of the Airport as ‘Airport Area’. • The Research and Innovation Centre at SETU’s Carriganore Campus. • IDA Business and Technology Park on the outskirts of Waterford city. It will be appropriate in the context of the MASP to explore potential synergies between the SETU ArcLabs Carriganore campus and the IDA Business and Technology Park adjacent to it with the view to creating an extended Knowledge Campus in support of innovation-centred industry; • An expanded strategic land bank at Knockhouse adjacent to the N25 and accessed from the R710 outer ring road/Cumann na mBan road at SETU Arena. • Former Waterford Crystal Site on the Cork Road; and, • Waterford Cultural Quarter centred on O’Connell Street. In addition to promoting and facilitating the commercial development of these strategic employment locations by way of infrastructure provision, placemaking and supporting community and amenity infrastructure to attract and support our communities and neighbourhoods, we are also aware of the need to support the continued development and expansion of the SETU, University Hospital Waterford, the Port of Waterford and Waterford Airport as key pieces of infrastructure for the region in their own right in addition to key drivers for employment and our economy. It is important also to recognise, foster and support new growth and the underlying ecology and culture of our economy through business supports and our collaborative effort. Initiatives such as the Smart City and the UNESCO Learning City provide additional opportunities to innovate collectively as a City in how we connect to do business, how we learn and how we grow to be a more diverse and resilient economy.
- WATERFORD CITY & COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022 – 202877 Strategic Employment Locations Policy Objectives W City 14 In a manner consistent with Section 8 of the Waterford MASP (RSES), we will support and facilitate the continued economic expansion of our economy at the key strategic employment locations identified in the Development Plan subject to compliance with the principles of proper planning and sustainable development and the policy objectives and development management standards of the Development Plan. W City 15 Through our Local Enterprise Office we will collaborate with other agencies such as Enterprise Ireland, South East Business Innovation Centre, SETU, Waterford Chamber, the South East Regional Skills Forum, individual enterprises and other key stakeholders to develop our knowledge base and build our critical mass of innovative and resilient enterprises. W City 16 We will continue to seek funding through URDF and other sources to enhance the physical quality of our city centre, deliver transformational regeneration projects and innovative solutions to sustainable urban placemaking, and thereby enhance the attractiveness of Waterford City as a place in which to visit, invest and live. W City 17 We will promote and support a diverse range of symbiotic land uses across the City and the City Centre in particular. We will facilitate the expansion of existing and establishment of new economic uses and clusters where appropriate in the interest of growing the City Centre as a dynamic and commercially resilient urban space and neighbourhood. W City 18 We will build on existing higher education infrastructure and establishment of SETU, seek to enhance third-level provision in the City, and expand and integrate education provision more broadly in support of the designation of the city as the Regional Capital, a University City and Learning City.
- WATERFORD CITY & COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022 – 202878 3.6 Waterford City Retail Strategy The City Centre needs to assert itself as the retail, commercial and cultural capital of the South East Region. The City’s retail representation has remained static for a number of years now, so much so that other centres in the region are currently challenging for retail primacy within the South East. The redevelopment of key sites within the City Centre, such as the North Quays and Michael’s Street, is of paramount importance in order for the City to strengthen its role and function and compete as a highlevel retail destination. In this regard, the City Centre must be targeted and be the focus for higher order comparison retailing as well as developing as a living city. Retail Planning Guidelines for Planning Authorities – 2012 The Retail Planning Guidelines identify five key policy objectives to be progressed by Planning Authorities in planning for and addressing the development requirements of the retail sector, these are outlined below: 1. Ensure retail development is plan-led. 2. Promote city centre vitality through the sequential approach to development. 3. Enable good quality development in appropriate locations so ensuring competitiveness. 4. Facilitate a modal shift in retail access to non-private vehicle modes and, 5. Delivering quality urban design outcomes.
Source Waterford City and County Council: Waterford City and County Development Plan 2022–2028 — Chapter 3 (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.