Waterford City and County Development Plan 2022–2028 — Chapter 3

1. Page 41

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   WATERFORD CITY & COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022 – 202889 The Development Plan has identified a number of these assets and has utilised land use zoning objectives to enhance interconnectivity in the interest of developing a network of amenity spaces easily accessible by way of sustainable modes. This will set the foundation for the preparation of the Metropolitan Wide-Open Space and Greenbelt Strategy referred to in policy objective W City 20 below. This concept is graphically represented in Figure 3.7 and the proposed land use zoning map for the city. Figure 3.8 Wide Open Space, Recreation and Greenbelt Strategy Concept Map Figure 3.9 Green Infrastructure Map, Waterford City

2. Page 42

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   WATERFORD CITY & COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022 – 202890 Taking the initial steps towards developing this Strategy, the Development Plan has identified extensive lands for amenity use. These include inter alia along the Waterford Greenway linking Mt. Congreve to Bilberry with potential for significant biodiversity gain, along the R710 Cumann na mBan linking Waterford Greenway at Carriganore to the Kings Channel area and all intervening amenity areas (including future Greenway to Tramore), enhanced access to Kilbarry Nature Park from Kilbarry, an extension of Waterford Nature Park to border the emerging City South West neighbourhood at Kilbarry and Ballybeg, areas located along the riverside walkway linking Blenheim to the city centre and linking Rice Bridge to our administrative boundary with Kilkenny at Abbeylands, lands along the upper portion of Bilberry overlooking the river, pocket parks along Carrickphierish Road, the South Quays, grounds of St. Otteran’s and St. Johns. In addition, green and blue infrastructure or Nature Based Solutions have considerable potential to play a role in the sustainable development of the City and it is important to consider that the better integration of biodiversity into economic and development decisions will ensure enhanced outcomes from projects and will mitigate against unforeseen negative consequences of climate change. In support of MASP Policy Objective 21, we will prepare a Metropolitan Wide-Open Space and Greenbelt Strategy during the initial lifetime of the Development Plan. This will involve collaboration within departments within Waterford City & County Council and collaboration with key stakeholders such as Irish Water, NPWS, OPW, SRA, SETU, Wexford Co. Co. and Kilkenny Co. Co. and the integration of a number of key elements already mentioned above while also considering the future economic and recreational function of Waterford Harbour and the River Suir through the preparation of a Strategic Integrated Framework Plan for the Harbour, having due regard to our obligations in terms of the Habitats and Water Framework Directives. 3.9 Waterford City Decarbonising Zone While the Development Plan has set out a number of climate change policy objectives which incorporate our Climate Adaptation Strategy and policy objectives to guide Waterford towards a more climate resilient low carbon city and county, our obligations under the National Climate Action Plan has identified a number of specific actions to be undertaken to assist in our just transition. In particular Action 165 specifically requires identification of one location or area in each local authority that would be subject to a plan for a Decarbonising Zone (DZ). These are defined as spatial area in which a range of climate mitigation, adaptation and biodiversity measures and action owners are identified to address local low carbon energy, greenhouse gas emissions and climate needs to contribute to national climate action targets. Citywide Amenity/ Recreation and Blue Green Infrastructure Strategy Policy Objective W City 20 In support of MASP Policy Objective 21 and delivery a more climate resilient and sustainable city and metropolitan area for the county and region, we will prepare a Metropolitan Wide-Open Space and Greenbelt Strategy during the initial lifetime of the Development Plan in collaboration with key stakeholders such as Irish Water, NPWS, OPW, SRA, SETU, Wexford Co. Co. and Kilkenny Co. Co. This will include a Blue Green Infrastructure Strategy for the City. This will also identify a location for a Regional Scale Park within the Waterford Metropolitan Area as well as the development of neighbourhood parks and open spaces’ in a manner consistent with Waterford MASP Policy Objective (PO) 21 (c) as identified in the RSES.

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   WATERFORD CITY & COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022 – 202891 Plans for the identified DZ should also consider the economic and social benefits of decarbonising including just transition and health. The principal projects and actions required to deliver the Decarbonising Zone include: • Electricity sourcing. • Heat management. • Reducing needs for travel and shifting travel modes towards active and public transport. • Enhanced building energy efficiency. • Carbon sequestration; and • Energy storage and management systems. In addition the associated benefits aligned to the above relate to benefits of improved air quality, health, biodiversity, embodied carbon, agricultural practices, sustainable land management, lower noise levels, waste, water, circular economy etc., and should integrate with smart data and ‘smart cities’ initiatives (as relevant). The Development Plan has prepared the way for the DZ in terms of its core strategy and policies relating to renewable energy, climate change, active travel, placemaking, amenity/open space and Blue Green Infrastructure. It is envisaged that lessons learned in the DZ can be applied universally across our administrative area and beyond. Waterford City, in its role as the Regional Capital and regional driver of employment and population growth is ideally placed to play a significant role in decoupling our economic growth from that of our carbon emissions. Waterford City and County Council will commit to meeting an average 7% per annum reduction in overall CO2 emissions from 2021 to 2030 (a 51% reduction over the decade) within the DZ. The implementation of this DZ reduction targets by 2030 is the first phase for “Waterford City in achieving carbon neutrality by 2040”. As a first step we will develop a Spatial Energy Demand Analysis (SEDA) under the guidance of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) together with a comprehensive DZ Implementation Plan by the 31stDecember 2021 and set up a dedicated DZ Office to develop and implement the Waterford 2030 Decarbonising Zone Plan and to work towards a Carbon Neutral Waterford by 2040. Waterford Decarbonising Zone Policy Objective W City 21 In order to ensure Waterford City fulfils its role as the Regional Capital and regional driver of change in terms of economic and population growth in a manner that is sustainable in terms of reducing our carbon emissions in line with our international targets, we will collaborate with key stakeholders such as CARO, SEAI, EPA, DECC, SETU, Kilkenny Co. Co., the SRA, NTA and other business operators and representative groups such as Waterford Chamber to fully devise and implement actions to achieve the Waterford City Decarbonising Zone. We will support and facilitate projects which contribute towards achieving the carbon emission reduction targets.

4. Page 44

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   WATERFORD CITY & COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022 – 202892 3.10 Waterford City and MASP Policy Objectives Waterford City and MASP Policy Objectives W City 22 MASP Implementation Plan for, and deliver, the concentric city envisaged in the Waterford PLUTS and Waterford City MASP, as a leading member of the MASP implementation body, in collaboration with the Southern Regional Assembly, Kilkenny County Council, and other principle stakeholders with regard to governance and implementation, service and infrastructure delivery. W City 23 New Sustainable Neighbourhoods We will promote and support consolidation of Waterford City in two new neighbourhoods as identified in the RSES i.e. City South West Neighbourhood (University/ Ballybeg/ Kilbarry/ Lacken), and City North West Neighbourhood (Carrickphierish/ Gracedieu), in a manner that implements the place making strategy and housing strategy of the Development Plan, and supports the role of Waterford City as an international location of scale, and a primary driver of economic and population growth in the Southern Region. W City 24 The Regional Capital Utilise the opportunities and strengths of Waterford City and its key growth enablers, in order to secure a city of scale to drive broader regional economic growth, and to further develop a vital and vibrant city core which facilitates an appropriate mix of commercial, heritage, cultural, riverside, and residential uses. W City 25 Transformational Change We will implement the Development Plan strategies and policy objectives over the period to 2028 to deliver transformational change across Waterford City consistent with the NPF, SRES and MASP. To this end we will seek associated investment through the National Development Plan, the Urban Regeneration Development Fund and other available funding mechanisms.

5. Page 45

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   WATERFORD CITY & COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022 – 202893 Waterford City and MASP Policy Objectives W City 26 The Rural MASP Area In the rural area of Waterford MASP we will ensure: 1. The protection of the integrity, special character and landscape of the rural parts of the MASP and City, by ensuring that the growth of the City takes place in an orderly fashion, which is economic and sustainable in relation to land use and the provision of public infrastructure. 2. The maintenance of a clear demarcation between the rural and built up areas and to prevent urban sprawl. 3. The promotion of the use of the rural areas of the City for sustainable agriculture; and, 4. The preservation and promotion of the use of existing public rights of way in the rural area of the City. W City 27 Critical Transport and Mobility Infrastructure We will ensure that the growth of the city takes place in an infrastructure led manner that is Transport-Orientated and sustainable in terms of integrated land use and transportation planning, and which reduces congestion, air pollution and enhances the quality of the urban environment. To inform our future decision making in this regard we will review PLUTS during the lifetime of the Development Plan on the completion of WMATS and its associated demand management study. This process will identify a number of new objectives; however, in the interim a number of objectives include inter alia: • Further improvement to the carriageway on sections of the Old Kilmeaden Road between IDA Industrial Estate and Sanofi. • Significant traffic calming on the Carrickphierish Road and on the Cork Road at SETU and Kingsmeadow. • Improvement to Bilberry Road following completion of the Waterford Greenway while facilitating space to link Waterford Suir Valley Railway into the city centre over the long term. • Enhanced link from Cumann na mBan Road at SETU Arena to Industrial Zoned Lands east of the roundabout. • Improvement along Quarry Road. • Carry out traffic study of movement on Dunmore Road and Williamstown Road and devise actions relating to carriageway layout and priority movement. • Implement innovative solutions to enhance the safety of school streets and general street layout across the city and in particular those in the vicinity of Peoples Park/Newtown and the city centre. • Prioritise critical junctions for active and sustainable transport modes. • Deliver alternative and segregated active travel routes across the city and in particular along the banks of the Suir east and west of Rice Bridge, links to and between key trip generators such as educational, employment and health facilities which utilise existing amenity spaces where feasible and wider links to areas outside the MASP area such as Tramore; • Facilitate and support the implementation of enhanced road access to Belview Port in collaboration with Kilkenny County Council in a manner consistent with the provisions of Section 5.2.2. of the Ferrybank Belview Local Area Plan 2017. • Development of an integrated bus/rail transport hub on the North Quays/ within the City Centre. In addition, we support the development of transformational infrastructure such as an additional city centre river crossing, a down-stream river crossing and an outer orbital route which will enable the concentric city to develop and the city centre to be fully reconfigured to cater for the needs of its visitors, residents and business community. Indicative locations and routes for these infrastructural elements will be finalised during the life of the Development Plan. Proposals for development shall ensure no adverse impacts on the integrity of the River Suir SAC.

6. Page 46

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   WATERFORD CITY & COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022 – 202894 Waterford City and MASP Policy Objectives W City 28 City Neighbourhood Strategy We will continue to implement the Neighbourhood Strategy in order to provide for the development of sustainable, inclusive and diverse neighbourhoods, focused on neighbourhood/ district commercial centres with a mix of uses, densities, community facilities and neighbourhood centre uses. Furthermore, we will implement measures to enhance permeability within and between neighbourhoods to deliver the 10-minute neighbourhood concept through active travel modes. W City 29 City Suburbs To retain, protect and improve the environmental qualities of the existing suburban areas; to reinforce their neighbourhood/district commercial centres and to provide for additional community youth and public services, amenities and facilities as required. W City 30 South Quays Design Framework During the lifetime of the Development Plan we will prepare a Design Framework for the South Quays. This will be dominated by public amenity and biodiversity spaces building on the imminent Waterford Greenway and Waterford to New Ross Greenway interconnection and be interspersed with commercial uses which respect the built form and historic fabric of the South Quays while interfacing with new development of scale on the North Quays. W City 31 Ferrybank Collaboration While we recognise the independence of statutory planning in the Ferrybank area of South Kilkenny as expressed in the Ferrybank and Belview Local Area Plan 2018, we will collaborate with Kilkenny County Council and other key stakeholders in order to implement priority actions to deliver the shared vision, to achieve a concentric city and the enhancement of all our communities and neighbourhoods.

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