Waterford City and County Development Plan 2022–2028 — Chapter 5

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   WATERFORD CITY & COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022 – 2028156 Airport, Port, Harbours and Piers Policy Objective Trans 27 We will continue to support the development of Waterford Airport and Port of Waterford to create, maintain and strengthen linkages with EU and international markets subject to environmental considerations including no potential for adverse impacts on the Natura 2000 Network. Trans 28 We will safeguard the current and future operational, safety and technical requirements of Waterford Airport and support/ facilitate its ongoing development by avoiding encroachment of inappropriate development in the vicinity which may interfere with the safe operation of the Airport. Trans 29 We will support improved berthing facilities for cruise ships which will help Waterford and the South East facilitate additional tourist development, subject to environmental considerations including no potential for adverse impacts on the Natura 2000 Network. Trans 30 We will facilitate the continued operation of the Passage East Car Ferry which provides a vital link between Passage East and Ballyhack Co. Wexford. Trans 31 We will continue to improve access to, and support the sustainable development of, all piers and harbours within the County, for both commercial and recreational purposes. We will develop a strategy for the future of our inland and costal ports and piers during the lifetime of this plan.

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   WATERFORD CITY & COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022 – 2028157 5.8 Road and Street Network Continued investment in the county’s road and street network is necessary to ensure the sustainable efficient and safe movement of people and goods within the county, to provide access to developing areas and to support economic activity. School Streets School Streets will help to reduce the danger to children created by the significant amount of traffic generated during the morning and afternoon drop off and pick up times. School Streets primary aim is to reduce local traffic congestion and emissions and improve air quality in the vicinity of schools by encouraging students, parents and staff to walk from/to home, walking buses and park and stride locations. Road and Street Network Policy Objective Trans 32 In conjunction and co-operation with other transport bodies and authorities such as the TII and the NTA, we will improve the City and County road network – including improved pedestrian and cycle facilities, subject to the outcome of environmental assessment (SEA, EIA and AA), flood risk assessment and the planning process. Trans 33 We will ensure that the planning, design and implementation of all road/street networks across the city and county accord with the principles set out in the Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets (2020), the National Cycle Manual (2010) and other relevant standards where appropriate, or any future update thereof. Trans 34 We will protect national, regional, local roads and urban streets free from adverse development that may compromise the development of route options or the construction of preferred routes or add to the overall costs associated with new road schemes. Trans 35 We will preserve free from development proposed road/street realignment/improvement lines and associated corridors as identified during the life of the Development Plan where such development would prejudice the implementation of Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) or Local Authority road schemes.

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   WATERFORD CITY & COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022 – 2028158 Road and Street Network Policy Objective Trans 36 Ensure that traffic noise levels are considered as part of new developments along major roads/rail lines in accordance with best practice guidelines. Trans 37 We will prioritise road and traffic safety measures on all roads/streets across the City and County. In particular we will support and facilitate ‘School Streets’ in the vicinity and on the approaches to school premises based on the Fingal School Streets Pilot Project (2019). Trans 38 We will implement traffic calming measures on roads/streets in appropriate location in urban areas across the County, to reduce the speed of traffic in the interest of public safety, traffic safety and residential amenity. We will ensure that all streets and street networks within urban areas are designed to passively calm traffic through the creation of a self-regulating street environment. Proposals for new development should provide for appropriate traffic calming measures. 5.9 Motorway and National Roads The motorway and national road network primarily serve long and middle-distance traffic originating in or passing through the county. These routes have an important role to play in the economic development of the county. NPF NSO 2 seeks better accessibility between the four cities and for their unrealised potential to be activated. This will be achieved by maintaining the strategic capacity and safety of the national roads network including planning for future capacity enhancements. The RSES highlights the upgrade and improved average journey times on the N24, N25, N29 and the N72 as a Key Infrastructural Requirements. Due regard will be made to the Spatial Planning and National Roads Guidelines for Planning Authorities 2012, relating to development affecting National Primary and Secondary roads, including motorways and associated junctions. National roads are defined as arterial routes within Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets (2020) for urban areas. There is one Motorway, one National Route and one National Secondary Route in County Waterford. • M9 (Extending from Waterford City to M7 Naas/Newbridge). • N25 (Extending from Rosslare Euro Port to Cork City/Dunkettle Interchange via Waterford City and Dungarvan); and • N72 – National Secondary Route (Extending from Dungarvan to Killarney). N25 Long-Term Consideration The N25 is a busy national road which links Cork to Rosslare Euro Port via Waterford City. The current national infrastructure is to link up the main cities via the central spine of the M7 and M8. The strategic national legacy route along the southern seaboard; the N25 will still attract a significant volume of traffic and as can be seen from the traffic figures in the N25 Carroll’s Cross Feasibility Report (2020)4. The Council will support the upgrade of this National Route as set out in the RSES RPO 24b, RPO 30. However, in the intervening period the primary safety hazards that will develop into the future along these routes is likely to be the right-hand turning movements at junctions and overtaking manoeuvres along the route. As volumes increase gaps in the traffic decrease and lead to unsafe turning movements. 4 https://waterfordcouncil.ie/media/meetings/2021/comeragh/february/5.%20%20Report%20to%20Comeragh%20Carrolls%20Cross%20S 38%2017th%20February%202021.pdf

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   WATERFORD CITY & COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022 – 2028159 Motorway and National Roads Policy Objective Trans 39 We will maintain and protect the strategic transport function and capacity of motorways and the national roads and associated junctions in accordance with the Spatial Planning and National Roads Guidelines (2012) and the Trans-European Networks (TEN-T) Regulations. Trans 40 We will support the role of TII with regard to the upgrade of existing National Routes, such as the Dungarvan Bypass (N25) and Dungarvan to Mallow upgrade (N72), and where appropriate restrict development immediately adjacent to national routes and interchange[s] in order to facilitate future enlargement of the Interchange. Trans 41 National Roads: Avoid the creation of any additional access points from new development or the material increase in traffic using existing access points to National Roads, to which a speed limit of greater than 60 kph applies in accordance with the requirements set out in the Spatial Planning and National Road Guidelines, DECLG (2012). Transitional Zones: New access to facilitate orderly urban development on appropriately zoned land on the approach to or exist from towns, villages or settlements that are subject to a speed limit of 60 kph before a lower 50 km limit is encountered may be permitted subject to road safety audit carried out in accordance with the requirements set out in the Spatial Planning and National Road Guidelines, DECLG (2012). Lands adjoining National Roads within 50kmh speed limits: New access to lands adjoining national roads within the 50 kph speed limits may be considered in accordance with normal road safety traffic management and urban design criteria for built up areas. Trans 42 In order to protect the future safety and carrying capacity of the N25 approach road to Dungarvan from Waterford City, new access points for single dwellings will be prohibited within the speed limit zone up to Coolagh Road Roundabout. It is the intention of that strategic access points and road provision will be considered in the Dungarvan Local Area Plan. The Councils preference is that future access points within land banks east and west of the N25 within this area are provided by alternative road provision and not from the N25. Trans 43 The Council will seek to conduct a strategic review of the N25 with a view to identifying locations for upgrading the existing national route to provide grade separated junction and reduce the hazardous right-hand turn movements.

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   WATERFORD CITY & COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022 – 2028160 5.10 Regional and Local Roads/Urban Streets Regional and local roads provide significant links between towns and villages as well as an important social and economic function for local economic activity. Regional roads are defined as Link Roads and Local Roads are defined as local streets in DMURS in urban areas. It is important to take account of the Sustainable Rural Housing Guidelines (2005), or any revision of the guidelines, in relation to the consideration of new housing development proposals affecting Regional Roads as well as to Placemaking Chapter 8 and Placemaking Strategy Appendix 5. In particular the guidelines state the following: • Avoid unnecessary new accesses, where access could be provided off a nearby local road. • Ensure that necessary new entrances are located in such a manner as to provide effective visibility for both users of the entrance and users of the public roads so that opportunities for conflicting movements are avoided, taking account of all relevant considerations such as traffic levels, typical vehicle speeds, plans for realignment. Avoid the premature obsolescence of regional and local roads in particular, through creating excessive levels of individual entrances and increased traffic. In order to safeguard the carrying capacity and safety of regional roads, access for residential development will be restricted onto a regional route including the former where access to a lower category road is available. Regard shall be had to the requirement in the Spatial Planning and National Roads Planning Guidelines 2012, to preserve the carrying capacity of these routes and safeguard their strategic role in providing connections to the National Road Network. There are 15 Strategic Regional Roads in County Waterford linking the main County towns to the national routes and motorways. These are shown in the table below: Table 5.6 Strategic Regional Roads Road No Road Location and Description R675 Waterford to Tramore to Dungarvan R684 Waterford to Dunmore East R683 Waterford to Passage East R680 Waterford to Carrick on Suir (via Portlaw) R708 Waterford to Waterford Airport R672/671 Dungarvan to Clonmel R682 Tramore to Orcharstown Cross R666 Lismore to Kilworth (via Ballyduff Upper) R668 Lismore to Clogheen (The Vee Road) R673 Ardmore R674 An Borthar Rinn R634 Tallow to Youghal R676 Lemybrien to Carrick on Suir R677 Kilmacthomas to Bunmahon R665 Clonmel to Ardfinnan

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   WATERFORD CITY & COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022 – 2028161 Regional and Local Roads/Urban Streets Policy Objective Trans 44 We will maintain and protect the carrying capacity and associated drainage systems of regional and local roads and associated junctions in the interest of road safety in accordance with the Spatial Planning and National Roads Guidelines (2012) or any update thereof. Trans 45 Protect strategic regional roads listed in Table 5.6 against development where a maximum speed limit applies, except in exceptional circumstances, in order to protect the carrying capacity and safety of such roads. On these and other regional roads we will resist the creation of new vehicular accesses where the maximum speed limit applies, except in the following exceptional circumstances: • Developments of a strategic, local, regional or national importance, where there is a significant gain to the county through employment creation or other economic benefit having regard to: the safety, capacity and efficient operation of the regional road; any plans for future upgrades of the road; and the suitability of the location compared to alternative locations. • Where applicants who establish a genuine rural housing need (Chapter 7), are proposing to build a home on their landholding and cannot provide access onto a nearby county (Local) road. In this instance, applicants will be required to maximise the potential of existing entrances. The onus will be on the applicant(s) to demonstrate that there are no other accesses or suitable alternative sites within the overall landholding. • Where it is proposed to replace an existing dwelling with a pre-existing entrance onto a regional road provided that the entrance can achieve the minimum sightline requirements or significantly enhance the safety of road users and does not constitute a hazard. • Agricultural entrances required for farm access where there are no available alternatives from a local road and providing that the entrance can meet the minimum sightlines requirements or significantly enhance the safety of road users and does not constitute a hazard. • Development which utilises existing farmyard/farmhouse access points to regional roads where the safety of all road users can be protected and enhanced and which would not result in a significant traffic hazard. In all circumstances proposed development should not cause drainage issues by allowing additional water onto the public road, or impact on the drainage of the location Trans 46 Using Beta Project5 initiative identify and deliver a network of sustainably connected traffic calmed rural local roads which will act as active transport and ‘green finger’ biodiversity corridors linking our rural economic cluster areas and settlements (as set out in Table 4.1) and enhancing potential for sustainable mobility. Trans 47 Ensure that all new streets in housing and mixed-use schemes are designed, in accordance with the most up-to-date requirements: • Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets (2020). • Sustainable Residential Development in Urban Areas (2009) and accompanying Best Practice Design Manual (2009). • Architecture 2009-2015 Towards a Sustainable Future: Delivering Quality within the Built Environment (2009). • Any new guidance / standards from the DECLG; and • Any other relevant design standards. 5 Beta projects have been used by Dublin City Council to anticipate and meet the ever-changing needs of the city. The Council used Beta Projects Beta is a live mechanism for imagining, testing and implementing ways to improve the experience of life in Dublin. Beta Projects are used to trial issues that the council is seeking to understand before implementation and to give a much better way of listening to citizens. The phrase "in beta" is a phrase used extensively in the digital world to signal that something is imperfect and being released early into the world to enable learning from realworld testing and feedback.

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   WATERFORD CITY & COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022 – 2028162 Regional and Local Roads/Urban Streets Policy Objective Trans 48 Seek to implement the following Road Improvement Schemes: • R671/R672 Regional Road from Dungarvan to Clonmel. • Dunmore Link Road. Trans 49 To investigate reducing speed limits in appropriate urban area to 30km in collaboration with key stakeholders Trans 50 It is an objective to support the following transport priorities across Waterford County and in the Waterford Metropolitan Area subject to their consistency with the recommendations of the WMATS or any future LTPs and or County Transport Plan, the outcome of environmental assessments and the planning process including mitigation under SEA/AA as appropriate: • R710 Waterford city Outer Orbital Route. • R671/R672 Regional Road from Dungarvan to Clonmel. • Dunmore Link Road. • R685 Glen Road from Waterford Road to Quarry Road. • Enhanced link from Cumann na mBan Road at SETU Arena to Industrial Zoned Lands east of the Roundabout. • Quarry Road (L15011), Waterford City – Improvement • R666 Ballyduff Road Junction with the N72 at Ballyrafter 5.11 Corridor and Route Selection Process New roads and other transport infrastructure projects (including greenways, blueways and cycleways) referred to by this Plan that are not already provided for by plans/ programmes other than the City and County Development Plan or are not already permitted, are subject to the undertaking of feasibility assessment, taking into account planning need, environmental sensitivities as identified in the SEA Environmental Report and the objectives of the Plan relating to sustainable mobility. Where feasibility is established, a Corridor and Route Selection Process will be undertaken where appropriate, for relevant new road infrastructure in two stages: Stage 1 – Route Corridor Identification, Evaluation and Selection; and Stage 2 – Route Identification, Evaluation and Selection. 5.12 Mobility Management Plans Mobility management plans (MMPs) are proposals by which developments can manage the mobility needs of their users and work towards reduced car dependency. We will require all applications for significant development proposals, which include the following: • Developments that employ over 100 people. • New schools/educational facilities (or extensions); and • Business parks and industrial estates.

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   WATERFORD CITY & COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022 – 2028163 MMPs include mitigation measures which will take account of the findings of a Traffic & Transport Assessment (TTA). They bring together transportation requirements, employers, staff and site management issues in a coordinated manner. Measures that should be included are listed below: • Integration with public transport. • Promotion of car sharing/pooling. • Parking pricing and control; and • The encouragement of cycling and walking by the provision of cycling and walking routes and secure cycle parking. The NTA document “Achieving Effective Workplace Travel Plans – Guidance for Local Authorities” also provides guidance on proposals to encourage employees to encourage walking, cycling or carpooling to the workplace. 5.13 Smart City Transport The Council will continue to support and invest in Waterford becoming a smart transport city. It is key that intelligent transport systems and efficient, inter-operable multi-modal public transport is prioritised. Mobility Management Plans, Traffic and Transport Assessment (TTA) and Road Safety Audits Trans 51 We will require all applications for significant development proposals in accordance with DM Standard set out in Volume 2 to be accompanied by Mobility Management Plans (MMPs), Traffic and Transport Assessment (TTA) and Road Safety Audits, to be carried out by suitably competent persons, in accordance with the ‘National Transport Authority the preparation of workforce travel plans a guide for implementers’ and TII’s Traffic and Transport Assessment Guidelines.

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   WATERFORD CITY & COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022 – 2028164 Smart City Transport Policy Objective Trans 52 We will collaborate with SETU/Walton Institute for Information and Communication Systems and Science and other parties to devise and implement SMART city/transport initiatives for Waterford City and other urban centres within the functional area of the Council. Trans 53 Support the development of the following: • Intelligent transport systems. • Integrated ticketing. • Smart travel cards. • Waterford bike-share. • Real-time passenger information. • Smart parking; and, • Logistics management and the creation of a Waterford transport app. 5.14 Car Parking Car parking interacts with many planning, transport and development issues and therefore needs to be treated in a strategic manner. Within Waterford city and other urban centres, a balance has to be achieved to meet the needs of residents, commuters, shoppers, business and leisure users, older people, people with disabilities as well as environmental considerations. This balance will be achieved by facilitating necessary sustainable parking in the short term, and the overall objective, of having improved public transport as a viable alternative, and as that becomes available encouraging its use as an alternative to use of private cars. The Development Management Standards set out in Volume 2 of this Plan set out maximum car parking standards. This affords a degree of flexibility and allows developers to submit a car parking analysis of a particular area to demonstrate the supply and demand for car parking spaces. Analysis of car parking is assessed on a case-by-case basis, depending on the nature and location of the development, and its proximity to public transport. The Sustainable Urban Housing: Design Standards for New Apartments Guidelines for Planning Authorities (2018) allow for apartment development that are served by public transport or close to town centres or employment areas and particularly for housing schemes with more than 45 dwellings per hectare net (18 per acre), must consider a reduced overall car parking standard and apply an appropriate maximum car parking standard.

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    WATERFORD CITY & COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022 – 2028165 Electric vehicles (EVs) The National Climate Action Plan (2021) or any update thereof has ambitious targets for the uptake of electric vehicles (EVs), with a target of having 945,000 EVs on the road by 2030, including 845,000 cars, 95,000 light commercial vehicles and 1,500 electric buses (i.e. not diesel only). Electric vehicles (EVs) offer an increasingly realistic solution to the challenge of reducing the transport sector’s GHGs, increasing the use of renewable energy in transport and reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels. It is Council policy to expand the network of public EV charging points, through the use of the public lighting network, where feasible, and at other on-street or public parking locations subject to the availability of funding. Car Parking Policy Objective Trans 54 We will complete a review of Waterford City Car Parking Strategy, which will include Age Friendly and Disabled Parking Spaces, over the lifetime of the Development Plan. The review should take account of the recommendations of the WMATS. Trans 55 We will manage car parking as part of the overall strategic transport needs of the City and County in accordance with the parking standards set out in Volume 2. Trans 56 We will ensure the adequate provision of appropriately located off-street car parking in urban areas to meet the needs of local residents, shoppers and businesses.

Source Waterford City and County Council: Waterford City and County Development Plan 2022–2028 — Chapter 5 (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.