Waterford City and County Development Plan 2022–2028 — Chapter 8

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   Placemaking Chapter 8 Sustainable Compact Growth Climate Action Accessibility and Connectivity Sustainable Places and Communities Heritage

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   WATERFORD CITY & COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022 – 2028227 Chapter 8: Placemaking Strategic Objectives To promote a diverse choice of places which are attractive, of high-quality design, centred on the human scale and accessible to all; these will act as the heart of every community across Waterford City and County. This will be achieved through: - strengthening sustainable connections between people and place, - promoting exemplar urban design, - diversity of built form, uses and outdoor spaces resulting in positive social interactions, - reduced carbon emissions, and - greater opportunities for biodiversity. 8.0 Introduction Placemaking seeks to achieve connections between people and the public places they use. Public place is often defined as spaces between our homes and the broader world, for example footpaths, streets, alleys, buildings and squares. These spaces are where our public life takes place, where we travel to and from work and school, where we sit, play, stand, talk, walk and cycle. The primary aim of placemaking is to make our urban places happier, healthier and more walkable, especially for younger and older people. Our public places need to be highly accessible and connected, safe and comfortable, multifunctional, sociable, green and sustainable. The location and type of development will be guided by the Development Plan through both the Settlement and Core Strategies. These strategies set out a spatial hierarchy for Waterford, and in turn, set the background for the future pattern of growth within the City and County. The Plan supports the development of a hierarchy of high quality, vibrant, consolidated and attractive urban settlements. This includes the development of Waterford as the Regional City for the South East supported by Tramore, and Dungarvan as a Key Town. This hierarchy is supported by a number of smaller towns and urban areas, and villages throughout the County. An important element of what shapes Waterford is our open countryside and High Amenity lands. These separate the urban and rural areas which help to define the character of Waterford, providing a sense of place and local identity to individual towns and villages. The maintenance of this general pattern of development is important for the sound and sustainable development of the County as a whole. Placemaking can play an important role in assisting a clear separation between the urban centres and open countryside, whilst creating unique character areas within the core urban centres and associated suburbs of our city, towns and villages, to help make sustainable communities and places. There are also important links between the place-making and business investment/job creation. Placemaking is identified as a key differentiator in Enterprise 2025, Ireland’s National Enterprise Policy 2015-25. It is a priority of the enterprise strategy to “realise the full potential of our regions through investments in place-making – developing places that are attractive for business investment and for people to live and work”. This is considered further in Chapter 4. Another important policy of the Council is to revitalise our towns and villages and spaces through creative and regenerative place-making, to assist in the delivery of compact growth, this is explored in more detail in Chapter 3 and 11.

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   WATERFORD CITY & COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022 – 2028228 Through placemaking, which encompasses a multi-faceted approach to planning, design and management, the Council will continue to ensure the development of sustainable communities by supporting the development of adequate housing, retail, cultural, heritage, leisure, and employment uses, quality public realm, community facilities, design and standards and open space throughout the County. The following suggestions are provided as guidelines; however, the underlining principles should be followed. Figure 8.1 Constituents of Placemaking (Source NPF) Source: Derived from Strategic Investment Board Limited, 2008 Smaller Settlements and Rural Areas Smaller Towns and Villages Large Towns Cities P o w e r G e n e r a ti o n W a s t e & S e w a g e T r e a t m e n t P l a n t s W a s t e l a n d l l W a s t e - r e c y c l e d R e c y c l i n g R e n e w a b l e s W a t e r & S e w e r s S u p p l y A c c e s s t o c l e a n S e w a g e D e p a r t m e n t S t o r e s S p e c i a l i s t S h o p s , A r t s & C u l t u r a l F a c i l i t i e s S h o p p i n g C e n t r e s R e t a i l W a r e h o u s i n g R a n g e o f r e s t a u r a n t s S u p e r m a r k e t s , R e s t a u r a n t s , M i x o f R e t a i l F a c i l i t i e s S h o p P u b P o s t O c e P e t r o l S t a t i o n H i g h er E d ucationInstitutes S p e cialSchools H i g h e r E d u cationInstitutes F u r t h er Education C a m p u sesof H i g h e r E d ucation I n s tit utes L i b r a r y, Post G a r d a H Q , H i g h C o u r t , P r i s o n , F o r e n s i c S c i e n c e G a r d a D i s t r i c t C o u n t y C o u r t P r o b a t i o n S e r v i c e G a r d a S t a t i o n N e i g h b o u - h o o d W a t c h M u s e u m / G a l l e r i e s C o n f e r e n c e / C o n c e r t A r e n a L e i s u r e C e n t r e ( p o o l ) V i s i t o r C e n t r e , A d v i c e C e n t r e , A r t s & C u l t u r e C e n t r e C o m m u n i t y C e n t r e s , S p o r t s F a c i l i t y W e l f a r e S e r v i c e s L o c a l H a l l P l a y A r e a s (Ele c tiv e a n d E m e r g e n c y ) A c u t e H o s p it a l S e r v i c e s I n j u r y C l i n i c s S e r v i c e s , M i n o r O u t p a ti e n t a n d D i a g n o s t i c C a r e S e r v i c e s P r i m a r y a n d S o c i a l T o u r i s m O c e I n d u s t r i a l P a r k O c e I n f o r m a t i o n E n t e r p r i s e C e n t r e , C h i l d c a r e B u s i n e s s U n i t W o r k s h o p / K e y T r a n s p o r t N o d e s E n e r g y G e n e r a t i o n I n t e r c o n n e c t o r P o r t s & A i r p o r t s S ci e n c e c e n t r e , M a j o r I n d u s t r i a l P a r k s , S t r a t e g i c D e v e l o p m e n t Z o n e s T o u ris m S i g n a t u r e p r o j e c t s C y c l e N e t w o r k P a r k N ’ R i d e B u s / R a i l , M a j o r R o a d s l a r g e r c e n t r e s B u s / r a i l t o T r u n k R o a d s L i n k C o r r i d o r s E N V I R O N M E N T C O M M E R C I A L SKILLS J U S T I C E S O C I A L H E A L T H N E T W O R K S P R O D U C T I V E L i g h t i n g S t r e e t B r o a d b a n d S c h o o l, E C C E P r i m a r y O u t r e a c h A m b u l a n c e G P , P h a r m a c i s t

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   WATERFORD CITY & COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022 – 2028229 Strategic Policy • Through community engagement, develop a network of distinct places which are resilient, safe, attractive, adaptable and stimulating, which promote sustainable transport modes, which are universally accessible to all, which enhance the opportunity for social interaction and which reflect and respect the diversity of each community. • Develop the 10-minute city/neighbourhood concept to ensure our city and towns are sustainable, liveable and based primarily on the needs of the broader resident community. • Enshrine placemaking in all developments across the city and county, to create socially sustainable communities and environments. General Placemaking Policy Objective Place 01 • Identify obsolete and potential opportunity sites within the City and County and encourage and facilitate the re-use and regeneration of derelict land and buildings in the urban centres. • Work with landowners and development interests to pursue the potential of suitable, available and viable land and buildings for appropriate development/ renewal. • Support ‘active land management’ by making the regeneration and development of existing built up areas as attractive and as viable as Greenfield development through investment in infrastructure where appropriate. • Use specific powers, such as the compulsory purchase orders (CPO’s) and statutory powers under the Derelict Sites Ace 1990 and the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015, as amended, to address issues of dereliction, vacancy and underutilisation of lands in settlements across Waterford. • Provide for, protect and strengthen the vitality and viability of town centres, through consolidating development, encouraging a mix of uses and maximising the use of land whilst promoting sympathetic reuse of structures. In considering development applications within the designated town centres we will have particular regard to the impact the proposed development on the streetscape and urban layout in relation to compatibility of design, materials and use and the impact of the proposed development on existing amenities having regard to traffic and parking and the amenity and utility value of public and private spaces including open spaces • Ensure all urban and rural settlements develop in such a way as to provide a sustainable mix of local services such as commercial, community and cultural activities including provision for enterprise, residential, retail, commercial, tourism, and leisure and community facilities. • Protect the unique setting of rural towns and villages by providing for the maintenance of strong defined urban edges on approach roads.

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   WATERFORD CITY & COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022 – 2028230 8.1 Legislative and Placemaking Policy Context There are a number of National and Regional Policies and Plans which provide the context for the following placemaking section and policies, these are as follows: • National Planning Framework 2040. • Southern Regional Assembly Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy. • Appendix 3 Goal 1 – Sustainable Place Framework of the Southern Regional Assembly Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy. • Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Sustainable Residential Development in Urban Areas (2009). • Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities (2007). • Quality Housing for Sustainable Communities (2007). • Retail Planning Guidelines for Planning Authorities (2012). • The Retail Design Manual (2012). • The Urban Design Compendium (2000). • Urban Design Manual A Best Practice (2009). • Permeability Best Practice NTA (2015). • Design Manual for Urban Roads (DMURS) (2020) or any update thereof. • National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS) 2017-2022. • United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). • The National Cycle Manual (2011). • The Guidelines for Setting and Managing Speed Limits in Ireland (2015); and • Enterprise 2025, Ireland’s National Enterprise Policy 2015-25. Legislative Placemaking Policy Objectives Place 02 Ensure that all development is of high quality design with a focus on placemaking consistent with NPO 2, 4, 6, 7 16,18a, 18b, 26 and 27 of the NPF, and RPO 31 – Sustainable Place Framework, RPO 34 – Regeneration, Brownfield and Infill Development, Section 4.7 Placemaking for enterprise development, RPO 61 – Health Place Audit for Placemaking, RPO 176 – “10-minute City and Town Concepts” and Good Practice example 10-minute city and town neighbourhoods at Section 3.9 of the RSES Place 03 Promote the guidance principles set out in relevant Ministerial Guidelines especially the ‘Urban Design Manual – A Best Practice Guide’ (2009), and in the ‘Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets’ (2020) and Permeability Best Practice NTA (2015). Place 04 Provide for a high-quality public realm and public spaces by promoting quality urban design that accommodates creative patterns of use having regard to the physical, cultural, and social identities of individual settlements.

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   WATERFORD CITY & COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022 – 2028231 8.2 Principles of Placemaking The principles outlined in Figures 8.0 and 8.1 make places and spaces more desirable, where people want to hangout, stay and visit again. It is important to note that these principles can be applied to all public areas. This remainder of this chapter is divided into following four sections: • Creating places that are accessible and connected • Creating places that are comfortable, well designed and safe • Creating green sustainable, attractive multifunctional places • Creating social and inclusive places Each section will explain how the above principles can be applied retrospectively to improve to improve existing places, and ensure that public places in new developments, are best optimised for children, families and older people into the future. Legislative Placemaking Policy Objectives Place 05 Ensure that development proposals are cognisant of the need for proper consideration of context, connectivity, inclusivity, variety, efficiency, distinctiveness, layout, public realm, adaptability, privacy and amenity, parking, way finding and detailed design. Place 06 To use the vehicle of Local/Urban Area Plans and other non-statutory plans and frameworks to promote and embed the principles of good urban design in the delivery of new, and existing, sustainable communities in specific areas of the City and County. Figure 8. 2 Placemaking Principles (Source Project for Public Spaces)

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   WATERFORD CITY & COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022 – 2028232 Strategic Policy Ensure that all new and existing developments, located within urban and rural settlement, follow the four principles of placemaking by creating places which are: a) Accessible and well connected to other places in the area. b) Are comfortable, well designed and safe. c) Green and Sustainable and attract people to participate in multiple activities there. d) Are sociable and Inclusive. 8.3 Creating places that are accessible and connected Successful public places are highly connected to other places and amenities in their locality, support good quality of life and are easy to get to and easy to navigate. Well-designed public places should therefore not require people to rely on the car for everyday journeys; for example, getting to work, school, open spaces or shopping. Public places should be located along a well-designed network of routes, allowing access by all types of transport, including walking, cycling, public transport and private cars. This gives people the maximum choice in how to make their journeys to any given place. In designing new places and retro fitting existing places priority should be given to walking and cycle movements, subject to location, and the potential to create connections. Prioritising sustainable modes of transport will involve creating routes that are safe, direct, convenient and accessible for people of all abilities. Consideration should also be paid to the 10-minute neighbourhood concept which is explained in more detail in Section 8.8 below. All proposed new developments should provide for and create links with more established and future areas surrounding, and try to include the following in their design proposals: • Attractive access routes in/out for walking and cycling. • Identify desire lines and plan routes along these lines. • Locate the development close to mixed use centres. • Design the development to allow for bus/ public services; and • Provide appropriate densities which can avail of public transport. Designing better integrated developments, to make it easier for people to walk and cycle, allows more exercise and wellbeing to be built into our daily lives; and helps to address the climate crisis and air pollution by reducing car use. Principles of Placemaking Policy Objective Place 07 Ensure that all new and existing developments, where possible and necessary, are located within urban and rural settlement and follow the four principles of placemaking by creating places which are: • Accessible and well connected to other places in the area. • Are comfortable, well designed and safe. • Green and Sustainable and attract people to participate in multiple activities there. • Are sociable and Inclusive.

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   WATERFORD CITY & COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022 – 2028233 8.4 Access for All/ Universal Design The design of places and buildings should be accessible, inclusive and meet the needs of all users, regardless of age, gender, race or sensory and mobility abilities (Urban Design Manual, 2009). Particular attention should be given to users of buggies, people with disabilities and younger and older people. Buildings and public space should be designed to accommodate a lifetime - from raising young children, teenage years, to having grandparents to stay. Access for All/ Universal Design Policy Objective Uni Des 01 To ensure that all new developments are connected and integrated to both existing and proposed developments by: • Providing for safe and convenient alternatives to the car in their design. • Prioritising permeability, walking, cycling and public transport accessibility, and • Integrating physical activity for and between all ages. Uni Des 02 Require all new developments, including proposals for public realm enhancements incorporate principles of universal design. The Council will require the submission of an ‘Accessibility Audit1’, carried out by a suitably qualified and competent person, in residential developments of 15+ units (or less depending on the site context), commercial and/or mixed use schemes in order to ensure that all roads and streets, parking areas, pavements and pedestrian crossings, buildings, facilities, open spaces, amenities etc. are fully accessible by all users. 1 National Disability Authority Excellence in Universal Design documents entitled ‘Shared Space, Shared Surfaces and Home Zones from a Universal Design Approach for the Urban Environment in Ireland’ and ‘Building for Everyone: A Universal Design Approach’ should be used as a reference.

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   WATERFORD CITY & COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022 – 2028234 Access for All/ Universal Design Policy Objective Uni Des 03 To ensure all developments are designed around a clear hierarchy of connected streets and buildings to promote legibility and permeability. Streets should be designed to include: • Several access points. • Frequent crossings. • A preference for priority junctions for sustainable modes of transport. • Means to encourage walking/cycling. (Please reference design/ placemaking guide in Appendix 5). Uni Des 04 All new and existing developments in urban and neighbourhoods centres should enhance access and optimise use of public transport where available, or planned and sustainable transport modes such as walking and/ cycling in order to achieve the delivery of 10 minute neighbourhoods as envisaged in RPO 176 and Section 3.9 of the RSES. Uni Des 05 The design of places and buildings should meet the needs of all users and make people feel welcome and safe regardless of their gender, ability, age or ethnicity. 8.5 Creating places that are comfortable, well designed and safe Well-designed spaces and buildings play an essential role in creating good placemaking. They act as landmarks, emphasising important places and make a positive contribution to our town/village centres, neighbourhoods, settlements and making places feel safe. Siting and Design When considering the character and identity of a new development (whether a single dwelling or housing estate etc) the siting of the development in the wider landscape should first be considered, rather than the internal layout. Consideration of the pattern of streets, landscape and spaces, the movement network and the arrangement of development blocks and how they all fit into the wider settlement context, is crucial. It is the interrelationship between all these elements that creates an attractive place to live, work and visit, rather than their individual characteristics. Together all of these elements create the built environment and contribute to its character and sense of place. In this way, a coherent identity is created that everyone can identify with, including all residents and local communities. New large-scale developments should incorporate the three-dimensional arrangement of development blocks, streets, buildings and open spaces. (For more information please reference design/ placemaking guide in Appendix 5) The development of new urban neighbourhoods or green field developments of scale are an opportunity to create a new identity. A new character may also arise from a response to how today’s lifestyles could evolve in the future, such as working from home/ neighbourhoods, or to the proposed method of development and construction. These areas may benefit from a variety of characters so that different areas or neighbourhoods each have their own identity. Safe Places Comfort and safety considerations also include design and cleanliness. The character of a place comes from the way that buildings, streets and spaces, landscape and infrastructure combine together and how people experience them. It is not just about the buildings or how a place looks, but how it engages with all of the senses.

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    WATERFORD CITY & COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022 – 2028235 Well-designed, sustainable places which are comfortable and have a strong character give the users, occupiers and owners a sense of pride, helping to create and sustain communities and neighbourhoods. They include safe designs, where traffic is slowed, passive surveillance is provided and there is good lighting at night. Public and shared amenity spaces feel safe for people who occupy the buildings around them, and also for visitors and passers-by. Such places also help to overcome crime, and the fear of crime. Careful planning and design create the right conditions for people to feel safe and secure, without the need for additional security measures. Design considerations towards achieving such places, include: • Buildings around the edges of a space. • Active frontages along its edges, provided by entrances onto the space and windows overlooking it, so that people come and go at different times. • Natural surveillance from inside buildings, provided by windows and balconies, so that users of the space feel they might be overlooked by people from inside. • Reasons for people to enter into the space, such as for an activity or destination, or because it is on a natural line or direction of travel; and, • Risk assessment and mitigation at an early stage of the design process, so security measures can be integrated into positive design features.

Source Waterford City and County Council: Waterford City and County Development Plan 2022–2028 — Chapter 8 (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.