Development plan · Waterford City and County Council
Waterford City and County Development Plan 2022–2028 — Chapter 11
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 · 26 pages
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- WATERFORD CITY & COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022 – 2028291 Built Heritage Policy Objectives BH 15 Retaining our Shopfronts It is the policy of the Council to ensure that all original and traditional shopfronts which contribute positively to the appearance and character of a streetscape are retained and restored and new shopfronts are well designed, through the sympathetic use of scale, proportion and high quality materials. BH 16 Traditional Materials and Skills It is the policy of the Council to • Promote and ensure the conservation and reuse of traditional materials and features. Original building fabric such as rubblestone and brick walls, lime mortar render, natural slate, thatch, chimneys, brick detailing, ironwork and joinery details such as timber sash windows, shopfronts, doorways and bargeboards shall be retained. Where traditional features such as timber sliding sash windows have been removed, their reinstatement shall be encouraged. • Encourage the retention and development of the traditional skills base in County Waterford and maintain the Conservation Skills register. BH 17 Shopfront Guidelines We will publish guidelines for best practice in the care of historic shopfronts during the lifetime of the Development Plan. 11.9 Building Fabric Use of traditional fabric is beneficial for conservation, aesthetic and environmental reasons. It also helps promote employment and traditional skills.
- 292 11.10 Historic Demesnes, Gardens and Landscapes Waterford has a rich heritage of gardens and designed landscapes. These are usually associated with the Country Houses and Demesnes, such as Curraghmore, Cappoquin, Dromana and Mount Congreve. The layout and subsequent changes reflect the aesthetic, cultural and social aspirations of their owners and users. The Waterford Garden Trail lists historic gardens which are open to the public and the council will continue to promote this Tourism asset for the benefit of all. Built Heritage Policy Objectives BH 18 Protecting our Demesnes It is a policy of Council to: • Protect and promote the setting and visual amenity of historic gardens and designed landscapes. • Protect all elements of historic gardens and designed landscapes including structures, tree planting schemes, manmade features such as waterways, boundary features within the attendant grounds of Protected Structures. • Proposed development which have the potential to visually or physically impact on the character and/or the appearance of an historic designed landscape should be justified through a Design Landscape Assessment /Architectural Heritage Impact Assessment. BH 19 Demesnes Architectural Conservation Areas We will assess the need to establish additional areas for designation as ACA for Demesnes and to extend the boundaries of the existing ACAs having regard to their special architectural, historic, archaeological, artistic, cultural, scientific, social or technical interest or value or contribution to the appreciation of protected structures and settings and vistas.
- WATERFORD CITY & COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022 – 2028293 11.11 Institutional Buildings Waterford City and County has a number of historical institutional buildings and complexes such as workhouses, convents and schools, some were designed by pre-eminent architects such as A.W Pugin and George Wilkinson. Although the function of these buildings has changed, the robust nature of these buildings means that these have other uses can now be facilitated 11.12 Industrial Heritage Waterford has some of Ireland’s finest examples of industrial complexes including the Cotton Mill in Portlaw and the structures associated with mining along the Copper Coast, UNESCO Global Geopark area, which are considered of international importance. The ample supply of water was harnessed to power grain mills such as those along the Mahon River. Waterford City, Dungarvan, Tallow all had large warehouses which still exist today. Other examples of industrial buildings include breweries /distilleries, canals, creameries, forges, ice houses, limekilns, and mines. Waterford’s industrial heritage of glass making is synonymous with Waterford City and the core of a rich visitor experience to Waterford’s Viking Triangle. This specialised craft is recognised as not only part of our rich heritage but an important part of the local economy and a skill that requires to be continued and supported through incentives for the creative industries.
- 294 11.13 Climate Change and Sustainability/ Energy Efficiency Ireland’s heritage is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Our monuments and historic buildings particularly those in coastal areas, while they have stood for centuries, are not immune from these impacts. The Climate Change Sectoral Adaptation Plan for built and archaeological heritage was published in 2019 recognises the value of traditional building methods and materials in working with prevailing weather conditions and the need to protect our ancient sites and adapt and reuse our historic buildings. Built Heritage Policy Objectives BH 20 Conservation Plans for Significant Structures It is a policy of the Council to protect and promote the sustainable reuse and development within large complexes such as workhouses, school, barracks, convents, abbeys, hospitals included in the RPS, and those proposals would be justified through an overall Conservation Plan. BH 21 Industrial Built Heritage It is the Policy of the Council to: • Identify, protect and encourage the sympathetic reuse of elements of the industrial heritage and to encourage sustainable reuse of underutilised/vacant industrial buildings for residential, commercial or tourism use. • All development proposals for industrial buildings and sites of industrial archaeological importance must be accompanied by an archaeological assessment of the building(s) and their surrounding environment. In all cases the retention and/or incorporation of industrial buildings will be encouraged and only in exceptional circumstances will demolition be considered. BH 22 Industrial and Maritime Structure Surveys During the life of the Development Plan we will: • Update the Industrial Heritage of Waterford Survey (2008). • Survey our maritime heritage which includes quays, harbours, river quays and walls, and navigation aids.
- WATERFORD CITY & COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022 – 2028295 11.14 Vernacular Buildings Waterford has a large stock of vernacular buildings. This not only includes farmhouses, farm complexes and settlements but also it is the main building type in the core of most urban areas. In some urban settings such as Lismore and Tallow there are stables and outbuildings to the rear accessed via a carriage arch. Built Heritage Policy Objectives BH 23 Built Heritage and Climate Change It is the policy of the Council to: • Support and implement the objectives of: ° The Climate Change Sectoral Adaptation Plan (2019) for built and archaeological heritage, ° The Waterford Climate Action Plan (2019) in building resilience for our historic sites and buildings from climate change. ° Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government’s publication on ‘Energy Efficiency in Traditional Buildings’ (2010). ° The Irish Standard IS EN 16883:2017 ‘Conservation of Cultural Heritage - Guidelines for Improving the Energy Performance of Historic Buildings’ (2017). ° Any future advisory documents in assessing proposed works on Protected Structures. • Promote the just transition to a low carbon and climate resilient society in the interest of sustainability and to reduce landfill by acknowledging the embodied energy retention and reuse of our historic building stock. • Promote the appropriate rehabilitation, revitalization and reuse of vernacular buildings, and town houses, wherever feasible, employing best conservation practice and using traditional building methods and materials such as timber windows in the interest of sustainability, good conservation practice and maintaining the long-term viability of such buildings and their associated features and improve their resilience to climate change • Ensure that measures to upgrade the energy efficiency of historic buildings acknowledge their inherent characteristics, techniques and materials and do not have a detrimental physical or visual impact on the building or its character • Support appropriate and well-informed energy efficiency upgrades to structures on the Record of Protected Structures and historic buildings through the dissemination of factual and relevant information to the general public. • Identify the built and archaeological heritage in local authority ownership and areas at risk from climate change including, but not necessarily restricted to, the Record of Monuments and Places, Protected Structures and Architectural Conservation Areas designated in the Development Plan.
- 296 Built Heritage Policy Objectives BH 24 Maintaining and Enhancing our Vernacular Buildings It is the policy of the Council to: • Protect, maintain and enhance the historic character and setting of vernacular buildings, farmyards and settlements • Encourage appropriate revitalisation and reuse of such structures (see rural diversification/ tourism). There will be a presumption against the demolition of vernacular buildings where restoration or adaptation is a feasible option. • Promote the protection and maintenance of thatched buildings (domestic or non-domestic), particularly those with historic layers and roof structures. BH 25 Thatched Structures Survey During the life of the Development Plan we will: • Update the Thatch House survey of County Waterford • Promote available grant schemes and facilitate engagement with owners in the maintenance of these buildings. BH 26 Reuse of Vernacular Structures It is a policy of the council to encourage and facilitate the sensitive reuse of vernacular houses or farm buildings for farm diversification, agri-tourism and rural development, including self-catering accommodation, arts or craft workshops and small-scale manufacturing. Guidance and information can be found in Traditional Buildings for Irish Farms (2005) published by the Heritage Council and Teagasc, and Reusing Farm Buildings: A Kildare Perspective (2006) published by Kildare County Council.
- WATERFORD CITY & COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022 – 2028297 Built Heritage Policy Objectives BH 27 Retaining Vernacular Structures in Rural Areas It is the policy of the Council where proposals for sensitive rehabilitation of disused vernacular buildings in the open countryside are being considered they will not be required to establish a rural housing need provided that their vernacular character is enhanced and that their fabric is repaired using appropriate techniques and materials. Where the subject structure is demolished and replaced a rural housing need will be required. BH 28 Demolition of Vernacular Structures It is the policy of the Council to ensure that where permission is sought to demolish a structure which is considered of vernacular significance, on the grounds of structural defects or failure, or that it is not reasonably capable of being made structurally sound, the developer will be required to submit a report by a professional with appropriate conservation expertise and an understanding of vernacular buildings which demonstrate substantial reasons for the demolition. It must be satisfactorily demonstrated that every effort has been made to continue the present use or find a suitable new use for the structure(s). BH 29 Extensions and Alterations It is the policy of the council to ensure that where it is proposed to extend an existing vernacular house/ building, the design, scale, footprint and materials should be sympathetic to the existing building and its setting. Extensions should: • generally, be located to the rear and not obscure the form or layout of the existing building. • substantial removal of walling should be avoided. • connecting the existing building and extension should minimise the number of new openings and ideally use existing openings; and, • Where feasible outbuilding contiguous to a dwelling can sometimes be successfully incorporated. 11.15 Civic Design and Public Realm In Waterford City from 2000 onwards, the policies and objectives of Waterford City Development Plans have encouraged the improvement of the public realm and regeneration of the historic core whilst utilising the built heritage and its setting. The City Architects Office adopted a strong set of design principles informing all works in the public realm. The guiding principles to create uncluttered spaces to encourage and prioritise pedestrian movement and the use of a limited palate of high-quality materials have ensured consistency across a number of schemes within the city centre.
- 298 Built Heritage Policy Objectives BH 32 Best Practice It is a policy of the Council to demonstrate best practice with regard to Protected Structures, Recorded Monuments and other elements of architectural and archaeological heritage in the ownership and care of the Council and to ensure appropriate materials and methodologies are used for the repair works. BH 33 Reusing our Building Stock During the life of the Development Plan we will carry out an audit of all Protected Structures in our ownership with a view to securing uses that are compatible with the character of the individual Protected Structure. BH 34 Promoting Public Awareness It is the policy of the Council to promote public awareness of the value of the our historic built heritage and our archaeology and the positive contribution of Protected Structures, Historic Structures and Archaeology make to the built environment, the sense of place, distinctiveness and authenticity of an area and the tourism potential to Waterford and to develop specific measures to achieve such awareness. BH 35 Guides We will continue the publication of architectural/archaeological guide series such Historic Waterford – The Coast, Architectural Waterford, and Heritage Tourism Guides online (or via app). Built Heritage Policy Objectives BH 30 Historic Features in the Public Realm It is the policy of the Council to: • Promote a high standard of civic amenity and design and to respect existing open spaces, urban spaces, settings, vistas street furniture and streetscape within historic cores. The Council shall consider the receiving environment when erecting signage, undertaking road markings, providing traffic control measures bike lanes, parking spaces, planting and road and footpath access works, and ensures that all such works are sensitive to the to the distinctive character of the area and streetscape. • Preserve the retention of historic items of street furniture where these contribute to the character of the area, including items of a vernacular or local significance. • Ensure street furniture and signage is kept to a minimum, is of high-quality design and material and that any redundant street furniture is removed. BH 31 Significant Structures in the Public Realm We will protect and preserve the integrity and enhance elements of the built heritage such as limekilns, quays, bollards, bridges and their settings. 11.16 Council Owned Structures The historic property stock of Waterford City and County Council includes some buildings of National importance but also includes railway buildings, bridges, libraries, art galleries and civic buildings such as the City Hall and Dungarvan Town Hall.
- WATERFORD CITY & COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022 – 2028299 11.17 Archaeology The archaeological heritage of Waterford is unique and a special resource, which forms a distinctive element of the landscape and local identity. The archaeological heritage is composed of structures, constructions, groups of buildings, developed sites, all recorded monuments as well as their contexts, and moveable objects, situated both on land and under water. The National Monuments Acts 1930 – 2014 provide for the protection of archaeological heritage. The principles set out in the Framework and Principles for the Protection of the Archaeological Heritage provide the national policy framework in relation to archaeological heritage Archaeology in the Planning Process, OPR and Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (2021) is a guide to understanding the issues which will arise in the planning process when development is proposed which might affect our archaeological heritage. Archaeological sites and monuments are legally protected by way of inclusion in the statutory Record of Monuments and Places, established under Section 12 of the National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1994. The Record of Monuments and Places (RMP) maps and details of the monuments can also be viewed as a layer on the Historic Environment Viewer.2 Historic Towns are likely to contain subsurface archaeological deposits associated with their early settlement, or the incorporation of early features in what are considered to later/modern structures, have also been identified and included in the RMP. The RMP maps identify these Historic Towns and have de-lineated a ‘Zone of Archaeological Potential’ (ZAP) around each town within which archaeological features/structures/ sub-surface deposits are likely to be present. Historic wrecks are included in the Historic Wreck Viewer.3 2 https://maps.archaeology.ie/HistoricEnvironment/ 3 https://dahg.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=89e50518e5f4437abfa6284ff39fd640
- 300 Archaeological Heritage Policy Objectives AH 01 National Monuments Act It is the policy of the Council to protect, and enhance in an appropriate manner all elements of the archaeological heritage including the following categories: a) Sites and monuments included in the Sites and Monuments Record as maintained by the Department with responsibility for the protection of Ireland’s archaeological heritage. b) Monuments and places included in the Record of Monuments and Places (RMP) as established under the National Monuments Acts. c) Historic monuments and archaeological areas included in the Register of Historic Monuments as established under the National Monuments Acts. d) National Monuments subject to Preservation Orders under the National Monuments Acts and National Monuments which are in the ownership or guardianship of the Minister with responsibility for archaeological heritage or the Local Authority. e) Archaeological objects within the meaning of the National Monuments Acts. f) Wrecks protected under the National Monuments Acts or otherwise included in the Shipwreck Inventory maintained by the National Monuments Service, underwater archaeology, riverine, coastal or lacustrine locations. g) Archaeological features not as yet identified but which may be impacted on by development. And where feasible, appropriate and applicable to promote access (including disabled access) to and signposting and interpretive material of such sites and monuments and provide appropriate forms of virtual access where physical access is not possible. AH 02 Managing Development We will contribute, as appropriate, towards the protection and sympathetic enhancement of archaeological heritage, in particular by implementing the relevant provisions of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) and the National Monuments Act, 1930 (as amended). We will ensure that archaeological excavation is carried out according to best practice as outlined by the National Monuments Service, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the National Museum of Ireland and the Institute of Archaeologists of Ireland. We will consult with the National Monuments Service as relevant in relation to proposed developments, including those adjoining archaeological sites. AH 03 Preservation of Archaeological Material Waterford City & County Council shall, in an appropriate manner, secure either by preservation insitu or preservation-by-record, the archaeological heritage. In this regard priority shall be given to the preservation in-situ of any archaeological monument/site/place as the first option considered. If preservation in-situ cannot be achieved, or can only be achieved in-part, then preservationby-record of elements of the archaeological heritage will be required –this will require the full archaeological excavation and recording of the monument/site, according to best professional practice. Where excavation is required this shall also include the preparation of appropriate reports, post-excavation analyses and publications. The costs of assessing and mitigating archaeological impacts shall form part of development costs as borne by the developer.
Source Waterford City and County Council: Waterford City and County Development Plan 2022–2028 — Chapter 11 (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.