Development plan · Westmeath County Council
Westmeath County Development Plan 2021–2027
The council's development plan written statement: its strategy, policies, objectives and development standards.
Westmeath County Council · 2021–2027 · 634 pages
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- SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES 4 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 94 Recreation, Amenity and Open Space The Council recognises the role recreation, amenity and open space facilities can play in creating healthy environments and facilitating more active lifestyles to ensure the well-being and improved quality of life for communities. In this regard, high quality open spaces, green linkages, such as walks, cycle ways, access to the lakes, sports and recreational facilities that are usable and accessible to all should be provided in tandem with development and changing community needs. The connectivity of open spaces between urban areas, urban fringe and rural areas allows for the interaction of people and wildlife and connects people with places of work and community facilities. CPO 4.28 Ensure the needs of communities including education facilities are appropriately provided for in newly developed areas. CPO 4.29 Encourage the use of existing educational facilities and school playing fields for other community purposes. In new schools, consideration should be given in the design of the school to provide dual use facilities and take account of community requirements. CPO 4.30 Reduce the need to travel by car to schools. Applications for extensions to an existing school or a new school must be accompanied by a sustainable travel plan. The plan should indicate how pupils will access the school and provide for sustainable modes of travel to school and encourage alternatives to the car and have regard to road safety, good design and efficiency in accordance with the Department of Environment’s “Code of Practice on the Provision of Schools and the Planning System”, July 2008. CPO 4.31 Support in conjunction with the relevant agencies, the provision of Third Level facilities, Youth Outreach, Adult and Further Education facilities within the County. CPO 4.32 Support the provision of community infrastructure and require that development proposals involving the loss or change of use of land or buildings for community purposes to demonstrate: a) There are adequate facilities in the vicinity to cater for the needs of the area. b) The use is no longer viable. c) Alternative community uses are being provided elsewhere, or as part of the development, in association with the proposal. CPO 4.33 Promote links with Athlone Institute of Technology (A.I.T.) and the National University of Ireland Maynooth (NUI Maynooth) in the educational, research and enterprise sector. CPO 4.34 Provide for the development of dedicated youth spaces in key urban areas such as Athlone and Mullingar and the development of multifunction spaces in smaller communities/rural areas. CPO 4.35 To work with the Department of Education & Skills in relation to the planning and design of future education facilities.
- SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES 4 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 95 Allotments are becoming increasingly popular and play an important function in serving communities. Private landowners have a role in providing this resource and service which promotes sustainable living. Allotments should be located such that they do not have an adverse impact on the safety and capacity of the surrounding road network and designed and sited to have a minimal impact on the surrounding landscape. Parks and open spaces are important contributors to local distinctiveness, offering opportunities to reflect elements of the local landscape, culture and heritage through design concepts, materials, topography and planting. To achieve optimum accessibility and effective provision of open space and recreational facilities, they should be located and designed on a hierarchical basis according to the needs of a defined population. A number of established walking and cycling routes have been developed which allow urban dwellers to access and enjoy the natural environmental assets nearby and beyond, such as the Royal Canal, Westmeath Way, Old Rail Trail, Fore Trail and Slí na Sláinte. Such routes can open up valuable amenity assets for local communities and visitors to enjoy and appreciate as well as providing opportunities for enhancement of quality of life and health together with providing important tourism assets and consequential benefits to the local economy. Many opportunities exist for creating new and improved linkages and facilities for walking and cycling so that the enjoyment of the wealth of natural heritage and amenity may be maximised and the potential to exploit these assets for the purposes of tourism can be realised. The Council recognises the importance of play in the development of children and continues to promote participation in sport and recreation through a range of measures including the operation of Athlone Regional Sports Centre, the operation of Mullingar Swimming pool, the development of 23 Playgrounds across the County together with support for an additional 15 community playgrounds. Furthermore, the Council also support sports development programmes through the Leinster Council GAA, FAI and Leinster Rugby and Westmeath Sports Partnership programmes. The Council will support future initiatives, which raise awareness of the importance of play for the health, well-being and development of children, people with disabilities, travellers and ethnic minorities. The Westmeath Recreation and Sport Strategy will guide our future plans for programs and funding. Recreation, Amenity and Open Space Policy Objectives It is a policy objective of Westmeath County Council to: CPO 4.36 Ensure sufficient land is allocated to provide a variety of open spaces on a hierarchical basis throughout the County in order to achieve a choice of open space, recreational and amenity facilities. CPO 4.37 Develop public open spaces that have good connectivity and are accessible by safe, secure walking and cycling routes. CPO 4.38 Increase the use and potential of existing public open space, parks and recreational areas, both passive and active, by integrating existing facilities with proposals for new development and by seeking to upgrade existing facilities where appropriate.
- SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES 4 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 96 Libraries, Arts and Culture Westmeath libraries has a network of 7 libraries providing a wide range of services in the areas of information, culture, heritage, literature and learning. Westmeath has a rich and living cultural heritage and a strong cultural identity, based on a wide range of activities and interests, including music, theatre, TV and film, visual arts, crafts, dance, literature, architecture and sport. The Council supports major cultural events and will be involved in the hosting of a number of national cultural and music events. The Fleadh Cheoil will be held in Mullingar in 2020. The event is the world’s largest annual celebration of Irish music, language, song and dance. The Council recognises the importance of these events, activities and facilities which contribute towards the intellectual, artistic and social quality of life for people in the County and attracting other people from both within and outside the country to Westmeath. The Council through its Art office seeks to promote the cultural life of the County and increase accessibility to arts and culture facilities for all members of the community. Westmeath hosts major cultural facilities such as the Luan Gallery, Athlone Castle, Dean Crowe Theatre, Abbey Road artists’ studios, Belvedere House, Park and Gardens, Mullingar Arts Centre and Tuar Ard Arts Centre. Áras an Mhuilinn is the Regional Resource Centre for the Counties of Westmeath, Longford, Offaly, and Laois for traditional music, dance and Irish language classes. The Council will support the commercial development of theatres, cinemas and other cultural and entertainment uses, including facilities of national and regional importance in the County’s designated settlements of Athlone and Mullingar. The incorporation of public art in public spaces, civic buildings and town centre locations is also encouraged. CPO 4.39 Support the development of appropriately located allotments, in areas which have good access to and are proximate to built-up and residential areas. CPO 4.40 Facilitate and encourage open space to be planned for on a multi-functional basis incorporating ecosystem services, climate change measures, green infrastructure and key landscape features in their design. CPO 4.41 Promote the value of the County’s recreational and amenity resources as a key asset to the local economy and to the health and well-being of the community and continue to support the expansion of existing amenities. CPO 4.42 Seek a greater variety of provision of recreation and amenity facilities to reflect the demands of an increasingly diverse population. CPO 4.43 Support the implementation of actions contained in the “Westmeath Recreation & Sports Strategy”, subject to compliance with the Habitats and Birds Directives. CPO 4.44 Support the development of regional scale Recreational facility in Mullingar to complement the Regional Sports Centre in Athlone.
- SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES 4 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 97 Burial Grounds Local Authorities have a statutory responsibility to provide for burial facilities. The Council will support the development of additional burial grounds and extensions to existing facilities where appropriate. Libraries, Arts & Culture Policy Objectives It is a policy objective of Westmeath County Council to: CPO 4.45 Support the development of the library service in County Westmeath and the implementation of the actions set out in the Library Development Plan which includes expanded services and the delivery of a new library to serve the community of Kinnegad. CPO 4.46 Promote the provision of Art Galleries, Museums and Exhibition Halls in the County and ensure where possible such facilities are accessible by public as well as private transport. CPO 4.47 Facilitate and encourage the use of Public Spaces in Towns for Art events, performances and festivals. CPO 4.48 Encourage the provision of new or improved arts, cultural and entertainment facilities, particularly in the parts of the County where there is a deficiency in such provision. Burial Ground Policy Objectives It is a policy objective of Westmeath County Council to: CPO 4.49 Support the provision of burial grounds together with necessary extensions to existing burial grounds. CPO 4.50 Protect and maintain historic graveyards within the County.
- SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES 4 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 98 Social Inclusion Social inclusion refers to the manner in which all members of the community are integrated in an equal manner. It seeks to reduce barriers to participation in areas such as education, recreation, employment and health. It incorporates the need to ensure that minority groups, people of different nationalities and cultural backgrounds, the travelling community, ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, the elderly, children and young people are recognised as valuable members of the community. Social Inclusion Policy Objectives It is a policy objective of Westmeath County Council to: CPO 4.51 Support social inclusion measures including the revitalisation of areas by physical regeneration, planning, investment and community development and measures to improve educational attainment levels, upskilling in key competencies and skills acquisition. CPO 4.52 Continue to provide accommodation for all households whose financial circumstances dictate that they cannot provide for their own housing needs, such as the elderly, lone parents, travellers, persons with disabilities. CPO 4.53 Cooperate with Voluntary Housing Bodies and other providers of social housing in the provision of housing. CPO 4.54 Promote Universal Design and Lifetime Housing in accordance with best practice and the policies and principles contained in Building for Everyone: A Universal Design Approach (National Disability Authority, 2012) and Sustainable Residential Development in Urban Areas: Guidelines for Planning Authorities and its companion document Urban Design Manual (DEHLG, 2008). CPO 4.55 Secure the implementation of the Council’s Traveller Accommodation Programme and to review this programme if required and/or deemed to be necessary, during the plan period. CPO 4.56 Support a socially inclusive society, by providing for appropriate community infrastructure, located in local centres or where easily accessible to communities and that are designed appropriately for accessibility and ease of use for all. CPO 4.57 Use phasing arrangements to ensure that community facilities are provided in line with development. CPO 4.58 Encourage and facilitate for places of worship/places of assembly in appropriate locations close to residential communities.
- CHAPTER 5 CHAPTER 5 Economy & Employment
- ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & EMPLOYMENT 5 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 99 Table of Contents 5.1 Aim .......................................................................................................................................... 100 5.2 Background ............................................................................................................................. 100 5.3 Westmeath’s Economic Profile ............................................................................................... 100 5.4 Employment ............................................................................................................................ 104 5.5 Educational Trends.................................................................................................................. 114 5.6 Commuting in Westmeath ...................................................................................................... 116 5.7 Policy Context ......................................................................................................................... 117 5.8 National Policy Context ........................................................................................................... 118 5.9 Regional Policy Context........................................................................................................... 120 5.10 Local Policy Context Westmeath Local Economic and Community Plan (WLECP) ................. 122 5.11 The Role of the County Development Plan ............................................................................. 123 5.12 Key Stakeholders in the Economic growth of Westmeath ..................................................... 123 5.13 Economic Development Strategy (EDS) .................................................................................. 124
- ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & EMPLOYMENT 5 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 100 5.1 Aim Facilitate the economic development of Westmeath to create a viable and favourable economic environment for business and enterprise whilst delivering sustainable jobs, employment opportunity and an enriched standard of living for everyone, both within the county and beyond. To promote and assist in Westmeath’s economic development and encourage increased resilience in the County’s enterprise, underpinned by talent and innovation, thereby ensuring that Westmeath is best placed to excel in the long-term delivery of sustainable jobs and an enhanced standard of living for all. 5.2 Background Economic development and growth in employment within County Westmeath is achieved by way of a collaborative approach between the business communities, education institutes, and national agencies with the Council, as main driver in facilitating, enabling and promoting economic growth within the County. The context for enterprise development has changed, with an increased need to focus on collaboration and additionality, by way of a ‘bottom-up’ approach to the creation and delivery of sustainable employment. This Plan, being a statutory plan, will also inform effective planning and investments in placemaking throughout Westmeath that facilitate enterprise development. Following an overview of the economic profile of the county, relevant economic policies are highlighted before setting out an Economic Development Strategy (EDS) for the duration of the Plan period. 5.3 Westmeath’s Economic Profile The following section provides a brief overview of the economic profile of County Westmeath. It presents data from a number of key indicators that help to paint a picture of the economic profile of County Westmeath and the information has been used to inform economic policy making as part of the Plan. 5.3.1 An Economic Profile of Westmeath Located in the centre of the Midlands, Westmeath, as illustrated at Figure 5.1, lies on the arteries of the road network of the M6 to the west and M4 to the northwest. In addition, the Dublin-Galway and Dublin-Sligo railway routes pass through the County, with stops in Athlone and Mullingar. Through these quality transport connections, Westmeath has high accessibility to Dublin from a majority of its towns. This has helped the County grow with businesses, providing new opportunities for existing businesses and attracting new industries seeking to capitalise on knowledge sectors across the County. Westmeath is in the ‘Midland Region’ of the Eastern and Midlands Regional Assembly (EMRA) administrative area, which is projected to have a population increase of between 37,000 to 44,500 by 2030. Its location outside the Metropolitan area of the region affords Westmeath an important position at a regional level, a counterweight to the dominance of Dublin in the EMRA. In this regard, the key towns of Athlone and Mullingar offer population centres of a sufficient scale that can offer
- ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & EMPLOYMENT 5 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 101 viable alternative employment bases to Dublin in the region (which itself must also continue to accommodate growth). The economic profile of these two important centres for the County are outlined below. Athlone is designated as a ‘Regional Growth Centre’, one of only three in the EMRA region alongside Drogheda and Dundalk. Regional Growth Centres are ‘’large towns with a high level of self-sustaining employment and services that act as regional economic drivers and play a significant role for a wide catchment area’’. Further, Mullingar is designated as a ‘Key Town’ described as “large economically active service and/or county towns that provide employment for their surrounding areas and with highquality transport links and the capacity to act as growth drivers to complement the Regional Growth Centres”. These designations mean that Athlone and Mullingar together will be the focus of much of the projected population growth for the County for the period of this Plan.
- ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & EMPLOYMENT 5 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 102 Figure 5.1 Westmeath Economic Context
Source Westmeath County Council: Westmeath County Development Plan 2021–2027 (2021–2027) · 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.