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
Ask this document
Answers come only from the text of Westmeath County Development Plan 2021–2027, each claim linked to its page. They are not advice; check the page itself.
Free, with a daily limit.
- SETTLEMENT PLANS 8 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 260 8.6.5 Collinstown Village Location: Located on the R395, 7km southeast of Castlepollard and 20km north of Mullingar. Population 2016 Census: 356 persons. Key Social/Community Facilities A number of social and community facilities serving the village and its hinterland including: Shops, Post Office, Pubs, National School, Creche, Church, Community Hall. GAA Club, ICA, Lough Lene Anglers, Playground, Pitch and Putt, Set Dancers, Residents’ Association, Senior Citizen Committee, Social Dancing, Youth Group and Tidy Towns. Wastewater Treatment: Served by an existing Wastewater Treatment Plant. Water Supply: Public Water supply available. A former Market Square dominates the core of Collinstown and offers an attractive public area through its green spaces and mature trees. A large and impressive elm tree within this area acts as a strong focal point for the centre of Collinstown, which, along with a freestanding cast-iron “cow tail” water pump erected circa 1885, adds considerable character to the village centre. Much of the core of the village is characterised by traditional, vernacular buildings providing an appropriate mix of residential, commercial and social uses with more recent infill housing around the old Market Square. Priorities for the Village in this plan include the following: • Facilitate improved local service provision. • The provision of housing and commercial development within the village core. • Consolidated strengthening of the village form to engender a sense of place and identity, supplemented by public realm enhancement works. Policy Objectives: Public Realm Development and Design Community/Social • Support public realm enhancement works such as paving, street lighting, parking, undergrounding of cables, furniture, planting etc. • Support the provision of housing commensurate to its position in the settlement hierarchy. • Support the development of small-scale retail and service provision of a range and type consistent with the scale of the village. • Development proposals on identified lands shall be accompanied by a site-specific Flood Risk Assessment (FRA) carried out in accordance with the methodology set out in ‘The Planning System and Flood Risk Management – Guidelines for Planning Authorities, 2009’ (See Map 38, Volume 2). • Support the creation of a walk from the village to Lough Lene, subject to environmental assessment. • Support creation of cycling infrastructure within the town, its hinterlands and at areas of interest and attractions.
- SETTLEMENT PLANS 8 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 261 8.6.6 Glasson Village Location: Located to the west of the County situated on the N55, 8km north-east of Athlone. Population 2016 Census: 207 persons. Key Social/Community Facilities A number of social and community facilities serving the village and its hinterland including: – Shops, Pubs, Restaurants, B&B’s, Garda Station, Childcare, Health Care, Heritage Centre, Golf, Boating, Fishing and Angling. Wastewater Treatment: Served by a connection to Athlone Wastewater Treatment Plant. Water Supply: Public Water supply available. Glasson village developed as an estate village in the 1760s at the edge of the Waterstown House and Demesne. The existing village structure is linear in form with a built edge along Main Street and old stone walls on the opposite side of the street, creating an attractive streetscape. The terrace of buildings along the southern stretch of Main Street is noted as being of particular architectural merit given its contribution to the streetscape value of the north-south axis. Priorities for the Village in this plan include the following: • Facilitate improved local service provision. • The provision of housing and commercial development within the village core. • Expand on the village’s tourist appeal given the village’s proximity to Lough Ree. • Undertake a programme of Environmental and Public Realm enhancement, promote a pedestrian bias in the settlement and visually enhance the approach roads into the settlement, to be enabled by a future N55 by-pass. Policy Objectives: Public Realm Development and Design Community/Social • Support public realm enhancement works which distinguish core area of village by way of paving, street lighting, parking, furniture, planting etc. • Investigate the potential for a pedestrian and cycling path to connect the villages/rural nodes of Ballykeeran, Glasson and Tubberclair by means of a feasibility study. • Support the provision of housing commensurate to its position in the settlement hierarchy. • Support the provision of new retail and commercial outlets of a range and type consistent with the scale of the village and located in Mixed Use zoning. • Support the creation of pedestrian/heritage walks from the village to the countryside and Lough Ree. • Support creation of cycling infrastructure within the town, its hinterlands and at areas of interest and attractions. • Enhance access to Lough Ree lakeshore and adjoining areas.
- SETTLEMENT PLANS 8 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 262 8.6.7 Milltownpass Village Location: Located in the southeast of the County situated on the R446 (former N6), 15km south of Mullingar. Population 2016 Census: 300 persons. Key Social/Community Facilities A number of social and community facilities serving the village and its hinterland including: – Pub, Primary School, Church, Community Centre, Playground, Scouts and GAA Club along with a light industrial and employment base. Wastewater Treatment: Served by an existing Wastewater Treatment Plant. Water Supply: Public Water supply available. Milltownpass is a small settlement with traditional street frontage, bisected by the R446. Milltownpass has a charming village streetscape and a number of high-quality vernacular structures within the settlement. Priorities for the Village in this plan include the following: • Creation of a more coherent settlement to maintain and improve local service provision. • The provision of housing and commercial development within the village core. • Consolidated enhancement of the village settlement form to engender a sense of place and identity supplemented by public realm enhancement works. Policy Objectives: Public Realm Development and Design Community/Social • Support public realm enhancement works which distinguish core area of village by way of paving, undergrounding of cables, street lighting, parking, furniture, planting etc. • Support the provision of housing commensurate to its position in the settlement hierarchy. • Support the provision of new small-scale retail and commercial outlets of a range and type consistent with the scale of the village and located in Mixed Use zoning • Support the creation of walking routes from the village to the surrounding countryside. • Support creation of cycling infrastructure within the town, its hinterlands and at areas of interest and attractions. • Support the development of a village park and amenity area.
- SETTLEMENT PLANS 8 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 263 8.6.8 Multyfarnham Village Location: Located 12km northwest of Mullingar and 8km southwest of Castlepollard. Population 2016 Census: 420 persons which represents an 11.7% increase since 2011 census. Key Social/Community Facilities A number of social and community facilities serving the village and its hinterland including: – Bars, Shops, Restaurants, Primary & Secondary School, Nursing Home, Church, Community Centre, Garda Station, Playground and GAA Club. Wastewater Treatment: Served by an existing Wastewater Treatment Plant. Water Supply: Public Water supply available. The village of Multyfarnham has evolved around its wide Main Street and the four principal roads to Crookedwood, Coole, Ballynafid and Bunbrosna. The crossing on the River Gaine informed the layout of the village. The core of the village is designated as an Architectural Conservation Area (ACA) with traditional village buildings, primarily terraced, contributing to the strong village character of Multyfarnham. Priorities for the Village in this plan include the following: • Facilitate improved local service provision. • The provision of housing and commercial development within the village core. • Consolidated enhancement of the village settlement form to engender a sense of place and identity, supplemented by public realm enhancement works. Policy Objectives: Public Realm Development and Design Community/Social • Support public realm enhancement works which distinguish core area of village by way of paving, street lighting, parking, furniture, planting etc. • Protect and maintain the buildings within the ACA and resist development proposals that would undermine the setting and interpretation of any such structure. • Support housing provision commensurate to its position in the settlement hierarchy. • Support the provision of new small-scale retail and commercial outlets of a range and type consistent with the scale of the village and located in Mixed Use and Expanded Settlement Centre zoning. • Support the creation of enhanced pedestrian walking links within the village, its hinterlands and at areas of interest and attractions. • Support creation of cycling infrastructure within the village, its hinterlands and at areas of interest and attractions including local waterways.
- SETTLEMENT PLANS 8 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 264 8.7 Rural Remainder This settlement category includes established Rural Villages of Ballinagore, Coole, Finnea, Raharney, Rathowen and settlement Nodes as set out in the Settlement Hierarchy of the Core Strategy. These Rural Villages provide important local level residential, retailing and community functions to their associated rural hinterlands. In these areas, emphasis is placed on sustaining vibrant rural communities, reversing rural decline, regeneration and renewal will be the Council’s priority in accordance with the National Planning Framework. Rural villages settlement plans contain a village/development boundary with a single zoning identified as ‘Self-Sustaining Rural Consolidation’. This zoning provides for a mix of development types that supports the sustainable growth of the rural area and community as part of existing established village settlements. Development on these lands can include a range of uses that are considered to have the potential to improve the rural fabric of the settlement and its surrounding area.
No text on this page — it is probably a drawing, a map, a photograph or a scanned page. See it in the PDF.
- RURAL WESTMEATH 9 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 265 Table of Contents 9.1 Aim .......................................................................................................................................... 266 9.2 Background ............................................................................................................................. 266 9.3 Legislative and Policy Context................................................................................................. 267 9.4 Rural Settlement Strategy ....................................................................................................... 269 9.5 Environmental Capacity .......................................................................................................... 273 9.6 Development within the hinterland of Settlements ............................................................... 274 9.7 Rural Areas Subject to Sensitive Resource Designation ......................................................... 275 9.8 Areas of High Amenity ............................................................................................................ 276 9.9 Refurbishment and Extensions of Existing Structures ............................................................ 277 9.10 Rural Enterprise and Economy................................................................................................ 278 9.11 Agriculture .............................................................................................................................. 279 9.12 Horticulture ............................................................................................................................. 282 9.13 Equine Industry ....................................................................................................................... 283 9.14 Forestry ................................................................................................................................... 283 9.15 Extractive Industry .................................................................................................................. 286
- RURAL WESTMEATH 9 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 266 9.1 Aim Support the role of rural areas in maintaining a stable population base through a strong network of villages and small towns and strengthening rural communities by supporting a resilient rural economy and the sustainable management of land and resources. 9.2 Background Rural Westmeath is home to a diverse range of land uses including agriculture and equine industries, centres of local food production, recreational and tourist activities, established villages and rural housing. These combine to provide both residents and visitors with a quality environment to live, work and recreate. Traditionally rural areas have been largely dependent on farming, but this is no longer the case. The facilitation of sustainable sources of income and enterprise such as rural tourism (which has significant potential for growth due to a range of recreational activities and outdoor pursuits), farm diversification, forestry, rural based enterprise to complement the agri-food sector and an increasing potential for the growth of the renewable energy sector is encouraged. Furthermore, enhanced connectivity through the roll-out of broadband provision in rural Westmeath provides access to national and international markets. In terms of rural settlement, the Westmeath countryside is a living and lived-in landscape with supporting rural economies and rural communities. There is a continuing need to balance housing need for people to live and work in the countryside, while at the same time avoiding unsustainable patterns of development and protecting environmental qualities. Encouragement and support for restoration and refurbishment of the existing built fabric in rural areas is essential to retain its core identity. This Chapter sets out the policy objectives required for the sustainable development of rural Westmeath, in a manner that is consistent with the guidance, strategies and policies at national and regional level based on the following principles: • A focus on supporting vibrant rural communities centred around a network of rural towns and villages. • The requirement to transition to a low carbon and climate resilient society, necessitates consideration of the spatial pattern of development focusing on avoidance of unnecessary trips. • Support of rural Westmeath as an important national and international tourism and heritage asset and protection of its natural and environmental assets. • The need to provide for a resilient rural economy. • Accommodation of specific land use requirements of agricultural activity as a first priority. • Enhancement of the competitiveness of rural areas by supporting innovation in rural economic development and enterprise through the diversification of the rural economy into new sectors and services.
- RURAL WESTMEATH 9 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 267 9.3 Legislative and Policy Context 9.3.1 Project Ireland 2040 - National Planning Framework The National Planning Framework (NPF) acknowledges that “rural areas have a major role to play in Ireland 2040 and encourages Local Authorities to ensure that connectivity gaps are addressed and that planning and investment policies support job creation in the rural economy”. Improved coordination of existing investment programmes dealing with social inclusion, rural development and town and village renewal are sought, as is planning for the future growth and development of rural areas. In terms of rural housing, the NPF distinguishes between commuter areas and other rural regions throughout the Country. The NPF recognises the “significant pressures from urban generated pressures in commuter areas and highlights how commuter-generated housing in rural areas accessible to cities and towns, has affected the character and cohesion of some locations. It seeks to manage the growth of areas that are under strong urban influence to avoid over-development, while sustaining vibrant rural communities.” 9.3.2 Sustainable Rural Housing, Guidelines for Planning Authorities, 2005 The Circular letter PL2/2017, issued by the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government in May 2017, advised local authorities that the Sustainable Rural Housing Guidelines are currently being revised to ensure the rural housing policies and objectives contained in local authority development plans comply with Article 43 of the EU Treaty on the freedom of movement of citizens. 9.3.3 Eastern and Midlands Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy The Eastern and Midlands Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES) recognises the major contribution that rural areas make towards regional and national development in economic, social and environmental terms. The RSES aims to strengthen the fabric of rural Ireland, supporting rural towns and communities as well as the open countryside, improving connectivity, and supporting job creation, particularly in a more diverse range of sectors. The RSES supports the consolidation of the town and village network, to ensure that development proceeds sustainably and at an appropriate scale, level and pace in line with the Core Strategies of County Development Plans. The RSES requires that planning for rural areas must provide a balance between managing demand in the most accessible rural areas in proximity to larger towns, whilst supporting the sustainable growth of rural economics and rural communities. It requires that Core Strategies for County Development Plans identify areas under strong urban influence in the hinterlands of settlements and set the appropriate rural housing policy response to avoid ribbon and over spill development from urban areas, support revitalised towns and villages, achieve sustainable compact growth targets and protect the rural resource for rural communities.
- RURAL WESTMEATH 9 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 268 It also highlights the fundamental importance of planning the distribution of activity (for example where people live and work) in a manner which reduces the need to travel and achieves a move towards a low carbon society having regard to the impact which transport has on carbon emissions. 9.3.4 Realising our Rural Potential: Action Plan for Rural Development This government strategy introduced in 2017 (Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs) is aimed at delivering real change for people living and working in rural Ireland. The objective of the Action Plan for Rural Development is to “unlock the potential of rural Ireland through a framework of supports, at national and local level, which will ensure that people who live in rural areas have increased opportunities for employment locally, and access to public services and social networks”. A number of key initiatives proposed as part of the Strategy include the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and the delivery of the 2014-2020 EU LEADER Programme. The Action Plan for Rural Ireland builds on the commitments contained in the Charter for Rural Ireland (referenced below) and sets out a clear roadmap for its implementation. 9.3.5 Rural Economic Development The Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas (CEDRA) was established in 2012 following the severe impact of the economic downturn on rural areas. The REDZ (Rural Economic Development Zone) initiative was a recommendation contained within the CEDRA and is intended to complement the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and cater for projects between the towns and surrounding hinterland that maximise local assets in areas such as tourism, culture, heritage and other areas that support rural economic activity. 9.3.6 Food Wise 2025 Food Wise 2025 sets out a strategic plan for the development of the agri-food (including seafood) sector for the period up to 2025 and is the successor to the Food Harvest 2020 strategy. Food Wise 2025 identifies growth projections for the sector including: • 85% increase in the value of agri-food exports to €19 billion; • 70% increase in value added in the agri-food, fisheries and wood products sector to in excess of €13 billion; • 65% increase in the value of Primary Production to almost €10 billion; • 23,000 additional direct jobs in the agri-food sector all along the supply chain from primary production to high valued added product development. Food Wise 2025 has five cross-cutting themes: sustainability, human capital, market development, competitiveness and innovation. Sustainability is key to the strategy, which states that: “environmental protection and economic competitiveness are equal and complementary – one cannot be achieved at the expense of the other”. Food Wise also supports technology and processes that result in a more efficient use of resources.
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.