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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- CLIMATE ACTION 11 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 377 • Urban Regeneration and Development Fund, the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund. CHAPTER HOW POLICY OBJECTIVES CONTRIBUTE TO CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION AND MITIGATION EMPHASIS ON MITIGATION (M) OR ADAPTATION (A) Chapter 6 Tourism • Provides for climate resilience to be taken into consideration in future tourism plans and projects. • Requires best-practice environmental management and climate proofing of tourism related developments. M Chapter 7 Urban Centre & Placemaking • Provides for the consideration of climate adaptation measures in both place-making strategies and projects. M+A Chapter 8 Settlement Plans • Provides for compact urban form, green infrastructure, increased permeability across the network of towns and rural villages in the County. M+A Chapter 9 Rural Westmeath • Promotes development in viable rural settlements with access to rural transport links, sustainable rural diversification (Smart Villages) as well as sustainable agricultural/ forestry practices etc. • Provides for rural housing policy including guiding principles for “Rural Areas under Strong Urban Pressure” in the context of a shift towards reduced travel demand. The environmental benefits of this approach, including contributing towards climate mitigation and greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets, has been demonstrated in the accompanying SEA. M+A Chapter 10 Transport, Infrastructure and Energy • Promotes reduced carbon usage and encouragement of modal shift to more sustainable modes of transport. • Encourages the use of Sustainable urban drainage measures to reduce surface water run-off. • Promotion of renewable energy and sustainable building design. M+A
- CLIMATE ACTION 11 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 378 • Recognised the importance of renewable (wind/solar etc.) development. • Provides for a shift to EVs cars. • Provides for less transport intensive growth through better planning, remote and home-working and modal shift to public transport. • Provides for climate change as a key consideration under flood risk policy. • Provides policy in relation to SUDS and climate change. • Facilitates measures which seek to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and supports the implementation of actions identified in the Westmeath County Council Climate Change Adaptation Strategy 2019-2024. Chapter 11 Climate Action • Provides policy context in relation to developing a climate resilient society. M Chapter 12 Natural Heritage & Green Infrastructure • Promotion of a green infrastructure network and nature-based approach to climate. M+A Chapter 13 Landscape & Lake Amenities • Measure to protect and enhance the existing landscape character areas, lakes, amenity areas, scenic routes and promotion of nature-based approach to climate change. M Chapter 14 Built & Cultural Heritage • Focus on climate-proofing protected structures, with emphasis on educating the public with regard to best practice. M+A Chapter 15 Land Use Zoning • A consolidated Land Use Zoning strategy informed by the Strategic Flood Risk Assessment. M+A Chapter 16 Development Management Standards • Sets out criteria for new development in relation to building design and performance, energy efficiency and low carbon development. M+A
- CHAPTER 12 CHAPTER 12 Natural Heritage and Green Infrastructure
- NATURAL HERITAGE AND GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE 12 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 379 Table of Contents Table of Contents ................................................................................................................................ 379 12.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 380 12.2 Natural Heritage and Green Infrastructure ............................................................................ 380 12.3 Natural Heritage Policy Framework ........................................................................................ 380 12.4 Project Ireland 2040 - National Planning Framework (NPF) ................................................... 381 12.5 Eastern and Midlands Regional Assembly: Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy ............ 381 12.6 Westmeath Biodiversity Action Plan 2014-2020 .................................................................... 383 12.7 Appropriate Assessment ......................................................................................................... 384 12.8 Natura 2000 sites .................................................................................................................... 385 12.9 Natural Heritage Areas (NHA) ................................................................................................. 387 12.10 Rare and Protected Species and their Habitats ...................................................................... 389 12.11 Local Sites of Biodiversity Value and Non-Designated Sites ................................................... 391 12.12 Invasive Species....................................................................................................................... 392 12.13 Geology ................................................................................................................................... 393 12.14 Trees, Woodlands and Hedgerows ......................................................................................... 396 12.15 Wetlands ................................................................................................................................. 397 12.16 Waterways (lakes rivers/canals/streams) ............................................................................... 398 12.17 Peatlands ................................................................................................................................. 400 12.18 What is Green Infrastructure? ................................................................................................ 402 12.19 Integration of Green Infrastructure in Westmeath ................................................................ 403 12.20 A Green Infrastructure Strategy for Westmeath .................................................................... 403 12.21 Green Infrastructure Management......................................................................................... 404 12.22 Greenways............................................................................................................................... 405 12.23 Blueways ................................................................................................................................. 408 12.24 Public Rights of Way ................................................................................................................ 409
- NATURAL HERITAGE AND GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE 12 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 380 12.1 Aim Continue to protect and enhance the County’s natural heritage and biodiversity and ensure that networks of green infrastructure are identified, created, protected and enhanced to provide a wide range of environmental, social and economic benefits to communities. 12.2 Natural Heritage and Green Infrastructure Westmeath supports a wide range of habitat types and landscapes including peatlands, lakes, canals, woodlands, wetlands, grasslands, eskers and hedgerows. Natural heritage and biodiversity are integral to the image of Westmeath and contribute to the well-being and quality of life of those living in and visiting the County. It is recognised that green infrastructure is an innovative approach to the maintenance and preservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services in the wider landscape. The plan supports the development of green infrastructure networks in order to protect the county’s rich and varied natural heritage. 12.3 Natural Heritage Policy Framework This Plan sets out to contribute towards the protection of designated ecological sites including Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs), Ramsar Sites, Flora Protection Order Sites, Wildlife Sites (including Nature Reserves), certain entries to the Water Framework Directive Register of Protected Areas, Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs) and proposed Natural Heritage Areas (pNHAs), Wildfowl Sanctuaries (see S.I. 192 of 1979) and Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs). Contribute towards compliance with relevant EU Environmental Directives and applicable National Legislation, Policies, Plans and Guidelines, including the following and any updated/superseding documents: • EU Directives, including the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC, as amended), the Birds Directive (2009/147/EC), the Environmental Liability Directive (2004/35/EC), the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive (2011/92/EU, as amended by 2014/52/EC), the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) and the Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive (2001/42/EC). • National legislation, including the Wildlife Acts 1976 and 2010 (as amended), the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) and associated Regulations, Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000, the European Union (Water Policy) Regulations 2003 (as amended), the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 (as amended), the European Communities (Environmental Liability) Regulations 2008 (as amended) and the Flora Protection Order 2015. • National policy guidelines (including any clarifying Circulars or superseding versions of same), including the “Landscape and Landscape Assessment” Draft Guidelines 2000, the Environmental Impact Assessment Sub-Threshold Development Guidelines 2003, Strategic Environmental Assessment Guidelines 2004 and the Appropriate Assessment Guidance 2010. • Catchment and water resource management plans, including the relevant River Basin Management Plan and Flood Risk Management Plan (including any superseding versions of same).
- NATURAL HERITAGE AND GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE 12 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 381 • Biodiversity Plans and guidelines, including the 3rd National Biodiversity Plan 2017-2023 (including any superseding version of same). • Ireland’s Environment 2016 - An Assessment (EPA 2016), including any superseding versions of same), and to make provision where appropriate to address the report’s goals and challenges. 12.4 Project Ireland 2040 - National Planning Framework (NPF) The National Planning Framework (NPF) aims to protect and value our important and vulnerable habitats, landscapes, natural heritage and green spaces. It highlights the importance of the interrelationships between biodiversity, natural heritage, landscape and our green spaces. The NPF states that integrated planning for green infrastructure and ecosystem services will be incorporated into the preparation of statutory land use plans. It also refers to the importance of biodiversity and how the planning system will be responsive to our national environmental challenges and ensure that development occurs within environmental limits having regard to the requirements of all relevant environmental legislation. 12.5 Eastern and Midlands Regional Assembly: Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy The Strategy sets out 16 Regional Strategic Outcomes (RSOs) which are aligned with international, EU and national policy and set the framework for City and County Development Plans. One of these outcomes specifically refers to enhanced green infrastructure with an objective to identify, protect and enhance green infrastructure and ecosystem services in the region and promote the sustainable management of strategic natural assets such as our farmlands, peatlands, uplands woodlands and wetlands. The Strategy recognises the need to conserve and enhance the biodiversity of our protected habitats and species including landscape and heritage protection, to identify, protect and enhance our green infrastructure, to ensure the sustainable management of our natural resources, to build climate resilience, to support the transition to a low carbon economy by 2050 and the protection of the healthy natural environment to ensure clean air and water for all. It supports the development and delivery of sustainable strategic greenways, blueways and peatways, the future development of national and regional greenways and promotes co-ordinated spatial planning to conserve and enhance the biodiversity of protected habitats and species including landscape and heritage protection. It also recognises that green infrastructure serves a wide variety of important functions including but not limited to provision of habitat, increased biodiversity, ecological corridors, climate change adaptation and mitigation, water treatment, water retention, local amenity provision, air quality improvement and cultural and heritage preservation.
- NATURAL HERITAGE AND GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE 12 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 382 The Eastern and Midlands Regional Assembly Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES) further advocates the development of a green infrastructure approach at all levels in the planning system and specifically as part of the preparation of Green Infrastructure Strategies at County/City level. The following RPO’s are of particular relevance: Regional Policy Objective 4.64 Support Mullingar’s role as a tourism hub having regard to its accessibility to key tourist destinations in the region including proximity to natural amenities and recreational opportunities including the Galway to Dublin Greenway. Regional Policy Objective 6.7 Support local authorities to develop sustainable and economically efficient rural economies through initiatives to enhance sectors such as agricultural and food, forestry, fishing and aquaculture, energy and extractive industries, the bio-economy, tourism, and diversification into alternative on-farm and off-farm activities, while at the same time noting the importance of maintaining and protecting the natural landscape and built heritage. Regional Policy Objective 7.19 Support the consideration of designating a National Park for the peatlands area in the Midlands. Regional Policy Objective 7.22 Local authority development plan and local area plans, shall identify, protect, enhance, provide and manage green infrastructure in an integrated and coherent manner and should also have regard to the required targets in relation to the conservation of European Sites, other nature conservation sites, ecological networks, and protected species. Regional Policy Objective 7.23 Support the further development of Green Infrastructure policies and coordinate the mapping of strategic green infrastructure in the region. Regional Policy Objective 7.24 Promote the development of a sustainable strategic greenway network of national and regional routes, with a number of high capacity flagship routes that can be extended and/or linked with local greenways and other cycling and walking infrastructure, notwithstanding that capacity of a greenway is limited to what is ecologically sustainable.
- NATURAL HERITAGE AND GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE 12 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 383 Regional Policy Objective 7.25 Support local authorities and state agencies in the delivery of sustainable strategic greenways, blueways and peatways projects in the region under the Strategy for the Future Development of National and Regional Greenways. Regional Policy Objective 7.26 Support the development of guidance for assessment of proposed land zonings in order to achieve appropriate riparian setback distances that support the attainment of high ecological status for waterbodies, the conservation of biodiversity and good ecosystem health, and buffer zones from flood plains. 12.6 Westmeath Biodiversity Action Plan 2014-2020 The Biodiversity Action Plan sets out a vision for the conservation and sustainable management of natural heritage in Westmeath and to encourage community participation in its implementation. It provides a framework for conserving biodiversity and natural heritage at a local level and aims to conserve and enhance the biodiversity of County Westmeath by prioritising, coordinating and initiating actions to ensure effective conservation and enhancement in our county and raising awareness of biodiversity in partnership with local communities. As part of the ongoing implementation of actions under the County Westmeath Biodiversity Plan 2014-2020, the Council has undertaken an audit of Geological heritage sites in Westmeath, carried out a County Swift Survey, prepared a Management Plan for County Council owned lands at Coolure Demesne and facilitated information sessions on management of biodiversity in graveyards. Natural Heritage Policy Objectives It is a policy objective of Westmeath County Council to: CPO 12.1 Contribute as appropriate towards the protection of designated sites in compliance with relevant EU Directives and applicable national legislation. CPO 12.2 Support the implementation of any relevant recommendations contained in the National Biodiversity Plan, the All Ireland Pollinator Plan and the National Peatlands Strategy. CPO 12.3 Support the implementation of the Westmeath Biodiversity Action Plan 2014-2020 and any revisions made thereto.
- NATURAL HERITAGE AND GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE 12 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 384 12.7 Appropriate Assessment The Habitats Directive requires that the impacts of any plans or projects likely to affect Natura 2000 sites are assessed by the Planning Authority. This process is known as Appropriate Assessment (AA). Appropriate Assessment means an assessment, based on best scientific knowledge, of the potential impacts of a plan or project, wherever located, on the conservation objectives of any Natura 2000 site and the development, where necessary, of mitigation or avoidance measures to preclude negative effects. The Natura 2000 network consists of Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) and candidate cSAC and Special Protection Areas (SPA) and candidate cSPA both within the county and within a 15km radius of same. It is Council policy that all development proposals relating to Natura 2000 sites will comply with the DoECLG publication “Appropriate Assessment of Plans and Projects in Ireland- Guidance for Planning Authorities” All projects and plans arising will be screened for the need to undertake Appropriate Assessment under Article 6 of the Habitats Directive. A plan or project will only be authorised after the Council has ascertained, based on scientific evidence, Screening for Appropriate Assessment, and subsequent Appropriate Assessment where necessary that: 1. The plan or project will not give rise to significant adverse direct, indirect or secondary effects on the integrity of any European Site (either individually or in combination with other plans or projects) or 2. The plan or project will have significant adverse effects on the integrity of any European site (that does not host a priority natural habitat type/and or a priority species) but there are no alternative solutions and the plan or project must nevertheless be carried out for imperative reasons of overriding public interest, including those of a social or economic nature. In this case, it will be a requirement to follow procedures set out in legislation and agree and undertake all compensatory measures necessary to ensure the protection of the overall coherence of Natura 2000 or 3. The plan or project will have a significant adverse effect on the integrity of any European Site (that hosts a natural habitat type and/or a priority species) but there are no alternative solutions and the plan or project must nevertheless be carried out for imperative reasons for overriding public interest, restricted to reasons of human health or public safety, to beneficial consequences of primary importance for the environment or further to an opinion from the Commission, to other imperative reasons of overriding public interest. In this case, it will be a requirement to follow procedures set out in legislation and agree and undertake all compensatory measures necessary to ensure the protection of the overall coherence of Natura 2000. Following a finding that a proposed development will adversely affect the integrity of a Natura 2000 site, planning permission may only be granted in exceptional cases, in the absence of any alternatives, for Imperative Reasons of Overriding Public Interest (IROPI) subject to the strict requirements of Article 6(4) of the Habitats Directive.
- NATURAL HERITAGE AND GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE 12 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 385 12.8 Natura 2000 sites Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) are being or have been, designated to conserve habitats and species of European importance pursuant to the EU Habitats and Birds Directives respectively. Collectively these designated areas are referred to as Natura 2000 sites. Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) are designated under the Habitats Directive and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) designated under the Conservation of Wild Birds Directive (79/409/ECC).The National Parks and Wildlife Service website provides up-to-date information regarding these sites (www.npws.ie). These sites are part of a pan-European network known as Natura 2000 internationally and nationally designated sites hosting habitats listed in Annex I of the Habitats Directive and sites hosting rare and protected species and their habitats. The boundaries of the protected areas may change during the lifetime of the Plan and additional areas may be designated. Many wetland SACs and SPAs of international importance in Ireland are also listed as Ramsar Sites, which comprise of important wetland areas. There are 5 Ramsar Sites in Westmeath listed in Table 12.2. Many other wetlands occur outside of designated sites and are ecologically important due to the habitats they support. Article 6(1) of the Habitats Directive requires that Member States establish the necessary conservation measures for European Sites involving, if need be, appropriate management plans specifically designed for the sites or integrated into other development plans. The NPWS’s current priority is to identify site specific conservation objectives and management plans may be considered after this is done. The Council has prepared a Habitat Management Plan for Council owned lands along Lough Ennell at Belvedere, Lilliput, Tudenham, Butler’s Bridge and Ladestown. It is the intention to continue this established practice of preparing habitat management plans for Council owned lands at other lakes in the County, in consultation with the NPWS, thus ensuring that such plans are fully integrated with the NPWS Plan and other plans and programmes, and that they are practical, achievable and sustainable and have regard to all relevant ecological, cultural, social and economic considerations, including those of local communities. Natura 2000 Sites Policy Objectives It is a policy objective of Westmeath County Council to: CPO 12.4 Protect and conserve Special Areas of Conservation, candidate Special Areas of Conservation, Special Protection Areas and candidate Special Protection Areas, designated under the EU Birds and Habitats Directives respectively. CPO 12.5 Ensure that no plans, programmes, etc. or projects giving rise to significant cumulative, direct, indirect or secondary impacts on European Sites arising from their size or scale, land take, proximity, resource requirements, emissions (disposal to land, water or air), transportation requirements, duration of construction, operation,
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