Westmeath County Development Plan 2021–2027

1. Page 491

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   DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT STANDARDS 16 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 472  That the accommodation can revert back to being part of the original house when no longer occupied by a member of the family. CPO 16.30 Residential care homes, retirement homes, nursing homes, retirement villages and sheltered accommodation: Proposals for this type of accommodation should:  Be located within towns and villages for reasons of sustainability, accessibility, social inclusion and proximity to services. Exceptions will only be considered where a professional and evidence-based need is demonstrated to locate in a rural environment because of the nature of the care required.  Provide adequate open space informed by the need to cater for all levels of ability and in particular the needs of an ageing population and the mobility impaired, in line with Ministerial and Departmental Guidelines including Housing Options for Our Ageing Population Policy Statement (Department of Health) (2019) and Thinking Ahead: Independent and Supported Housing Models for an Ageing Population (Housing Agency) (2018).  Provide adequate parking facilities.  Be of a size, scale and incorporate external finishes appropriate to the area.  Not detract from the residential amenities of adjoining lands. 16.3.6 Home-Based Economic Activity (HBEA) Home based economic activity is defined as domestic scaled commercial activity carried out by residents of a house. Advancements in information communication systems (ICT), a connected worldwide economy and the environmental benefits associated with carbon reduction support the provision of HBEA. HBEA is encouraged where it is ancillary to main residential use and where it does not have any adverse impacts on the amenities of neighbouring dwellings. Development Management Standards Policy Objectives - Home-Based Economic Activity It is a policy objective of Westmeath County Council to: CPO 16.31 Consider the following criteria when assessing development proposals:  The type of business proposed;  The nature and extent of the work;  Reason for its location (e.g. justification on why it is not proposed within settlement centre, etc.);  Anticipated levels of traffic generated by the proposal, accessibility, and carparking;

2. Page 492

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   DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT STANDARDS 16 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 473  The effects on the amenities of the adjoining occupiers particularly in relation to hours of work, noise and general disturbance;  Whether the proposal requires delivery/shipment of goods and details of same;  Arrangements for storage and collection of waste. (Materials used or goods manufactured, serviced or repaired in the home-based business must be stored within a building).  No goods manufactured, serviced or repaired should be displayed so that they are visible from outside the site.  Should not have any adverse impacts on the amenities of neighbouring dwellings. A temporary permission may be granted to enable the planning authority to monitor the impact of the development in the area. 16.3.7 Rural Housing Notwithstanding an applicants’ demonstration of compliance with the rural housing criteria as set out at Chapter 9, it is important to note that applicants are also required to meet overriding sustainable planning practices in terms of visual impact, design standards, environmental and traffic safety issues. The design of rural housing development requires careful design consideration to ensure that all new development sensitively integrates into the landscape. This requires specific focus on site selection, design, scale and form of the proposed development. The most successful designs subtly integrate with the receiving landscape by selecting naturally sheltered and screened sites and the development of a simple built form complimented with the use of materials that are reflective of traditional vernacular. Development Management Standards Policy Objectives - Rural Housing It is a policy objective of Westmeath County Council to: CPO 16.32 Apply the following guidance in assessing planning applications for rural housing: Site Selection and Design  The scale, form, design and siting of the development should be sensitive to its surroundings and visually integrate with the receiving landscape.  Simple design forms and materials reflective of traditional vernacular should be used.  Have regard to the scale of surrounding buildings. A large house requires a large site to ensure effective integration into its surroundings (either immediately or in the future, through planned screening

3. Page 493

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   DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT STANDARDS 16 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 474  The design, siting and orientation of a new dwelling should be site specific responding to the natural features and topography of the site to best integrate development with the landscape and to optimise solar gain to maximise energy efficiency.  The siting of new development shall visually integrate with the landscape, utilising natural features including existing contours and established field boundaries and shall not visually dominates the landscape. (Cutting and filling of sites is not desirable).  New buildings should respect the landscape context and not impinge scenic views or skylines as seen from vantage points or public roads.  Larger houses (e.g. in excess of 200sqm) should incorporate design solutions to minimise visual mass and scale e.g. sub-divided into smaller elements of traditional form to avoid bulky structures.  Use a simple plan form to give a clean roof shape – a long plan in preference to a deep plan. This will avoid the creation of a bulky shape.  Where existing vernacular structures exist on site, consideration should be given to their re-use, adaptation and extension in preference to new build.  Clustering with existing rural buildings is generally preferable to stand-alone locations.  The applicant should determine if the proposed development is located on any designated natural heritage, archaeological or architectural heritage site. The existence of any of these designated sites within the proposed development site may have implications for the proposed dwelling. Materials and Detailing  The detail, texture, colour, pattern, and durability of materials of the proposed development should be sustainable and of a high quality, and sensitive to its proposed location.  Local Stone (sandstone/limestone - area specific) and render such as stucco, traditional lime render or lime wash, rough cast render or napped render finish and glass is encouraged. Metal cladding such as copper, timber shingle, selffinished modern renders, and painted timber finish may be acceptable in certain instances or in cases where the design solution calls for an accent material. Brick, stone cladding which clearly reads as non-structural and non-Local Stone or dashes and cladding and other metal or timber finishes which give an engineered or artificial appearance will generally not be permitted.  Where contemporary materials are proposed they should complement and harmonise with traditional materials.  Simple design forms and roof designs with narrow spans (gable-widths) and pitches/profiles are preferable.

4. Page 494

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   DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT STANDARDS 16 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 475  Particular attention should be paid to the solid to void ratio of windows and doors. Openings should be proportionate to complement the style of the building.  Decorative fascias and box end soffits should be avoided. CPO 16.33 Boundary Treatment  Application sites should be flanked with a minimum of two established natural boundaries to aid visual integration and help soften the visual impact of the development in the landscape.  Existing hedgerows and landscape features on site should be retained and augmented on site. Where hedgerow removal is required to achieve sight lines, new hedgerow(s) of a native species must be planted inside the line of visibility.  New roadside frontage should be incorporated into existing roadside treatment using compatible hedgerow planting, walls, timber fencing and/or drystone work.  Boundary treatment should reflect local traditions. Traditional dry-stone wall construction or limestone walls with lime mortar, and/or post and wire/timber fencing backplanted with indigenous hedging are considered appropriate at entrances. Over-scaled and elaborate designs should be avoided.  The design of entrance gates should be in keeping with the rural setting. Entrances, wing walls and piers which are not demonstrated to be in character with the rural location of the proposed development will generally not be permitted. All planning applications must include detailed drawings and specifications for vehicular entrance arrangements.  Driveways, and surfaced areas should be located so as to minimise the visual impacts of these proposed structures for example by following existing contour lines. Access and Sight Lines  All applications for planning permission must include (at a minimum scale of 1:500) comprehensive details of the way in which safe access and egress to the site can be achieved.  Existing roadside hedgerows and trees should be retained as much as possible. The entrance should be carefully considered to achieve the required sight distance with the removal of a minimum extent of existing hedgerow.  Where satisfactory access can be achieved only by removing large stretches of roadside hedgerow/ditches/stone boundaries, an alternative site for the proposed development should be sought.  The sharing of vehicular entrances will be encouraged where appropriate in order to avoid a proliferation of access points. Where a new house is to be sited

5. Page 495

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   DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT STANDARDS 16 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 476 adjacent to existing dwellings, use of existing entrances, avenues and driveways should be considered.  Safe unobstructed sight distances should be provided and maintained thereafter from vehicular entrances onto the road network as follows: - Local Roads: 90 metres, (subject to the discretion of the Planning Authority where a lesser distance is demonstrably adequate in terms of traffic safety). - Regional Roads: 150 metres - National Roads: 230 metres Landscaping  Landscaping proposals should be submitted with all planning applications for development and shall include a schedule of indigenous native plant species and implementation timeline. Surface & Wastewater Treatment  Domestic wastewater treatment plant and percolation areas to comply with the requirements of the Code of Practice Wastewater Treatment Systems Serving Single Dwellings (EPA, 2009) or other superseding standards. These details should be included in any application for a new or replacement dwelling or an extension to an existing dwelling where there is an increase in demand on the treatment capacity of any existing system. CPO 16.34 Domestic Garage/Shed/Store  The design, form and materials should be ancillary to, and consistent with the main dwelling on site.  Structures should generally be detached and sited to the rear of the dwelling house and be visually subservient in terms of size, scale and bulk.  Storage facilities should be used solely for purposes incidental to the enjoyment of the dwelling and not for any commercial, manufacturing, industrial use or habitable space in the absence of prior planning consent for such use. 16.4 Roads and Transportation The provision of a safe vehicular access is a prerequisite for all development proposals in the interest of traffic safety for all road users. Chapter 10 of the Plan, ‘Transport, Infrastructure and Energy’ provides the policy context in ensuring the provision of efficient and sustainable infrastructural network, whilst providing for the safety of users. All planning applications will be assessed in accordance with the policy context set out in Chapter 10.

6. Page 496

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   DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT STANDARDS 16 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 477 Development Management Standards Policy Objectives - Roads and Transportation It is a policy objective of Westmeath County Council in assessing development proposals, that the following road safety considerations be taken into account: CPO 16.35 Traffic Management and Road Safety All new road layouts should be designed in accordance with the Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets (DMURS) and relevant TII publications. Development proposals should also include provision for a sustainable modal spilt, with pedestrian and cycling facilities recognised as an important aspect of new design proposals. Road Safety Audit A Road Safety Audit may be required to demonstrate that a proposed development does not pose a risk to road users, create a traffic nuisance or contribute to congestion. It should be carried out on all new national road infrastructure projects and on any schemes/proposal which results in a permanent change to the layout of a national road by suitably competent persons, in accordance with TII Publications GE-STY-01024 Road Safety Audit). Road Safety Impact Assessment (RSIA) A Road Safety Impact Assessment (RSIA) provides a strategic comparative analysis of the impact of a new road, or for substantial modifications to an existing road, on the safety performance of the road network as defined within the EU Directive on Road Infrastructure Safety Management (EU RISM) 2008/96/EC. The RSIA shall be prepared by suitably competent persons, in accordance with TII Publications PE-PMG-02001 Road Safety Impact Assessment. Traffic and Transport Assessments (TTAs) Development proposals that are likely to create significant vehicular movements will be required to undertake a site-specific assessment to demonstrate the impact of the proposal on the integrated transport system by means of a Transport and Transport Assessment (TTA). The TTA should include an assessment of the impact of the proposal on the full range of modes of transport and incorporate traffic impact statements, road safety audits and measures to maximise accessibility of non-private car related movement, carried out by suitably competent persons, in accordance with the ‘TII’s Traffic and Transport Assessment Guidelines’. Mobility Management Plans (MMPs)

7. Page 497

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   DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT STANDARDS 16 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 478 (Refer Chapter 10, Section 10.6 Mobility Management Plans for instances where MMPs are required) Mobility Management Plans should include achievable measures to reduce dependency on private car use for daily commutes and incorporate where possible;  Measures to promote use of public transport, cycling and walking;  Car sharing/carpooling;  Charges for parking;  Staggered working/business hours. Mobility Management Plans may be subject to annual reviews. It is recognised that the first (and subsequent) annual reviews of an Mobility Management Plan are the key stages in making them tangible as they will be tailored to real travel-to-work patterns and not a generic model based upon assumptions). 16.4.1 Parking Standards The purpose and application of parking standards is to ensure that when assessing development proposals, consideration is given to the accommodation of vehicles that will potentially be generated by the development proposed in accordance with national and regional policy objectives and to facilitate a modal shift towards more sustainable forms of transport. It is generally required that residential, commercial, enterprise and employment developments or otherwise, comply with the parking standards detailed in CPO 16.36. However, a reduction in the standard of car parking provision with the designated town centre areas of Athlone (Regional Centre) and Mullingar (Key/County Town) will also be considered. Development Management Standards Policy Objectives – Car Parking Standards It is a policy objective of Westmeath County Council to: CPO 16.36 Assess all planning applications for development having regard to the car parking requirements set out under Table 16.2 below. Applications for development should also provide for: Disabled Parking  A minimum of 5% of car parking spaces provided should be designed for disabled car parking.  Where the nature of particular developments are likely to generate a demand for higher levels of disabled car parking, the Planning Authority may require a higher proportion of parking for this purpose.  All disabled parking should be conveniently located in proximity to building entrance points and allocated and suitably signed/demarcated.

8. Page 498

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   DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT STANDARDS 16 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 479  Parking bay widths for disabled persons should be a minimum of 3.0m wide by 4.75m long. Age Friendly Parking  Age Friendly Parking spaces, in main towns, near strategic areas e.g. Post office, credit union, doctors’ surgery, civic buildings, etc. EV charging points  All developments should provide facilities for the charging of battery-operated cars at a rate of up to 10% of the total car parking spaces. The remainder of the parking spaces should be constructed so as to be capable of accommodating future charging points, as required.  New residential development should accommodate at least one car parking space equipped with an EV charging points for every ten car parking spaces being provided for the associated development.  Electric car charging spaces should be clearly demarcated with appropriate signage. Rapid Charge Points: Should be provided within centres of commercial activity and clearly demarcated with appropriate signage, in collaboration with ESB networks.

9. Page 499

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   DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT STANDARDS 16 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 480 Countywide Designated Town Centre Area Land Use Unit Max. Space /Unit Max. Space/Unit Residential Dwelling 1.00 1.00 Visitor Parking for Residential 1 visitor space for every three dwellings 1.00 1.00 Shopping 100m2 gross floor area 6.00 3.00 Retail Warehousing 100m2 gross floor area 3.00 3.00 Cash & Carry 100m2 gross floor area 2.00 2.00 Manufacturing 100m2 gross floor area 2.00 1.00 Warehousing 100m2 gross floor area 1.50 1.50 Office 100m2 gross floor area 3.00 1.50 Bank/Financial Institutions 100m2 gross floor area 5.00 1.00 Bar, function room 100m2 gross floor area 6.00 1.00 Restaurant 100m2 gross floor area 6.00 1.00 Take-away Unit 5.00 1.00 Hotel/ Guest House Bedroom 1.00 0.5 Hospital Bed 0.33 0.10 Nursing Home Bed 0.33 0.10 Clinics and Group Medical Practices Consulting room 3.00 1.50 Sports Hall/Club 100m2 gross floor area/ plus each court 2.00 1.00 Cinema, theatre, Stadium auditorium Per 4 seats 1.00 1.00 Table 16.2 Car Parking Standards

10. Page 500

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    DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT STANDARDS 16 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 481 Provision of secure cycle storage facilities is essential for supporting the promotion and development of cycling as a more sustainable mode of transport. High quality secure cycle storage at origins and destinations is considered to be a key element of any strategy aimed at encouraging cycling. Development Management Standards Policy Objectives – Cycle Storage It is a policy objective of Westmeath County Council to: CPO 16.37 Assess all planning applications for development having regard to the cycling storage requirements set out under Table 16.3, which are considered to be a minimum requirement. Housing Developments 1 private secure bicycle space per bed space (note - design should not require bicycle access via living area), minimum 2 spaces. 1 visitor bicycle space per two housing units. Offices 10% of employee numbers, (subject to minimum of 10 bicycle storage places or one bike space for every car space, whichever is the greater). Schools 10% of pupil registration numbers, minimum 10 places. Consider separate teacher/ employee storage. Other Developments 1 bike storage space for every car space. Shops 1 storage space per 100 sq. m. Public Transport pick-up points (Rail, tram, taxi ranks and QBCs) 2.5% of number of daily boarders at that point/ station, subject to minimum of 10 bicycle storage places. Table 16.3 Cycle Storage Standards 16.5 Retail Development The importance of consolidating and protecting the vitality and viability of town centres to enable the towns and villages of Westmeath to thrive is recognised by the Council. In this regard, new planning applications should comply with the retail policy objectives outlined in the development plan (including the County Retail Strategy) and the Retail Planning Guidelines (Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, 2012).

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.