Wicklow County Development Plan 2022–2028 – Volume 1 Written Statement

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   The Wicklow County Development Plan 2022 was adopted by the Elected Members of Wicklow County Council on 12 September 2022 The Plan came into effect on 23 October 2022

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   The Wicklow County Development Plan sets out a strategic spatial framework for the proper planning and sustainable development of County Wicklow for the period between 2022 and 2028. While the Plan is in place for a six year period, it is framed having regard to the long term development objectives of the County beyond 2028. This new plan sets out the statutory planning framework for the entire County, with a focus on the strategic planning and sustainable development of the County, and as before includes more focused local plans for 14 settlements in the County. The Development Plan Strategy is guided by three strategic principles - Healthy Placemaking, Climate Action and Economic Opportunity. It is the vision and aim of the plan to guide and facilitate the sustainable growth of the County in a manner which supports a deep respect for its unique natural heritage, capitalises on the potential of our towns and villages to deliver compact growth, facilitates healthy placemaking, supports the creation of self-sustaining settlements and rural areas that are attractive places to live in, work in and visit, provides for new job opportunities, embraces climate action and enables the transition to a low carbon, climate resilient and environmentally sustainable economy, improves sustainable mobility and conserves our heritage. This plan was prepared following extensive consultation with the people of Wicklow and other stakeholders, and I would like to thank all of those who gave their time and energy to engaging with this plan process, in order that it would reflect the desires and needs of those that live, work and visit the County. While the COVID pandemic presented challenges for engagement, I commend all that embraced the new forms of online consultation brought about in response to the lockdown limitations. I wish to express my thanks to the Elected Members of Wicklow County Council and the three Cathaoirligh that have expertly steered this process since 2019, the members of the Council’s Executive, in particular to the staff of the Forward Planning Unit, and most importantly to the people of Wicklow who made submissions during the course of preparation of the Plan. September 2022 Wicklow County Development Plan 2022 - 2028 Foreword from Brian Gleeson Wicklow Chief Executive

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   VOLUME 1 – WRITTEN STATEMENT Chapter 1 Introduction & Strategic Context 1.0 Introduction 1 1.1 Statutory Content of the Plan 2 1.2 Structure of the Plan 3 1.3 Strategic Context 4 1.4 Environmental Assessment 10 Chapter 2 Overall Strategy 2.0 Introduction 12 2.1 Healthy Placemaking 12 2.2 Climate Change 19 2.3 Economic Opportunity 32 2.4 Development Plan Strategy 43 Chapter 3 Core Strategy 3.0 Introduction 46 3.1 Population 47 3.2 Housing 48 3.3 Settlement Hierarchy 49 3.4 Population & Housing Allocations 51 3.5 Zoning 56 3.6 Transport & Accessibility 62 3.7 Retail 65 3.8 Integration of Environmental & Climate Action Considerations into the Plan 66 3.9 Compliance with Specific Planning Policy Requirements 66 Chapter 4 Settlement Strategy 4.0 Introduction 73 4.1 Regional Context 73 4.2 County Wicklow Settlement Strategy 75 4.3 Settlement Strategy Objectives 91 Chapter 5 Town & Village Centres - Placemaking & Regeneration 5.0 Introduction 119 5.1 Role of Town and Village Centres 120 5.2 Successful Town Centres 120 5.3 Placemaking 122 5.4 Compact Town and Village Centres 125 5.5 Accessible Places – Universal Design 128 5.6 Town and Village Centre Objectives 129 Chapter 6 Housing 6.0 Introduction 136 6.1 Strategic Context 137 6.2 Wicklow County Housing Strategy 138 6.3 Key Housing Principles 140 6.4 Housing Objectives 148 WICKLOW COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022-2028 TABLE OF CONTENTS

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   Chapter 7 Community Development 7.0 Introduction 159 7.1 Local Strategies 160 7.2 Community Development and Land Use Planning 162 7.3 Social Infrastructure 165 7.4 Community Development Objectives 171 Chapter 8 Built Heritage 8.0 Introduction 178 8.1 Context 179 8.2 Archaeology 180 8.3 Architectural Heritage 181 8.4 Historical and Cultural Heritage 184 8.5 Built Heritage Objectives 184 Chapter 9 Economic Development 9.0 Introduction 199 9.1 Strategic Context 199 9.2 Analysis of Employment Trends in County Wicklow 204 9.3 The Role of Land Use Planning in Economic Development 207 9.4 Economic Development Hierarchy 214 9.5 Objectives for Economic Development 216 9.6 Objectives for Wicklow’s Rural Economy 222 Chapter 10 Retail 10.0 Introduction 232 10.1 Retail Policy Context 232 10.2 Retail Hierarchy & Strategy 234 10.3 Retail Objectives 243 Chapter 11 Tourism & Recreation 11.0 Introduction 253 11.1 Context 254 11.2 Strategy for Tourism & Recreation 258 11.3 Tourism & Recreation Objectives 262 Chapter 12 Sustainable Transportation 12.0 Introduction 275 12.1 Active Modes of Transport 276 12.2 Sustainable Modes of Transport 277 12.3 Public Roads 278 12.4 Parking 280 12.5 Ports, Harbours, Marinas and Freight Transport 280 12.6 Strategic Sites in Bray 281 12.7 Roadside Signage 282 12.8 Sustainable Transportation Objectives 282 Chapter 13 Water Services 13.0 Introduction 294 13.1 Context 294 13.2 Water Service Objectives 299

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   Chapter 14 Flood Management 14.0 Introduction 303 14.1 Context 304 14.2 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment 307 14.3 Flood Risk Management Strategy 308 14.4 Flood Risk Management Objectives 308 Chapter 15 Waste & Environmental Emissions 15.0 Introduction 312 15.1 Context 312 15.2 Climate Action 318 15.3 Waste & Emissions Objectives 319 Chapter 16 Energy & Information Infrastructure 16.0 Introduction 321 16.1 Policy Context 322 16.2 Energy Infrastructure 326 16.3 Energy Infrastructure & Communications Objectives 332 Chapter 17 Natural Heritage & Biodiversity 17.0 Introduction 336 17.1 Legislative & Policy Context 337 17.2 Key Components of the Natural Environment 342 17.3 Landscape 344 17.4 Natural Heritage & Biodiversity Objectives 347 Chapter 18 Green Infrastructure 18.0 Introduction 405 18.1 Statutory & Policy Context 407 18.2 Strategic Green Infrastructure Network in Wicklow 410 18.3 Green Infrastructure & Land Use Planning 413 18.4 Recreational Use of Natural Resources 414 18.5 Public Rights of Way 414 18.6 Green Infrastructure Objectives 416 Chapter 19 Marine Spatial Planning & Coastal Zone Management 19.0 Introduction 434 19.1 Legislative & Strategic Context 435 19.2 Local Context & Strategy 436 19.3 Coastal Cells 438 19.4 Marine Spatial Planning & Coastal Zone Management 441 Chapter 20 Implementation & Monitoring 20.0 Implementation 453 20.1 Sources of Funding 455 20.2 Development Management 456 20.3 Enforcement 456 20.4 Monitoring and Review 456 20.5 Environmental Monitoring 457

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   VOLUME 2 – PLANS LEVEL 4 SELF SUSTAINING TOWN PLANS Level 4 Self Sustaining Town Plans Introduction 1 Baltinglass 2 Newtownmountkennedy 3 Rathdrum LEVEL 5 SMALL TOWN PLANS (TYPE 1) Level 5 Small Town Plans Introduction 4 Ashford 5 Aughrim 6 Carnew 7 Dunlavin 8 Tinahely LEVEL 6 SMALL TOWN PLANS (TYPE 2) Level 6 Small Town Plans Introduction 9 Avoca 10 Donard 11 Newcastle 12 Roundwood 13 Shillelagh 14 Laragh-Glendalough Land Use and Tourism Plan VOLUME 3 – APPENDICES Appendix Number 1 Development & Design Standards 2 Single Rural Houses Design Guidelines 3 Housing Strategy 4 Record of Protected Structures 5 Wind Energy Strategy 6 Strategic Environmental Assessment - Environmental Report 7 Appropriate Assessment – Natura Impact Report and Determination 8 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment 9 Infrastructural Assessment Report 10 Statement Outlining Compliance with Ministerial Guidelines 11 Local Area Plans

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   W I C K L O W ENDLESS OPPORTUNITIES WICKLOW COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022-2028 VOLUME WRITTEN STATEMENT 1

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   1.0 Th sus 20 Th Wi thr Loc the pe inc pla 1 P 0 Introd e Wicklow C stainable dev 22-2028 has e plan relate cklow, name rough the mu cated on the e ‘Garden of rsons accord crease of app ace to live an reliminary resu IN duction County Deve velopment o s been prepa es to the w ely, Arklow, B unicipal distr e east coast o f Ireland’, a ding to the m proximately nd enjoy a hig ults from the 2 NTRODU elopment Pl of the Count ared in accor hole functio Baltinglass, B ricts. of Ireland, W reflection of most recent C 13% since 2 gh quality of 2022 Census i CH UCTION an 2022-202 y for the pla dance with t onal area of Bray, Greysto Wicklow cove f the County Census availa 20061. The g f life. ndicate a pop HAPTER & STRA 28 sets out an period an the Planning Wicklow Co ones and Wi rs an area of y’s scenic la able at the ti rowth in po pulation of 155 Wickl Chapt R 1 ATEGIC C the overall nd beyond. T and Develo ounty Counc cklow. Many f 2,027 squa ndscape. Th ime of drafti pulation is a 5,485 persons, ow County D ter 1 I Intro CONTEX strategy for The Wicklow pment Act 2 il. There are y of the Cou re kilometres e County ha ng this plan a reflection o a growth of 9 Development duction & St XT r the proper w County Dev 2000, as ame e five munic ncil’s service s and is ofte ad a populat (2016). This of the Count 9% since 2016 t Plan 2022-2 trategic Cont r planning a velopment P ended (the A ipal districts es are delive n referred to tion of 142,4 represented ty’s appeal a . 2028-2028 text and Plan Act). s in red o as 425 d an as a1

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    Wicklow County Development Plan 2022-2028-2028 Chapter 1 I Introduction & Strategic Context The County, which is within easy reach of Dublin city, has 21 towns including the major towns of Bray, Greystones- Delgany, Wicklow-Rathnew and Arklow on the east coast and Blessington, the largest town on the western side of the County. The County also has a range of attractive villages which are dotted throughout the rural landscape. Wicklow boasts a range of natural amenities including pristine beaches, coastal walkways and the Wicklow Mountains. Wicklow Mountains National Park, which covers over 20,000 hectares, is Ireland’s largest national park and the only one located in the east of the country. The highest mountain in the range, Lugnaquilla, rises to 925 metres above sea level. The County provides excellent walking, hiking, cycling and climbing opportunities in addition to both coastal and lake water based activities. The Wicklow Way, at 127km, is the oldest marked long distance walking/hiking trail in Ireland. What is the Wicklow County Development Plan 2022 – 2028? The County Development Plan (CDP) sets out a strategic spatial framework for the proper planning and sustainable development of County Wicklow for the period between 2022 and 2028. While the CDP is in place for a six year period, it is framed having regard to the long term development objectives of the County beyond 2028. The CDP in the main, focuses on ‘big picture’ planning issues2. The plan sets out the policies and objectives to guide the future development of the County. The plan is not a ‘spending plan’, however it sets a framework within which developments could be undertaken, in the event that the public or private sectors have the finance to develop. The CDP provides for, and controls, the physical, economic and social development of the County, in the interests of the overall common good and in compliance with environmental controls. It includes a set of development objectives and standards, which set out where land is to be developed, and for what purposes (e.g. housing, shopping, schools, employment, open space, amenity, conservation etc). It informs decisions on where public services such as roads and water infrastructure are to be provided, and affects the type of buildings that can be constructed and the use to which land can be put. It affects many facets of daily economic and social life, in terms of where you can live, what services and facilities are available and where job opportunities are to be sited. 1.1 Statutory Content of the Plan The Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) sets out the statutory requirements regarding the content of a development plan. As required by the Act, the Wicklow CDP 2022-2028 is consistent, in so far as is practicable, with such national plans, policies and strategies as the Minister determines that relate to proper planning and sustainable development. In this regard, Chapters 2 and 3 of this plan outline the statutory provisions, plans, policies and strategies that set the context within which the development plan is framed and which have influenced the strategies and objectives of the plan. Section 28 of the Act requires the Planning Authority to append a statement to the development plan including information which demonstrates how the Planning Authority has implemented the policies and objectives of the Minister, contained in Ministerial Guidelines, when considering their application to the area of the development plan. This statement is included in Appendix 10. In making the plan, the Planning Authority shall have regard to the development plans of the adjoining planning authorities and shall co-ordinate the objectives in the development plan with the objectives in the plans of those authorities, except where the Planning Authority considers it to be inappropriate or not feasible to do so. The 2 The County Development Plan does however include a set of more detailed town plans, which are more ‘local’ than ‘strategic’ in their focus (see Volume 2).2

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