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

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   Wicklow County Development Plan 2022-2028-2028 Chapter 1 I Introduction & Strategic Context Planning Authority shall take into account any significant likely effects the implementation of the plan may have on the area of any adjoining planning authority. Accordingly, the objectives of this plan have been prepared having regard to the plans of the adjoining planning authorities of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, South Dublin, Kildare, Carlow and Wexford. Wicklow County Council, being a planning authority within the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) shall ensure that its development plan is consistent with the Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy 2016 – 2035 (National Transport Authority)3. The development plan shall include a ‘Core Strategy’ which shows that the development objectives in the development plan are consistent, as far as practicable, with national and regional development objectives set out in the National Planning Framework (NPF) and the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES) for the Eastern and Midland Region. The ‘Core Strategy’ is set out in Chapter 3 of this plan. The written statement shall include a separate report which shows that the development objectives in the development plan are consistent, as far as practicable, with the conservation and protection of the environment. The Environmental Report (included as part of the development plan) forms part of the development plan process. It is considered that this report satisfies the statutory requirements in this regard. With regard to climate change, Section 10(2)(n) of the Act requires that a development plan include objectives for the promotion of sustainable settlement and transport strategies in urban and rural areas, including the promotion of measures to reduce energy demand and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and to adapt to climate change, having regard to, in particular, the location, layout and design of new development. This requirement pervades all aspects of the plan, but is particularly addressed in Chapter 2. 1.2 Structure of the Plan The plan consists of a written statement and plans that indicate the development objectives for County Wicklow. Volume 1 of the plan contains the primary written statement. Volume 2 contains a set of ‘town plans’ for the following settlements: Ashford, Aughrim, Avoca, Baltinglass, Carnew, Donard, Dunlavin, Laragh-Glendalough, Newcastle, Newtownmountkennedy, Rathdrum, Roundwood, Shillelagh and Tinahely. Volume 3 contains the appendices to the plan that inform and clarify the broader strategic context of the written statement. Separate Local Area Plans are in place, which will be reviewed after the adoption of this plan, for the following towns / areas: Bray Municipal District, Wicklow Town - Rathnew, Arklow, Greystones – Delgany - Kilcoole and Blessington. These Local Area Plans are reviewed and made under Sections 18, 19 and 20 of the Planning and Development Act, and as such do not form part of the CDP. However, the CDP does provide the key parameters for these Local Area Plans such as the future population and housing targets and sets out the broad strategy for the future economic and social development of these towns. 3 Which was the applicable Strategy at the time of the drafting of this plan.3

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   1.3 Th inc the Are list De Ot de rel 1.3 Su ab Su sus reg wo 3 Strate e Wicklow C cluding ‘Proje e Eastern and ea 2016-203 ted in Appe evelopment P her national scribed and ate to a part 3.1 UN Su stainability u ility of future stainable De stainability. T gional and co orld needs to egic Contex ounty Devel ect Ireland 2 d Midland R 35’ and the N endix 10. Th Plan Strategy plans, polic considered ticular topic o ustainable De underpins all e generation evelopment G There is a si ounty planni o tackle by 20 xt opment Plan 2040’ the Na egion, the N National Clim e strategic y, Core Strate cies or strate in Chapter 2 or land use. evelopment l planning po ns to meet t Goals. The U gnificant alig ng policy. Th 030 to ensure n 2022-2028 ational Plann National Tran mate Action policies inclu egy and deve egies that in 2 of this pla t Goals olicy. It enta heir needs. S UN Sustainab gnment betw he SDGs add e a sustainab (CDP) is con ing Framewo nsport Autho Plan. The Pl uded in the elopment pla nfluence the an and there ils meeting t Since 2015, ble Developm ween the UN dress the env ble future. Wickl Chapt nsistent with ork, the Reg rity’s ‘Transp an is also in ese documen an policy obje objectives o eafter throug the needs of Ireland has b ment Goals N’s 17 Sustai vironmental, e ow County D ter 1 I Intro higher order ional Spatial portation Stra formed by t nts have bee ectives. of the develo ghout the pla f the present been a signa set out the nable Develo economic, an Development duction & St r strategic po l and Econo ategy for the the Ministeri en crucial in opment plan an as neces t without co atory to the targets to a opment Goa nd social cha t Plan 2022-2 trategic Cont olicy docume mic Strategy e Greater Du ial Guideline n informing n are princip sary where t mpromising United Natio chieve unive als and natio allenges that 2028-2028 text ents y for ublin s as the pally they the on’s ersal onal, the4

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   Wicklow County Development Plan 2022-2028-2028 Chapter 1 I Introduction & Strategic Context 1.3.2 Climate Action Climate Action Plan (CAP) – To Tackle Climate Breakdown 2019 The Climate Action Plan outlines the critical nature of the climate change challenge and the current state of play across key sectors including Electricity, Transport, Built Environment, Industry and Agriculture. The Plan sets out clear 2030 targets for each of the sectors and the emissions savings that are expected. The Plan includes a commitment that 70% of electricity needs will come from renewable sources by 20304. Local Authority Climate Action Charter (2019) The Local Authority Climate Action Charter is a key action in the Climate Action Plan and will ensure every local authority embeds decarbonisation, sustainable development and climate resilience into every aspect of the work they do. Wicklow County Council signed up to the Charter in December 2019 committing Wicklow to include policies on climate action. The Charter acknowledges that local authorities will, with the support of Central Government:  ‘Be advocates for climate action in our own policies and practices, and in our many various dealings with citizens and to underpin this role through the corporate planning process;  deliver a 50% improvement in energy efficiency by 2030 (on the 2009 baseline);  ensure that policies and practices at local government level lead us towards low carbon pathways and put in place a process for carbon proofing major decisions, programmes and projects on a systematic basis, including investments in transport and energy infrastructure moving over time to a near zero carbon investment strategy;  exercise our planning and regulatory roles to help improve climate outcomes in the wider community and beyond the public sector, by developing and implementing robust evidenced based policy and standards on climate action, through appropriate and relevant adaptation and mitigation measures’. 4 During the making of this County Development Plan, this CAP has been updated, including updated targets for renewable energy, and these have been integrated into the final plan where possible.5

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   1.3 ‘Ou Fra im tra Th tow clim Ou          3.3 Our Ru ur Rural Fut amework ack pact of COV ansition to a c e Framework wns and villa mate neutral ur Rural Futur Optimisi Supporti Assisting Enhancin Enhancin Supporti Supporti Supporti Nurturin ural Future: ture’ provide knowledges t VID-19, as w climate-neut k identifies a ages, unique economy. H re focuses on ng the oppo ing improved g the regener ng the partic ng public ser ing a Just Tra ing the susta ing the susta g our culture Rural Devel es a framew that the coun we adapt to tral society. T a number of e tourism, cu High level goa n the followi ortunities for d quality em ration, repop ipation, lead rvices in rura ansition to a ainability of A ainability of o e and heritag lopment Po work for the ntry is headin new ways o This change i key delivera ulture & her als are identi ng thematic rural commu ployment an pulation and ership and re l areas. climate neut Agriculture, t our island an ge. licy 2021-20 developme ng into an er of working, is considered bles under h itage, agricu ified as set o objectives: unities from nd career opp developmen esilience of r tral economy he Marine an d coastal com Wickl Chapt 025 ent of rural ra of unprece as the impa d a significan headings incl ulture, the m ut in the info high speed b portunities in nt of rural tow rural commu y. nd Forestry. mmunities. ow County D ter 1 I Intro Ireland over edented chan act of Brexit t opportunit uding remot marine & fore ographic belo broadband. n rural areas. wns and villa nities. Development duction & St r the next f nge as we re presents its ty for rural ar te working, r estry and tra ow. ages. t Plan 2022-2 trategic Cont five years. T ecover from t self and as w reas. revitalising ru ansitioning t 2028-2028 text The the we ural o a6

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   Wicklow County Development Plan 2022-2028-2028 Chapter 1 I Introduction & Strategic Context 1.3.4 Project Ireland 2040: National Planning Framework (NPF) The National Planning Framework, published in February 2018, is a 20 year high level strategic plan to guide development and investment in Ireland. The companion to the NPF is the National Development Plan (NDP), a ten year strategy for public investment. Their joint publication as ‘Project Ireland 2040’ enables the alignment of investment with spatial planning. The NPF identifies five key elements for delivering on the overall vision. These include developing a new regionfocussed strategy for managing growth, linking the NPF with the National Development Plan, using state lands for certain strategic purposes, strengthened and more environmentally focussed planning at local level, and backing the framework up in law with the establishment of the Office of the Planning Regulator. The purpose of the NPF is to enable all parts of Ireland to accommodate growth and change by facilitating a shift towards Ireland’s regions and cities other than Dublin, while also recognising Dublin’s ongoing key role. The NPF requires more balanced growth which also means more concentrated growth. The Framework recognises the importance of reversing population decline in rural towns and villages by encouraging new roles and functions for buildings and streets. The NPF identifies planning as an established means to implement and integrate climate change objectives at local level and recognises that in order to meet our national targets, it will be necessary to make choices about how we balance growth with more sustainable approaches to development and land use. The NPF identifies ten National Strategic Outcomes (NSOs), a shared set of goals that will inform the content of the County Development Plan. The NPF acknowledges that the physical format of urban development is one of our greatest national development challenges and identifies compact growth as the first National Strategic Outcome. This entails delivering a greater proportion of residential development and other development within the existing built-up area of settlements and moving away from a reliance on greenfield development to meet our development needs. Creating more compact development has been traditionally more difficult to achieve than a continuous process of pushing development onto greenfield locations. Specifically the NPF requires that 30% of all new homes be delivered within the existing built up footprint of settlements. This applies to all scales of settlements within the County, from large towns to villages. This will require making better use of underutilised land within the built up areas including infill and brownfield sites.7

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   Wickl Chapt ow County D ter 1 I Intro Development duction & St t Plan 2022-2 trategic Cont 2028-2028 text8

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   1.3 Wi Eas He Th po pla de tra inc ren Th 3.5 Region cklow forms stern and M ealthy Placem e RSES reco pulation gro aces. The tran velopment p ansport mode clude sustain newable ene e RSES ident nal Spatial a part of the Midland Regio making, Clima gnises that o owth and lo nsition to a l patterns tha es is identifie able transpo rgy. tifies 16 Regi and Econom Eastern and on was ado ate Action an one of the k ocation of re ow carbon s at promote ed as one of ort systems, c ional Strateg ic Strategy Midlands Re pted on the nd Economic key challenge esidential de ociety is also compact gr f the primary carbon storin gic Outcom (RSES) for t egion. The Re e 28th June 2 Opportunity es facing the evelopment o identified a rowth, reduc y areas of tra ng and seque es which are Wickl Chapt he Eastern a egional Spati 2019 and is y. e Region is t and employ as a challeng ce transport ansition for t estering land e aligned with ow County D ter 1 I Intro and Midland al and Econo underpinned the need for ment, to cre e for the Reg t demand a he Region. T uses and en h the NPF Na Development duction & St d Region omic Strateg d by three k r better align eate healthy gion. Achiev and encoura The other are nergy efficien ational Strate t Plan 2022-2 trategic Cont gy (RSES) for key principle nment betwe y and attract ving sustaina ge low carb eas of transit nt buildings a egic outcome 2028-2028 text the es – een tive able bon tion and es.9

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   Wicklow County Development Plan 2022-2028-2028 Chapter 1 I Introduction & Strategic Context 1.4 Environmental Assessment As part of the Development Plan preparation process, the Council is required to carry out a number of environmental assessments. These include Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), Appropriate Assessment (AA) and Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA). In addition, the plan has had regard to other relevant environmental legislation. Legislation is outlined in the relevant chapters of the plan and includes, but is not exclusive to, the Water Framework Directive, Floods Directive, Shellfish Directive, Waste Water Treatment Directive, the Wildlife Acts, National Monuments Acts and Waste Management Acts. It is considered that the development objectives in the plan are consistent, in as far as practicable, with the conservation and protection of the environment. 1.4.1 Strategic Environmental Assessment Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is the process for evaluating at the earliest appropriate stage, the environmental consequences of implementing a plan. The purpose is to ensure that the environmental consequences of the plan are assessed both during the preparation and prior to adoption of the County Development Plan. Climate change is addressed as part of the SEA. The European Directive (2001/42/EC) on the Assessment of the Effects of Certain Plans and Programmes on the Environment (the SEA Directive), was transposed into national legislation in Ireland by the European Communities (Environmental Assessment of Certain Plans and Programmes) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 435/2004) and the Planning and Development (Strategic Environmental Assessment) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 436/2004), as amended. Under Article 3 of the Directive, an environmental assessment shall be carried out for plans and programmes, including those related to land use planning. The Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the Wicklow CDP 2022-2028 has been carried out in compliance with the provisions of the SEA Directive and those regulations transposing the Directive into Irish Law. Lower levels of decision making and environmental assessment should consider the sensitivities identified in the SEA Environmental Report that accompanies the development plan. The SEA has been informed by the findings of the Appropriate Assessment and the Strategic Flood Risk Assessment. The SEA Environmental Report carried out for this plan is included in Appendix 6. 1.4.2 Habitats Directive - Appropriate Assessment The Wicklow CDP 2022-2028 has been prepared in accordance with the Appropriate Assessment requirements under EU Habitats Directive (43/92/EEC) and the EU Birds Directive (79/409/EEC) and Section 177 of the Act. These Directives form the cornerstone of Europe’s nature conservation policy, built around the European network of nature protection areas made up of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs)5 and Special Protection Areas (SPAs)6. The Planning Authority is required to ensure that any plan or programme and any projects that arise therefrom, individually or in combination with other plans or projects, are subject to ‘Appropriate Assessment’ to ensure there are no likely significant effects on the integrity (defined by the structure and function) of any European site(s) and that the requirements of Article 6(3) and 6(4) of the EU Habitats Directive are fully satisfied. Where a plan / project is likely to have a significant effect on a European site, or there is uncertainty with regard to effects, it shall be subject to a full Appropriate Assessment. The plan / project will proceed only after it has been ascertained that it will not adversely affect the integrity of the site or where, in the absence of alternative solutions, the plan / project 5 Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) are sites designated under European Communities Directive 92/43/EEC known as the ‘Habitats Directive’. This requires the conservation of important, rare or threatened habitats and species (not birds) across Europe. 6 Special Protection Areas (SPAs) are sites designated under the European Communities Directive 79/409/EEC, known as the ‘Birds Directive’, to conserve the habitats of certain migratory or rare birds.10

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   Wicklow County Development Plan 2022-2028-2028 Chapter 1 I Introduction & Strategic Context is deemed imperative for reasons of overriding public interest - all in accordance with the provisions of Article 6(3) and 6(4) of the EU Habitats Directive. The Appropriate Assessment carried out for this plan is attached in Appendix 7. 1.4.3 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment The Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) for the Wicklow County Development Plan 2022-2028 has been prepared in accordance with ‘The Planning System and Flood Risk Management – Guidelines for Planning Authorities’ (2009). The SFRA is attached in Appendix 8.11

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    Wicklow County Development Plan 2022-2028 Chapter 2 | Development Plan Strategy CHAPTER 2 OVERALL STRATEGY HEALTHY PLACEMAKING ● CLIMATE CHANGE ● ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY 2.0 Introduction This chapter provides an overview of the three overarching cross-cutting themes that inform and shape all aspects of the County Development Plan. The legislative and policy context for each theme is outlined. These cross-cutting overarching themes align with the key principles identified in the NPF and Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy for the Eastern and Midland Region. As will be evident, there is significant overlap between the three themes. Placemaking integrates with the creation of sustainable communities which includes housing, sustainable mobility, healthy town and village centres and economic development. Climate change has implications for sustainable mobility, economic development and heritage and biodiversity. Economic development is increasingly integrated with our response to climate change and to the delivery of healthy placemaking. 2.1 Healthy Placemaking Planning has an important role to play in creating healthy places that enable a high quality of life. The role of healthy placemaking is increasingly important in the context of a post pandemic world, climate emergency and economic recovery. Healthy environments make healthy people; healthy people underpin economic vitality1. The environment in which we live in has a significant impact on our health and well-being. In recent years, healthy placemaking has reignited the links between public health and planning. This will become even more crucial post- COVID. While healthy placemaking might be a relatively new term, the consideration of health and safety as part of planning policy is not a new phenomenon. Quality of life and impacts on amenity have long been important planning considerations. Town planning and public health both emerged in the late nineteenth century in response to the unsanitary and overcrowded conditions of industrial cities. Environmental pollution can have negative impacts on human health. Planning authorities have a responsibility to create and retain clean healthy environments. Many planning policies are based on health and safety considerations, for example – water and wastewater facilities, flooding, noise, sustainable mobility and open space provision. Healthy placemaking looks at creating places where people are healthier and happier. It questions the quality of the built environment and how it is impacting on health and well being. There is increasing consensus that the built environment can positively impact on people’s behaviour and that health should be a key consideration of spatial planning. 1 Enabling Healthy Placemaking – Report, RTPI 2020 available at https://www.rtpi.org.uk/research/2020/july/enabling-healthyplacemaking/12

Source Wicklow County Council: Wicklow County Development Plan 2022–2028 – Volume 1 Written Statement (2022–2028) · 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.