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

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   Wicklow Town Views Origin of view Feature WTC1 From Black Castle, Dunbur Road View towards coastline WTC2 From Black Castle, Dunbur Road View towards coastline WTC3 From Dunbur Road View towards coastline WTC4 From Dunbur Road View towards coastline WTC5 From Dunbur Road View towards coastline Bray Views Origin of view Feature BTC1 From the town generally The view of Bray Head and the Little Sugar Loaf BTC4 From both sides of the bridge on the Killarney Road The view both up and downstream of the Swan River Valley BTC5 From below Granite Cottage off Boghall Road towards Oldcourt House. The view down the River Valley BTC8 From below Fiddlers Bridge The view leading to Bray Head back along the Esplanade towards Martello Terrace and the Sailing Club, particularly of the houses along Strand Road BTC 9 From Hedge End on Herbert Road The view across the wooded area towards King Edward Road. BTC10 From the fenced area above Mount Herbert on Herbert Road. The view towards Fassaroe BTC11 From the high ground near the Ravenhall site of the churches in Bray namely, St. Paul’s the Holy Redeemer and Christ Church. BTC12 From the Harbour Bridge The view of the Maltings and the former power station chimney. BTC13 From Old Court Drive The view towards the Sugar Loaf Mountain and Little Sugar Loaf BTC14 From Fiddler Bridge on Bray Head. The view of Loreto Convent and the spire of Christ Church BTC15 From the south harbour along the Promenade and Strand Road Bray Prospects Origin Feature BTC2 From N11. The prospect towards the River Dargle, its flood plain and adjoining steep-sided wooded slopes BTC3 From the N11 The prospect of the town’s steep western wooded slopes between St. Valery’s Bridge and Kilcroney BTC6 From Killarney Road (between cemetery near Elgin Wood and Fairy Hill) The prospect of the Western side of Bray Head BTC7 From the Southern Cross The prospect of the western side of Bray Head403

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   Natural Heritage & Biodiversity Map No. 17.12 Scale 1:3,500 @A4 Legend Wicklow County Council Planning Department © Ordnance Survey Ireland. All rights reserved Licence number 2022/35/CCMA/Wicklow County Council WICKLOW COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022-2028404

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   Proposed Draft Wi Wicklow County Development Plan 2022-2028 County Development Plan 2021-2027 Chapter 18 | Green Infrastructure CHAPTER 18 GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE 18.0 Introduction Green Infrastructure (GI) can be broadly defined as ‘an interconnected network of green space that conserves natural ecosystem values and functions and provides associated benefits to human populations. Green Infrastructure is the ecological framework needed for environmental, social and economic sustainability – in short it is a nation’s natural life sustaining system’1. Green Infrastructure can include varying land uses - pasture lands, croplands, woodlands, heath, bog, scrubland, quarries, parks, formal and informal green spaces, active and passive spaces, areas around domestic and non-domestic buildings, brownfield areas, waterways, waterbodies, waterway corridors, wetlands, coastal areas and community/institutional lands such as hospitals, schools, graveyards, allotments and community gardens. Heritage sites, European sites and NHAs are also important GI sites. Taken collectively, the GI network in the County has an important role in climate action. Reinforcing our GI assets supports the creation of a more climate resilient environment which in turn contributes significantly to climate adaptation and mitigation. Individually, each GI site/asset has an important role and benefit. These individual roles and benefits can be strengthened and enhanced when the sites/assets are linked together into a network of green infrastructure. Many social, economic and environmental benefits can be achieved especially when the green infrastructure is proximate to where people live and work. The benefits of green infrastructure sites/networks include some of the following:  support unique habitats for wildlife, biodiversity, and fragile ecosystems;  have important recreational, tourism and cultural roles;  provide corridors for walking and cycling;  provide or support forestry, crop production, agriculture and energy development;  provide places for local food production - in allotments, gardens and through agriculture;  provide green buffers /green wedges between built up areas;  improve air quality;  provide ready access to nature for the populace;  assists in climate change adaptation - including flood alleviation;  increase environmental education and awareness;  improved health and well-being by raising the quality of the County’s citizen’s living and working environment;  assists in ‘place-making’, by positively recognising and maintaining the character of particular locations, particularly where new development is planned, and  enhance biodiversity. As this chapter of the County Development Plan addresses a range of components that make up ‘Green Infrastructure’, there will be considerable overlap with other chapters and parts of this plan, including but not limited to Chapter 11 ‘Tourism and Recreation’, Chapter 13 ‘Water Services’ and Chapter 17 ‘Natural Heritage & Biodiversity’, as well as some overlap with Chapter 12 ‘Sustainable Transportation’. 1 Source Comhar Sustainable Development Council ‘Creating Green Infrastructure for Ireland’, August 2010405

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   Proposed Draft Wi Wicklow County Development Plan 2022-2028 County Development Plan 2021-2027 Chapter 18 | Green Infrastructure GI is multifunctional, performing many functions in the same spatial area. When the GI ecosystem is in a healthy condition it can deliver benefits to a wide range of stakeholders as well as to the public at large. The table below ‘Green Infrastructure Elements: Social and Economic Benefits’ shows how Green Infrastructure relates to such benefits2: Green Infrastructure Elements: Social & Economic Benefits Recreation & Health  Improves physical and mental well-being3  Provides opportunities to exercise, play and engage in sport  Provides accessibility (permeability) through the landscape, especially for walking and cycling Biodiversity & Natural Resources  Increases opportunities for sustainable land management  Safeguards priority habitats and species  Restores ecological networks  Conserves and improves soil quality  Reduces the impact of poor air quality Coast, Water Resource & Flood Management  Improves water quality  Provides coastal and waterside recreation  Protects water resources and abstraction sites and brings them into multifunctional use Sense of place – appreciation of landscapes & cultural heritage  Safeguards the distinctive character and openness  Safeguards and encourages beneficial use of local landscape resources  Conserves historic landscapes, archaeological assets, built heritage and cultural heritage Climate Change Adaptation & Mitigation  Provides opportunities for renewable energy production  Buffers/brakes flooding (fluvial and coastal); providing space for SUDS  Provides shade and cooling to densely populated areas, especially those with vulnerable communities Economic Development  Provides a setting to encourage inward investment  Encourages retention of entrepreneurs and graduates  Provides a setting and market for land-based tourism and social enterprises Social Inclusion  Provides a setting for community engagement and informal education  Stimulates increase in training and skills  Provides an outlet for community instincts for stewardship of the environment Productive Environments – Food, Fibre, Energy  Sustains a diverse land-based industry (farming, forestry, fisheries, tourism, renewable energy) 2 Source Comhar Sustainable Development Council ‘Creating Green Infrastructure for Ireland’, August 2010 3 The EPA 2016 report ‘Health Benefits from Biodiversity and Green Infrastructure’ states that human health and wellbeing depends on a healthy environment and that management of such a key natural resource also has strategic importance in terms of the potential to contribute to the Irish economy.406

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   Proposed Draft Wi Wicklow County Development Plan 2022-2028 County Development Plan 2021-2027 Chapter 18 | Green Infrastructure 18.1 Statutory & Policy Context The European Union adopted a Biodiversity Strategy (May 2011) to halt biodiversity loss in Europe by 2020. The strategy is built around six mutually supportive targets which address the main drivers of biodiversity loss. Target 2 aims to ensure that ‘by 2020, ecosystems and their services are maintained and enhanced by establishing Green Infrastructure and restoring at least 15% of degraded ecosystems’. Responding to the Biodiversity Strategy, the EU published ‘Green Infrastructure: Enhancing Europe’s Natural Capital Strategy’ (May 2013), which sets out ‘to promote the deployment of green infrastructure in the EU in urban and rural areas’. The strategy aims to create a robust enabling framework in order to promote and facilitate GI projects. The EU GI strategy is made up of the following four main elements:  Promoting GI in the main EU policy areas;  Supporting EU-level GI projects;  Improving access to finance for GI projects, and  Improving information and promoting innovation. Nationally, there are a number of organisations involved in developing GI guidance and GI actions in Ireland. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the Department of Rural and Community Development, The Heritage Council, National Parks and Wildlife Service and Comhar - The Sustainable Development Council - are the key state stakeholders in providing information on GI in Ireland as well implementing the delivery of GI actions. Comhar published ‘Creating Green Infrastructure for Ireland: Enhancing Natural Capital for Human Wellbeing’ (August 2010) and this document is a key tool in GI as it sets out how a network of green spaces can be developed to benefit natural heritage and biodiversity as well as the greater economy and society. The multiple benefits of Green Infrastructure are recognised in a range of national policy documents including, but not limited to, the National Biodiversity Plan (2017-2021), the Strategy for the Future Development of National and Regional Greenways (2019-2021), Creating Green Infrastructure for Ireland (2010) and Flood Risk Management Guidelines (2009). Project Ireland 2040: National Planning Framework (NPF) Green Infrastructure Planning, in particular protecting and valuing our important and vulnerable habitats, landscapes, natural heritage and green spaces is an ‘overarching aim’ of the NPF. The NPF identifies that ‘our environment is an asset that if planned for in the same way as for other forms of infrastructure, can provide long term benefits. Nature and green infrastructure provide a range of uses, goods and services and make the best use of land, help manage competing demands and can complement other sectors’. The NPF sets out that green infrastructure planning will inform the preparation of regional and metropolitan strategies and city and county development plans by:  Assisting in accommodating growth and expansion, while retaining the intrinsic value of natural places and natural assets;  Providing increased certainty in planning by proactively addressing relevant environmental issues;  Encouraging more collaborative approaches to plan-making by enabling examination of the interactions between future development requirements and the capacity of receiving areas; and  Ensuring that sufficient and well planned green spaces, commensurate in scale to long-term development requirements, are designated in statutory plans.407

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   Proposed Draft Wi Wicklow County Development Plan 2022-2028 County Development Plan 2021-2027 Chapter 18 | Green Infrastructure A number of the NPF ‘National Strategic Outcomes’ are relevant to GI, namely: NSO 7 Enhance amenity & heritage This will ensure that our cities, towns and villages are attractive and can offer a good quality of life. It will require investment in well-designed public realm, which includes public spaces, parks and streets, as well as recreational infrastructure. It also includes amenities in rural areas, such as national and forest parks, activity-based tourism and trails such as greenways, blueways and peatways. This is linked to and must integrate with our built, cultural and natural heritage, which has intrinsic value in defining the character of urban and rural areas and adding to their attractiveness and sense of place. NSO 8 Transition to Low- Carbon & Climate Resilient economy The National Climate Policy Position establishes the national objective of achieving transition to a competitive, low carbon, climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable economy by 2050. This objective will shape investment choices over the coming decades in line with the National Mitigation Plan and the National Adaptation Framework. New energy systems and transmission grids will be necessary for a more distributed, renewables-focused energy generation system, harnessing both the considerable onshore and off-shore potential from energy sources such as wind, wave and solar and connecting the richest sources of that energy to the major sources of demand. NSO 9 Sustainable management of water, waste & other environmental resources Ireland has abundant natural and environmental resources such as our water sources that are critical to our environmental and economic wellbeing into the future. Conserving and enhancing the quality of these resources will also become more important in a crowded and competitive world as well as our capacity to create beneficial uses from products previously considered as waste, creating circular economic benefits. In addition, a number of NPF National Policy Objectives address green infrastructure directly: NPO 22 Facilitate tourism development and in particular a National Greenways, Blueways and Peatways Strategy, which prioritises projects on the basis of achieving maximum impact and connectivity at national and regional level. NPO 58 Integrated planning for Green Infrastructure and ecosystem services will be incorporated into the preparation of statutory land use plans. NPO 64 Improve air quality and help prevent people being exposed to unacceptable levels of pollution in our urban and rural areas through integrated land use and spatial planning that supports public transport, walking and cycling as more favourable modes of transport to the private car, the promotion of energy efficient buildings and homes, heating systems with zero local emissions, green infrastructure planning and innovative design solutions. Further, the NPF identifies that the development of an integrated network of greenways, blueways and peatways, to promote more sustainable forms of travel and activity based recreation utilising canal and former rail and other routes, will become a key future planning and place-making policy priority for the Mid-East Region. Regional Spatial & Economic Strategy (RSES) The RSES identifies that GI 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, cultural and heritage preservation, a mentally restorative environment and flood mitigation. At the local authority scale, GI offers an opportunity to develop integrated strategies around economic development, urban placemaking and rural policy. Linking strategic natural assets with cultural and heritage assets further enhances the opportunities for GI strategies to drive recreation and tourism benefits.408

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   Proposed Draft Wi Wicklow County Development Plan 2022-2028 County Development Plan 2021-2027 Chapter 18 | Green Infrastructure The RSES identifies that enhanced green infrastructure is a key component of the climate action and healthy placemaking strategies set out in the RSES, as well as an important ‘growth enabler’ for the wider region and the Metropolitan Area in a number of ways: ‘Support rural areas by harnessing natural resources to develop renewables, recreation and tourism opportunities including green infrastructure planning and the development of an integrated network of greenways, blueways and peatways’; ‘To enhance provision of regional parks and strategic Green Infrastructure, to develop an integrated network of metropolitan scale amenities, and to develop greenways/blueways along the canals, rivers and coast, as part of the implementation of the National Transport Authority’s Cycle Network Plan for the Greater Dublin Area’. The RSES identifies the following strategic natural, cultural and GI assets in the region, in Wicklow: Bays, estuaries, headlands, islands and reefs The Murrough wetlands, Wicklow Head, Wicklow Reef, Magherabeg and Brittas dunes Maritime towns & beaches Bray, Greystones, Wicklow Town, Maheramore, Brittas, Clogga, Arklow Lakes, Rivers & canals Rivers Avonmore, Aughrim, Avoca, Dargle, Liffey, Slaney and tributary Derry River and walks around the Vartry Reservoir Greenways, blueways & peatways Wicklow Way, Dublin Mountains Way, Blessington Greenway*, Coastal Greenway from Wicklow to Greystones**, Arklow – Shillelagh recreation trail* Uplands, woodlands & designated sites Uplands; Dublin and Wicklow Mountains Woodlands; Knocksink, Glen of the Downs SPAs, SACs, NHAs and pNHAs, Ramsar sites Bogs & Peatlands Red Bog, Holdenstown, Carriggower Bog National & Regional Parks Wicklow Mountains National Park, Avondale and Kilmacurragh Heritage sites Monastic sites at Glendalough, Baltinglass cluster of Hillforts, See also Record of National monuments * under development ** proposed The RSES sets out the following Regional Policy Objectives with respect to GI: RPO 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. RPO 7.23 Support the further development of Green Infrastructure policies and coordinate the mapping of strategic Green Infrastructure in the Region. RPO 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. RPO 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. RPO 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.409

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   Proposed Draft Wi Wicklow County Development Plan 2022-2028 County Development Plan 2021-2027 Chapter 18 | Green Infrastructure In the MASP area: RPO 5.7 Co-ordinate across local authority boundaries to identify, manage, develop and protect regional Green Infrastructure, to enhance strategic connections and develop a Green Infrastructure policy in the Dublin Metropolitan Area. RPO 5.8 Support the promotion and development of greenway infrastructure and facilities in the Dublin Metropolitan Area and to support the expansion and connections between key strategic cycle routes and greenways as set out in the NTA Greater Dublin Area Cycle Network Plan. In the MASP area, the RSES recognises Dublin Bay and the Coastal Zone and the Dublin/Wicklow Mountains as key GI assets. Strategy for the Future Development of National & Regional Greenways (DoTTS 2018) This strategy was prepared and published by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sports in 2018. The objective of this strategy is to assist in the strategic development of nationally and regionally significant greenways in appropriate locations constructed to an appropriate standard in order to deliver a quality experience for all greenways users. It also aims to increase the number and geographical spread of greenways of scale and quality around the country over the next 10 years with a consequent significant increase in the number of people using greenways as a visitor experience and as a recreational amenity. For the purposes of this strategy, a ‘greenway’ is a recreational or pedestrian corridor for non-motorised journeys, developed in an integrated manner which enhances both the environment and quality of life of the surrounding area, that meet satisfactory standards of width, gradient and surface condition to ensure that they are both userfriendly and low-risk for users of all abilities. It sets out that greenways should ideally be in the order of at least 20km in length and preferably longer; in order to bring additional revenue into an area, greenways should ideally be closer to 40km. The strategy recognises that where proposed greenways are along existing natural ecological corridors such as rivers and canals, or across natural habitats such as coastal habitats, there is potential for people to access nature and to see and learn about our natural heritage, its importance, and how to protect it. There is also potential to enhance the biodiversity value of an ecological corridor or other area when planning for greenways. Providing interpretative facilities concerning the natural heritage is recommended. 18.2 Strategic Green Infrastructure Network in Wicklow County Wicklow has a widespread and prosperous existing Green Infrastructure network. The County boasts many key features and resources along the coast and across the urban, rural and upland/mountain areas. Many of these are iconic in nature, including the varied and dramatic coastline itself, the Murrough and Brittas Bay, the Wicklow Mountains, the numerous rivers and streams and the open spaces of County and regional significance. The ‘County Wicklow Heritage Plan’ and the ‘County Wicklow Biodiversity Action Plan’ are two key Green Infrastructure tools for the County. The Heritage Plan’s aim is ‘conserving the natural, built and cultural heritage of the county, and increasing awareness and enjoyment of it among all in Wicklow’. The biodiversity action plan sets out a strategy for increasing our understanding and appreciation of biodiversity in the county along with measures for enhancing the protection and management of this valuable resource. Key actions undertaken through the County Heritage and Biodiversity Plans include the identification and mapping of wetlands and locally important biodiversity areas; the preparation of conservation management prescriptions for410

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   Proposed Draft Wi Wicklow County Development Plan 2022-2028 County Development Plan 2021-2027 Chapter 18 | Green Infrastructure Council owned lands; audits of Geological heritage sites, of key threatened species such as swift, and of identified biodiversity threats such as the assessment of river barriers to fish migration. Key public awareness outputs include publications such as the ‘Biodiversity in County Wicklow’ leaflet series. Wicklow County Council, through the development of social infrastructure also has a role to play in enhancing the Green Infrastructure of the County. The County Council’s ‘Local Economic and Community Plan 2016 - 2022’ (LECP) has an important role in this regard. The LECP sets out, for a six-year period, the objectives and actions needed to promote and support the two key elements of a) the economic development and b) the local and community development of the County by Wicklow County Council, both by itself directly and in partnership with other economic and community development stakeholders. The development of infrastructure is addressed in the 10 overarching goals for economic and community development within County Wicklow, and Goals 8 and 9 are particularly relevant to GI: Goal 8 Capitalise on Wicklow’s unique attributes and proximity to the Dublin market, excellent quality of life, human capital, tourism, landscape, marine, agricultural and forestry resources. Goal 9 Support a shift towards low carbon and climate change resilient economic activity, reducing energy dependence, promoting the sustainable use of resources and leading in the Smart Green Economy. Table 18.2 shows the regional classifications of GI resources and routes4 alongside an example of the County’s strategic resources and routes: 4 Source Regional Planning Guidelines for the Greater Dublin Area 2010 - 2022411

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    Proposed Draft Wi Wicklow County Development Plan 2022-2028 County Development Plan 2021-2027 Chapter 18 | Green Infrastructure Table 18.2 Green Infrastructure in County Wicklow (see Maps 18.01 – 18.11) Green Infrastructure Classifications Regional GI Resources County Wicklow GI Strategic Resources (examples) UNESCO World Heritage Sites Glendalough Monastic Settlement (tentative list) European sites Uplands: Wicklow Mountains SAC Wetlands: The Murrough SAC Headlands /cliff/ heath: Bray Head SAC Rivers: Slaney River Valley SAC, Ballyman Glen SAC Woodlands: Knocksink SAC, Glen Of The Downs SAC, Deputy’s Pass SAC, Vale of Clara SAC Coastal: Buckroney-Brittas Dunes & Fen SAC, Magherabeg Dunes SAC Bogs: Carriggower Bog SAC, Holdenstown Bog SAC, Red Bog SAC The Murrough SPA Wicklow Head SPA Wicklow Mountains SPA Poulaphouca Reservoir SPA Wildfowl Sanctuaries Broad Lough Poulaphouca Nature Reserves Deputy’s Pass Glen Of the Downs Glendalough Glenealo Valley Knocksink Wood Vale of Clara Other identified area of environmental value (pNHAs) Arklow Rock-Askintinny, Arklow Sand Dunes, Arklow Town Marsh, Avoca River Valley, Avondale, Ballinacor Wood, Ballinagee Wood, Ballycore Rath, Ballyman Glen, Bray Head, Buckroney-Brittas Dunes And Fen, Carriggower Bog, Dargle River Valley, Devil's Glen, Dunlavin Marshes, Glen Of The Downs, Glencree Valley, Glenealy Woods, Great Sugar Loaf, Holdenstown Bog, Hollywood Glen, Kilmacanogue Marsh, Knocksink Wood, Lowtown Fen, Magherabeg Dunes, Newtown Marshes, Poulaphouca Reservoir, Powerscourt Waterfall, Powerscourt Woodland, The Murrough, Tomnafinogue Wood, Vale Of Clara, Vartry Reservoir, Wicklow Head. Specific County level designations Newcastle Nature Reserve, Bray Head SAAO Architectural heritage Structures on the RPS, NIAH, within ACAs Cultural sites Holy wells, graveyards, churches Archaeological Sites National Monuments, Areas of Archeological Potential, Cultural landscape e.g. Baltinglass Hills Regional Scale Managed Parks The Wicklow Mountains National Park, Avondale, Kilmacurragh, other forestry lands Strategic green belts Bray / Greystones agricultural green belt buffer Regional GI Routes County Wicklow Strategic GI routes (examples) River corridors, waterways, lakeshore, coastal All waterways within County – e.g. Avonmore, Avoca, Dargle, Vartry Reservoir, Blesssington greenway East Coast “blueway” Bray – Dungarvan5 Transport corridors, Roads & Rail All roadways within County – e.g. N81, R750, existing railway lines, disused railway line in from Woodenbridge to Shillelagh. Regional cycle / walkways (including in development) Wicklow Way, Blessington Greenway, Arklow – Shillelagh trail, Coastal Route 5 This is an initiative of the Celtic Routes INTERREG, and would entail a blueway from Bray to Dungarvan. In conjunction with counties Wexford and Waterford, a feasibility study has been carried out and delivery options are being explored.412

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