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

1. Page 61

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   Wicklow County Development Plan 2022 – 2028 Chapter 3 | Core Strategy Table 3.4 Wicklow Settlement / Aggregate Settlement Population Targets 2016, Q2 2028 Level Settlement Population 2016 Population target Q2 2028 % of total County growth to Q2 2028 by tier 1 Bray 29,646 38,565 KEY TOWNS 49% 2 Wicklow - Rathnew 14,114 18,515 3 Arklow 13,226 15,419 SELF SUSTAINING GROWTH TOWNS 25%Greystones - Delgany 18,021 21,727 Blessington 5,234 6,145 4 Baltinglass 2,251 2,607 SELF SUSTAINING TOWNS 12% Enniskerry 1,877 2,106 Kilcoole 4,244 4,778 Newtownmountkennedy 3,552 5,179 Rathdrum 1,716 2,339 Ashford 5,710 6,695 SMALL TOWNS 5% Aughrim Carnew Dunlavin Tinahely 6 Avoca 3,835 4,230 Donard Kilmacanogue Newcastle Roundwood Shillelagh 7-9 Villages / clusters 38,999 41,352 VILLAGES 9% 10 Open countryside OPEN COUNTRYSIDE Total 142,425 169,658 100.0%53

2. Page 62

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   Wicklow County Development Plan 2022 – 2028 Chapter 3 | Core Strategy Table 3.5 Wicklow Settlement / Aggregate Settlement Housing Targets to Q2 2028 and Q4 2031 Level Settlement Housing Stock 2016 Completions 2017-2020 Estimated completions 2021-Q2 2022 Housing Growth Q3 2022-Q2 2028 Housing Growth Q3 2028- Q4 2031 Total Housing Growth 2016-2031 1 2 Bray 11,232 165 100 4,026 771 5,062 Wicklow -Rathnew 5,456 650 200 1,267 275 2,392 3 Arklow 5,406 165 100 790 166 1,221 Greystones - Delgany 6,766 875 400 508 170 1,953 Blessington 1,914 5 40 393 81 519 4 Baltinglass 903 46 40 85 24 195 Enniskerry 648 34 40 36 15 125 Kilcoole 1,451 97 20 140 30 287 Newtownmountkennedy 1,222 250 100 433 99 882 Rathdrum 669 132 100 68 31 331 5 Ashford 2,390 255 90 129 41 515 Aughrim Carnew Dunlavin Tinahely 6 Avoca 1,534 46 30 114 28 218 Donard Kilmacanogue Newcastle Roundwood Shillelagh 7-9 10 Villages / clusters Open countryside 15,395 510 134 478 117 1,249 Total 54,986 3,230 1,404 8,467 1,848 14,94954

3. Page 63

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   Wicklow County Development Plan 2022 – 2028 Chapter 3 | Core Strategy In order to ensure that adequate services are delivered in tandem with new housing, service delivery agencies shall have regard to both the future housing growth targets set out in Table 3.5 above, and the housing delivery already completed and underway in the County since 2016, as well as permitted further housing development as yet to commence, as shown on Table 3.6 to follow. Table 3.6 Housing development completed, underway and permitted in Co. Wicklow Level Settlement Housing Units completed post 2016 Units under construction5 Extant permission 6 1 Bray 165 409 876 2 Wicklow - Rathnew 650 376 481 3 Arklow 165 181 109 Greystones - Delgany 875 1050 688 Blessington 5 45 307 4 Baltinglass 46 50 69 Enniskerry 34 69 88 Kilcoole 97 23 17 Newtownmountkennedy 250 587 11 Rathdrum 132 137 173 5 Ashford 255 101 225 Aughrim Carnew Dunlavin Tinahely 6 Avoca 46 30 109 Donard Kilmacanogue Newcastle Roundwood Shillelagh 5 As of 31 March 2021 6 As of 31 March 2021, granted but uncommenced55

4. Page 64

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   Wicklow County Development Plan 2022 – 2028 Chapter 3 | Core Strategy 3.5 Zoning This development plan provides the population and housing targets for all 21 settlements in the County up to 2031. However, it only provides plans for 13 settlements, the remainder of the settlements having their own standalone ‘Local Area Plans’, which will be reviewed after the adoption of this County Development Plan. Local Area Plans (LAPs) New Local Area Plans will be made for the following settlements in the period 2022-2024 in the following order of priority: 1. Wicklow Town – Rathnew 2. Greystones - Delgany - Kilcoole 3. Blessington 4. Arklow and Environs 5. Bray Municipal District (including Enniskerry and Kilmacanogue) While each LAP will cover a period of 6 years, zoning will be provided on the basis of the land needed to meet the 2031 population target, with clear objectives to ensure 2026 targets can be reached. The Core Strategy Tables to follow shows the housing unit requirements for the LAP towns, up to the year 2031 and the housing unit capacity of lands zoned in current LAPs. This table shows that the majority of current LAPs have a surplus of zoned land having regard to the revised 2031 targets set out in the NPF Roadmap and the RSES for the EMRA. Prior to the adoption of new LAPs reflecting the targets set out in this plan, in the assessment of applications for new housing development (or mixed use development of which housing forms a significant component) the Council will strictly adhere to the compact growth, sequential development and phasing principles set out in this plan. Small Town Plans (STPs) With respect to the remaining towns and settlements, their plans form part of this County Development Plan (see Volume 2). While each Small Town Plan will cover a period of 6 years, zoning / development objectives will be provided on the basis of the flexible development framework needed to support the delivery of the short, medium and long term targets. The Core Strategy Tables to follow shows the zoning requirements for towns in this category that have a population greater than 1,500 persons, up to the year 2031. For Small Towns under 1,500 population, zoning requirements are not provided for individual settlements. Each of these plans will be crafted to ensure that the aggregate housing growth provided for in any small towns or village does not exceed c. 20% for Level 5 towns and c. 15% for Level 6 Towns.56

5. Page 65

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   Wicklow County Development Plan 2022 – 2028 Chapter 3 | Core Strategy Zoning Principles Principle 1: Compact Growth In accordance with National Policy Objectives 3c of the National Planning Framework, a minimum of 30% of the housing growth targeted in any settlement is to be delivered within the existing built up footprint of the settlement. Levels 1-5 of Settlement Hierarchy For larger towns in Levels 1-5, where more significant growth is targeted that is unlikely to be possible to accommodate wholly within the existing built up envelope, a minimum of 30% of the targeted housing growth shall be directed into the built up area of the settlement. In cognisance that the potential of town centre regeneration / infill / brownfield sites is difficult to predict, there shall be no quantitative restriction inferred from this Core Strategy and associated tables on the number of units that may be delivered on town centre regeneration / infill / brownfield sites. In order to ensure however that overall housing and population targets are not exceeded to any significant degree, the amount of land zoned for the housing development outside of the built up envelope of any existing settlement shall not exceed 70% of the total housing target for that settlement. Level 6-9 of Settlement Hierarchy It has been determined that all of the targeted housing growth in towns / villages at Levels 6 – 9 of the hierarchy can be accommodated within the existing built up footprint of these settlements. Principle 2: Delivery of Population and Housing Targets The zoning provisions of each Local Area Plan and Small Town Plan will be crafted on the basis of ensuring that the population and housing unit targets set out in the tables above can be fulfilled. Where the targets set out in the tables above can’t be fulfilled within the quantum of land identified due the lack of infrastructure as set out in Appendix 9, prioritisation will be given to fulfilling the targets set out in the tables above on land identified within Local Area Plans and Small Town Plans where infrastructure is or will be available and based on the sequential approach set out in Principle 4. Town centre regeneration / infill / brownfield developments normally located within the existing built up part of the settlement, generally on lands zoned ‘town centre’, ‘village centre’, ‘primary area’, ‘existing residential’ and other similarly zoned, already developed lands will be prioritised and promoted in the first instance for new housing development. The exact capacity of such lands is not possible to quantify as it is not possible to predict what infill opportunities might arise for new development on existing developed or brownfield lands. However, the Council will utilise all mechanisms available to it to stimulate development in these locations, such that at least 30% of all new development is delivered in these areas.57

6. Page 66

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   Wicklow County Development Plan 2022 – 2028 Chapter 3 | Core Strategy Where a need for new housing development outside of the ‘compact growth boundary’ is identified, the quantum of land zoned shall accord with the targets set out in the Core Strategy Tables, having regard to density assumptions made in accordance with Principle 3 to follow and the sequential approach set out in Principle 4. Principle 3: Higher Densities It is an objective of the Council to encourage higher residential densities at suitable locations, particularly in existing town / village centres and close to existing or proposed major public transport corridors and nodes. In accordance with Specific Planning Policy Requirement 4 of the Urban Development and Building Heights Guidelines for Planning Authorities (DHPLG 2018), in planning the future development of greenfield or edge of city/town locations for housing purposes, planning authorities must secure: 1. the minimum densities for such locations set out in the Guidelines issued by the Minister under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended), titled “Sustainable Residential Development in Urban Areas (2007)” or any amending or replacement Guidelines; 2. a greater mix of building heights and typologies in planning for the future development of suburban locations; and 3. avoid mono-type building typologies (e.g. two storey or own-door houses only), particularly, but not exclusively so in any one development of 100 units or more. Minimum densities will normally be ascribed to each parcel of zoned / designated residential land in the relevant local plan. Densities are crafted following an assessment of the capacity and characteristics of the land in question, in the interests of providing the most compact and sustainable form of development. In order to achieve the housing growth targets set out in the Core Strategy, it is important that minimum densities are achieved and exceeded where local conditions allow, except where insurmountable impediments arise. In existing residential areas, infill development shall generally be at a density that respects the established character of the area in which it is located, subject to the protection of the residential amenity of adjoining properties. Principle 4: Sequential approach The priority locations for new residential development will be: Priority 1 In the designated ‘town’ and ‘village’ / ‘neighbourhood centres’ or ‘primary zone’ through densification of the existing built up area, re-use of derelict or brownfield sites, infill and backland development. In doing so, cognisance will be taken of respecting the existing built fabric and residential amenities enjoyed by existing residents, and maintaining existing parks and other open areas within settlements. Priority 2 Strategic Sites as identified by the RSES and associated MASP Priority 3 Infill within the existing built envelope of the town, as defined by the CSO Town boundary Priority 4 Where a need for ‘greenfield’ residential development is identified, the ‘two-tier approach’ to land zoning as set out in the NPF will be taken i.e. Tier 1: Serviced Zoned Land  This zoning comprises lands that are able to connect to existing development services, i.e. road and footpath access including public lighting, foul sewer drainage, surface water drainage and water supply, for which there is service capacity available, and can therefore accommodate new development.58

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   Wicklow County Development Plan 2022 – 2028 Chapter 3 | Core Strategy  These lands will generally be positioned within the existing built-up footprint of a settlement or contiguous to existing developed lands. The location and geographical extent of such lands shall be determined by the planning authority at a settlement scale as an integral part of the plan-making process and shall include assessment of available development services.  Inclusion in Tier 1 will generally require the lands to within the footprint of or spatially sequential within the identified settlement. Tier 2: Serviceable Zoned Land  This zoning comprises lands that are not currently sufficiently serviced to support new development but have potential to become fully serviced within the life of the plan i.e. the lands are currently constrained due to the need to deliver some or all development services required to support new development, i.e. road or footpath access including lighting, foul sewer drainage, surface water drainage, water supply and/or additional service capacity.  These lands may be positioned within the existing built-up footprint of a settlement, or contiguous to existing developed lands or to tier 1 zoned lands, where required to fulfil the spatially sequential approach to the location of the new development within the identified settlement.  The potential for delivery of the required services and/or capacity to support new development must be identified and specific details provided by the planning authority at the time of publication of both the draft and final development or area plan. This infrastructural assessment must be aligned with the approved infrastructural investment programme(s) of the relevant delivery agency(ies), for example, Irish Water, or be based on a written commitment by the relevant delivery agency to provide the identified infrastructure within a specified timescale (i.e. within the lifetime of the plan). The planning authority may also commit to the delivery of the required and identified infrastructure in its own infrastructural investment programme (i.e. Budgeted Capital Programme) in order to support certain lands for zoning. As set out in the NPF, lands that cannot be serviced during the life of a development or area plan by reference to the infrastructural assessment of the planning authority cannot be categorised as either Tier 1 lands or Tier 2 lands per the above and therefore are not developable within the plan period. Such lands should not be zoned for development or included within a development plan core strategy for calculation purposes. Where there is a surplus of land identified for residential development (or a mix of residential and other uses), one or a combination of the following option will be utilised: Prioritising / Phasing of Development: by indicating on relevant tables and maps, where any surplus capacity of land and/or housing will be regarded as a strategic reserve and that proposals for the development of such lands or housing will not be considered for development purposes during the plan period; Alternative Objectives: by indicating lands that will be considered for alternative appropriate uses within the plan period such as employment, amenity, community or other uses; Discontinuing the Objective: by deletion of the zoning objective and related lands from the written statement and maps of the development plan. Detailed ‘Infrastructural Assessments’ in accordance with NPO 72 and the methodology for a Tiered Approach to Zoning set out under Appendix 3 of the NPF shall be carried out for all lands proposed to be zoned and dezoned in future Local Area Plans.59

8. Page 68

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   Wicklow County Development Plan 2022 – 2028 Chapter 3 | Core Strategy CORE STRATEGY TABLES Table A: LAP Towns This analysis utilises the 2031 housing targets, having regard the likely timeframes of future LAPs (6-10 years), due to be adopted in the 2023 – 2025 period. SETTLEMENT POPULATION & HOUSING ZONING A B C D E F G H I J K L Settlement Type Settlement name Census 2016 Population Census 2016 (%) Housing Target 2016-2031 (less completed units 2017- 2020) (units) Housing Target (as % of County 2031 target) Development capacity of existing zoned lands (units)7 Development capacity of existing zoned land within built up area (units) Development capacity of existing zoned land outside built up area (units) Development capacity of existing zoned land within built up area as % of total development capacity (F/E) Units required to be provided outside of built up area (units) (C – F) Surplus capacity of existing zoned land outside built up area (units) (G – I) Surplus land outside of existing built up area (ha) Method of addressing shortfall / surplus County Wicklow 142,425 11,719 100% Key Towns Bray 29,646 21% 4,897 42% 6,500 2,000 4,500 31% 2,897 1,600 408 Will be addressed in next LAP – comprises strategic sites Wicklow - Rathnew 14,114 10% 1,742 15% 4,200 2,000 2,200 48% 0 2,200 559 21ha already under construction; remaining surplus will be addressed in next LAP Self Sustaining (Growth) Towns Arklow 13,226 9% 1,056 9% 5,200 2,100 3,100 40% 0 3,100 78 11ha already under construction; remaining surplus will be addressed in next LAP Greystones- Delgany 18,021 13% 1,078 9% 2,900 1,700 1,200 59% 0 1,200 309 7.5ha already under construction; remaining surplus will be addressed in next LAP Blessington 5,234 4% 514 4% 1,450 300 1,150 21% 215 935 319 Surplus will be addressed in next LAP Enniskerry 1,877 1% 91 1% 520 375 145 72% 0 145 59 Surplus will be addressed in next LAP Kilcoole 4,244 3% 190 2% 600 460 140 77% 0 140 59 Surplus will be addressed in next LAP 7 Zoned housing / mixed use lands that has not delivered any housing units pre 2020 due to lack of permission / non-commencement of permitted development / non-completion of commenced development. 8 Density assumption 40/ha 9 Density assumption 30/ha60

9. Page 69

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   Wicklow County Development Plan 2022 – 2028 Chapter 3 | Core Strategy Table B: Towns / Aggregate Town Groups / Rural Areas that form part of County Development Plan 2022-2028 This table relates to the period up to Q2 2028 SETTLEMENT POPULATION & HOUSING LAND ZONING REQUIRED A B C D E F G H I Settlement Type Settlement name Census 2016 Population Census 2016 (%) Housing Target 2016-Q2 2028 (less completed units 2017- 2020) (units) Housing Target (as % of County target) Housing Target + 25% additional provision (units) Development capacity of proposed zoned residential lands (units)10 Development capacity of proposed zoned infill / mixed use / town centre lands (units)11 Total development capacity (units) Proportion of zoned land within built up area County Wicklow 142,425 8,467 100% Self Sustaining Towns Baltinglass 2,251 2% 125 1.5% 156 105 80 185 100% Newtownmountkennedy 3,552 2% 533 6% 666 612 80 692 40% Rathdrum 1,716 1% 168 2% 210 585 70 655 31% 10 Density assumption 30/ha 11 Capacity determined by site by site analysis61

10. Page 70

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    Wicklow County Development Plan 2022 – 2028 Chapter 3 | Core Strategy 3.6 Transport & Accessibility The National Planning Framework is focused on policies, actions and investment to deliver 10 National Strategic Outcomes (NSOs). With respect to transport and accessibility, the key objectives relevant to Wicklow and the Dublin Metropolitan Area are: High quality international connectivity  Support the improvement and protection of the TEN-T road network to strengthen access routes to Ireland’s ports and airports Inter-Urban Roads  Maintaining the strategic capacity and safety of the national roads network including planning for future capacity enhancements;  Improving average journey times targeting an average inter-urban speed of 90kph;  Enabling more effective traffic management within and around cities and re-allocation of inner city road-space in favour of bus-based public transport services and walking/cycling facilities Public Transport  To strengthen public transport connectivity between cities and large growth towns in Ireland and Northern Ireland with improved services and reliable journey times.  Expand attractive public transport alternatives to car transport to reduce congestion and emissions and enable the transport sector to cater for the demands associated with longer term population and employment growth in a sustainable manner through the following measures;  Deliver the key public transport objectives of the Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area 2016-2035 by investing in projects such as New Metro Link, DART Expansion Programme, BusConnects in Dublin and key bus-based projects in the other cities and towns;  Provide public transport infrastructure and services to meet the needs of smaller towns, villages and rural areas; and  Develop a comprehensive network of safe cycling routes in metropolitan areas to address travel needs and to provide similar facilities in towns and villages where appropriate. Rural Development  Provide a quality nationwide community based public transport system in rural Ireland which responds to local needs under the Rural Transport Network and similar initiatives;  Invest in maintaining regional and local roads and strategic road improvement projects in rural areas to ensure access to critical services such as education, healthcare and employment. These transportation and accessibility objectives are translated to the regional level through the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy; the Transport Investment Priorities for the region that are relevant to Wicklow are as follows: Rail  DART Expansion Programme - new infrastructure and electrification of existing lines ... while continuing to provide DART services on the South-Eastern Line as far south as Greystones  Provide for an appropriate level of commuter rail service in the Midlands and South-East  Complete the construction of the National Train Control Centre.  New stations to provide interchange with bus, LUAS and Metro network including Kishoge, Heuston West, Cabra, Glasnevin, Pelletstown and Woodbrook.  LUAS Green Line Capacity Enhancement in advance of Metrolink.  Undertake appraisal, planning and design of LUAS network expansion to Bray, Finglas, Lucan and Poolbeg  In principle there is a need to carry out an evaluation of underground metro routes within the M50 Bus  Core Bus Corridors comprising 16 radial routes and 3 orbital routes in Dublin  Regional Bus Corridors connecting the major regional settlements to Dublin  Dublin Metropolitan Bus Network Review  Network reviews for the largest settlements across EMRA, with a view to providing local bus services  Review of bus services between settlements  Review of local bus services throughout EMRA, including services to small towns and villages62

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.