Report: Proposed Limerick Development Plan 2022-2028
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2 Table of Contents Part 1 Introduction to the Chief Executive’s Report and Draft Core Strategy 1.1 Introduction 5 1.2 Purpose of the Chief Executives Report and next step 5 1.3 Format of Report 6 1.4 Legislative Background for the Chief Executive’s Report 7 1.5 Pre-Draft Consultation Process 8 1.5.1 Description of notifications 8 1.5.2 Issues and background papers 8 1.5.3 Website 9 1.5.4 Virtual room for public consultation 10 1.5.5 Webinar 10 1.5.6 Engagement with young people 11 1.5.7 Public meetings 12 1.5.8 Social media analytics 12 1.5.9 Stakeholder consultation meetings 13 1.5.10 Consultation with Elected Members of Limerick City 14 and County Council 1.6 Overview of submissions received and recommendations made 14 1.6.1 Alignment of submissions with United Nations Sustainable 29 Development Goals 1.7 Draft Core Strategy 31 1.7.1 Introduction 31 1.7.2 Directions and the Draft Core Strategy 31 1.7.3 Strategic Overview, key principles and parameters for the Core Strategy 32 1.7.4 Population projections 34 1.7.5 Housing demand, land availability and service capacity 35 1.7.6 Drafting the Core Strategy 36 1.7.7 Environmental Assessment 37 Part 2 Summary of submissions made by the Office of the Planning 38 Regulator and the Southern Regional Assembly and the Chief Executives opinion and recommendations on policies to be included in the Draft Development Plan 2.1 Submission by Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR) 39 2.2 Submission by Southern Regional Assembly 48 Part 3 Summary of submissions and Chief Executives opinion 66 and recommendations on policies to be included in the Draft Development Plan 3 Part 4 Overview of issues raised at information events 228 Appendices Appendix A List of bodies and persons consulted Appendix B List of submissions received and relevant theme and SDG Appendix C List of late and invalid submissions Appendix D List of principle international, national, regional and local policy documents and guidelines and plans. Appendix E Mandatory requirements for making a development plan. Appendix F Copy of newspaper advertisement (Section 11 notice) Appendix G Acronyms 4 1.1 Introduction Limerick City and County Council is in the process of preparing a new Development Plan for Limerick. In accordance with Section 11 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended), Limerick City and County Council have commenced the review of the Limerick City Development Plan 2010 – 2016 (as extended) and the Limerick County Development Plan 2010 – 2016 (as extended) and the preparation of the proposed Limerick Development Plan 2022 – 2028. The Limerick Development Plan 2022 – 2028, will be the first combined development plan for Limerick City and County, since the merger of the two local authorities in 2014. The preparation of the Limerick Development Plan is one of the most important functions of the council acting as a blueprint for the development of Limerick from a physical, economic, social and environmental viewpoint over the lifetime of the plan. The review process commenced on the 15th August 2020, with the publication of the Issues Paper entitled Limerick Development Plan 2022 – 2028, What is your Vision for Limerick? The Issues Paper provided the context of the preparation of the proposed Development Plan and identifies how the proposed plan fits into the hierarchy of legalisation, which includes United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the National Planning Framework (NPF) and the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES) for the Southern Region and Limerick – Shannon Metropolitan Area Strategic Plan (MASP), which is contained in the RSES. Notwithstanding the restrictions placed on holding public events and meetings due to Covid 19, the level of engagement at this stage of the process was high with a total of 248 submissions received, 12 of these related to zoning requests and were therefore considered invalid and 7 were received after the closing date. Limerick City and County Council wish to take this opportunity to sincerely thank all those who made submissions, all those who gave of their time to attend meetings, both physical and virtual, and engaged with officials and also the Elected Members. 1.2 Purpose of the Chief Executive’s Report and next step The preparation of a new Development Plan involves a 3 stage process as set out in figure 1 below. This report forms part of stage 1 of the statutory process of making a new Development Plan. Its primary function is to list and summarise the main issues raised in the submissions received during the pre-draft consultation process, and to provide recommendations on the policies to be included in the Draft Development Plan. This report will be issued to the Elected Members of Limerick City and County Council for consideration. 5 Figure 1: Development Plan Process The next step involves the Elected Members considering the report within a period of up to 10 weeks. Following this, the Members may issue directions to the Chief Executive, regarding the preparation of the Draft Development Plan. Any such directions shall be strategic in nature, consistent with the draft core strategy, shall take account of the statutory obligations of any local authority in the area, and shall take account of any relevant Government or Ministerial policies or objectives. In accordance with section 11(4)(f), in issuing directions the Elected Members shall be restricted to considering the proper planning and sustainable development of the area to which the development plan relates. Within 12 weeks following the receipt of any directions from the Elected Members, the Chief Executive shall in accordance with Section 11(5)(a) of the Act, prepare a draft development plan and submit it to the members of the planning authority for their consideration. 1.3 Format of the report The report is split into a number of parts as follows: • Part 1 outlines the purpose and legislative requirements of this report, outlines the pre-draft consultation process, gives an overview of the submissions received and recommendations made and presents a draft core strategy; • Part 2 summarises the submissions from the Office of the Planning Regulator and the Southern Regional Assembly and gives the Chief Executives opinion and policy recommendations; • Part 3 contains a summary of the submissions, the Chief Executives opinion and recommendations on the main policies and objectives which should be addressed in the new Development Plan, grouped under themes. They are not intended to be 6 exhaustive but give a good indication of the key broad policy areas which will be detailed and expanded upon in the Draft Development Plan. • Part 4 gives an overview of the issues raised at information events. • There are 7 appendices as follows: Appendix A lists the bodies and persons that were consulted; appendix B lists the submissions received, identifies the relevant theme(s) and SDG(s); appendix C lists the late and invalid submissions, appendix D gives a list of principle international, national, regional and local policy documents and guidelines and plans that need to be considered in drafting the plan; appendix E sets out the mandatory requirements for making a development plan as set out in the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended), Appendix F includes a copy of the newspaper advertisement and list of acronyms listed G. 1.4 Legislative Background for the Chief Executive’s Report Section 11 (4)(a) of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 (as amended), sets out the requirements in relation to the preparation of a Chief Executive’s Report. The Chief Executive’s Report is required to deal with any submissions or observations received on foot of the notifications and consultations (carried out under Section 11 (2) and (3) of the Act), with, inter alia, the public, prescribed bodies, service providers and the Board. In accordance with Section 11 (4)(b) the Chief Executive’s Report must: (i) List the persons or bodies who made submissions or observations, as well as any persons or bodies consulted; (ii) Summarise the issues raised in the submissions and during the consultations, where appropriate, but shall not refer to a submission relating to a request or proposal for zoning of particular land for any purpose; (iii) Give the opinion of the Chief Executive on the issues raised; In this regard, the Chief Executive’s opinion must take into account (a) the proper planning and sustainable development of the area, (b) the statutory obligations of any Local Authority in the area, and (c) any relevant policies or objectives of the Government or any Minister of the Government. (iv) Finally, the Report shall state the Chief Executive’s recommendations on the policies to be included in the Draft Development Plan. (v) The Chief Executive’s Report must then be submitted to the Elected Members of the Planning Authority or a committee of the Planning Authority for their consideration. Following consideration of the report the Elected Members may then issue Directions to the Chief Executive regarding the preparation of the Draft Development Plan (Section 11(4)(d)). These Directions shall be strategic in nature, be consistent with the Draft Core Strategy and shall take account of the statutory obligations of the Local Authority in the area and any relevant policies or objectives of the Government or of any Minister of the Government. In issuing Directions, Section 11(4)(f) of the Act states that the Members shall be restricted to considering the proper planning and sustainable development of the area to which the Development Plan relates. 7 1.5 Pre – Draft Consultation Process 1.5.1 Description of notification The process of making development plans must be open, transparent and inclusive.