2. CORE STRATEGY 2 AIM To respond in a coherent sustainable, spatial fashion to the challenges facing the county, while building on its strengths and providing a more focused approach to planning for future growth. The Core Strategy facilitates a more consolidated compact urban form, maintenance and improvement of a sustainable economic base, and the creation of sustainable and integrated communities, together with the balancing of our natural and built environment with sustainable and appropriate development. 30 Kildare County Development Plan 2017-2023 Kildare County Development Plan 2017-2023 31 2.1 STATUTORY CONTEXT AND BACKGROUND It is recognised that, as Kildare is part of the Greater 2.3 KILDARE IN CONTEXT 2.3.1 Population Growth Trends Dublin Area (GDA) it will be influenced by and The population of the county has increased from The Planning and Development (Amendment) Act have influence over future economic, social and Kildare has an area of 169,426 hectares. Its topography 186,335 in 2006 to 210,312 in 2011, representing a 2010 introduced a requirement for an evidence based environmental trends in the region. The RPGs (and consists of a large fertile plain broken only by a growth of 13%, the second highest in the State. Over “Core Strategy” to form part of all Development Plans. forthcoming Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy) few hills such as Dunmurray Hill and the Hill of a 20 year period (1991-2011), Kildare experienced The purpose of the Core Strategy is to articulate a provide a broad planning framework giving an overall Allen, with upland areas mainly on the eastern a 71.5% increase in its population. The most recent medium-to-longer term quantitatively based strategy strategic context to the development plans of each boundary with County Wicklow. The fertile plain increase in population can be explained by high for the spatial development of the area of the planning local authority in the GDA. forms part of the central lowlands of Ireland and authority and in doing so to demonstrate that a extends throughout most of the county including the levels of natural increase (birth rate) and a strong development plan and its policies and objectives are This Development Plan seeks to encourage the focus unique landscape of the Curragh. Significant areas of performance in net migration. consistent with national and regional development of new development on: bogland are located to the north west of the county. objectives set out in the National Spatial Strategy The uplands to the east separate the plains from the (2002) and the Regional Planning Guidelines (2010). (i) Consolidation within the existing urban Wicklow Mountains and Blessington. 2.3.1.1 Population Change ED 2 footprint with particular focus on the 2006-2011 The Act requires a Core Strategy to include a Kildare is one of the fastest growing counties in Metropolitan and Hinterland towns; settlement hierarchy; evidence based population and Ireland. It contains many vibrant towns including Map 2.1 illustrates percentage population change housing targets for all towns, villages and the open (ii) Supporting the achievement of more Maynooth, Leixlip, Celbridge and Kilcock within between 2006-2011 per Electoral Division (ED). countryside; to demonstrate how future development sustainable towns and villages through the north east and the strong growth cluster of Naas, Growth in population has occurred within and supports public transport and services; and to residential and employment opportunities Newbridge and Kilcullen within the centre of the around the central towns of Naas, Newbridge, demonstrate regard for the Retail Planning Guidelines together with supporting social and community county. The towns of Kildare, Monasterevin and Kildare, Clane and Kilcullen, resulting in a dense for Planning Authorities, DECLG (2012). facilities; Athy support south and west Kildare. Smaller towns, pattern of growth along the M7 and M9 motorways. (iii) Supporting national investment in public villages and settlements are located throughout the Significant pockets of population growth have also While the Act does not expressly require the Core transport services by focusing new county supporting more rural populations together occurred in the north of the county. Populations Strategy to contain information concerning other development areas in key locations to achieve with large tracts of agricultural lands which have more than doubled in the rural hinterlands of land uses such as employment and commercial zones, the integration of land uses and high quality significant value, both as important agricultural urban centres like Athy, Naas, Newbridge, Clane the Guidance Note on Core Strategies, DECLG (2010) public transport provision; enterprises, food sources or as open green areas and Kilcock and the village of Caragh. While recommends that planning authorities undertake an (iv) Achieving economies of scale for services and between towns and the built up areas. the Athy area experienced significant population appropriate level of analysis to ensure that sufficient infrastructure in identified growth towns; increase, the majority of the south of the county lands are zoned at suitable locations, taking account Many of the main transportation corridors linking the experienced lower levels of growth. Most areas of (v) Promoting economic development and of higher level planning policies and required physical GDA to the rest of the country pass through Kildare. the county experienced an increase in population. employment opportunities within defined infrastructure. These include three motorway corridors, National In a small number of ED’s e.g. north of Rathangan economic clusters; Primary Routes and National Secondary Routes. (Killinthomas), south of Ballymore Eustace The Core Strategy should be represented in the (vi) Facilitating development in the smaller towns Various regional and local routes also traverse the (Gilltown), Newbridge town centre, Pollardstown, written statement, by a diagrammatic map or other and villages in line with the ability of local county together with four mainline railway passenger Ballysax, Athy West and south of Maganey such visualisations, and in the Core Strategy tables. services to cater for growth that responds to services (Refer to Map 2.6). (Ballaghmoon), population decreased slightly. local demand; Over the last decade, the county has also witnessed an (vii) Recognising the role of the rural countryside unprecedented growth in the quality and quantum of in supporting the rural economy and its role its retail offer. This plan seeks to continue to sustain 2.2 STRATEGY as a key resource for agriculture, equine, and improve the retail profile and competitiveness of bloodstock, forestry, energy production, In accordance with the Planning and Development the county within the retail economy of the GDA. In tourism, recreation, mineral extraction and (Amendment) Act 2010, the first Core Strategy this regard, the preparation of Chapter 9 Retail has rural based enterprises; for Kildare was set out in the 2011-2017 County been informed by the 2008-2016 Retail Strategy for Development Plan. The Core Strategy in this Plan (viii) Supporting, facilitating and promoting the the GDA builds on the principles of the previous Strategy. sustainable development of renewable energy Chapter 2 Core Strategy and Chapter 3 Settlement sources in the county; Strategy set out an overarching strategy for the (ix) Protecting local assets by preserving development of the county to 2023 and beyond and the quality of the landscape, open space, translate the strategic planning framework of the recreational resources, natural, architectural, NSS and RPGs to county level. The Core Strategy archaeological and cultural heritage and addresses the period from Census 2011 to 2023 and material assets of the county; incorporates preliminary population and household (x) Promoting social inclusion and facilitating the figures from Census 2016 (CSO July 2016). delivery of objectives contained in the Kildare Local Economic and Community Plan (LECP) 2016-2021. 32 Kildare County Development Plan 2017-2023 Kildare County Development Plan 2017-2023 33 Population Change, 2006 to 2011 2.3.1.2 Population Density 2011 Population Change 2006-2011 Map 2.1 Map 1 % Population Change, 2006 to 2011 Population Change per ED 2006 - 2011 The distribution of population in County Kildare NEWBRIDGE – KILDARE 5,299 is outlined on Map 2.2. It varies significantly NAAS 4,341 Percentage Change in Population - 2006 to 2011 from concentrations of over 3,000 persons per MAYNOOTH 7,402 square kilometre in major urban centres like Naas, CELBRIDGE – LEIXLIP 2,631 ATHY 4,304 Moyvalley Meath Newbridge, Leixlip and Athy to more sparsely M4 1,000 3,000 5,000 7,000 populated rural areas in the west and south of the Broadford Cadamstown Kilcock county. In terms of density per square kilometre, Clogherinka Newtown Johnstownbridge Sallins, Celbridge and Kilcock are the most densely % Population Change 2006-2011 Killina Ballyteague Maynooth Leixlip/ Kilshanchoe Collinstown populated urban areas in Kildare. Williamstown Timoghan NEWBRIDGE – KILDARE 11.8 Maynooth M4 10.2 Carbury The most populated areas in Kildare are within and NAAS Newtownmoneenluggagh Celbridge MAYNOOTH 19.2 Rathcoey 2 Timahoe Derrinturn Staplestown close to the main urban settlements of Newbridge, CELBRIDGE – LEIXLIP 7.7 Naas, Celbridge, Leixlip, Maynooth and Athy. At ATHY 16.3 Oaly Ticknevin Straan KILDARE 12.9 Municipal District level, the population