Town and Village Plans / Settlement Boundaries 15.3.5 Hacketstown Plan 15.3.5.1 Location Vision To seek and promote economic and Hacketstown is located in the north east of physical renewal and regeneration in County Carlow, on the border with County Hacketstown, facilitating healthy Wicklow. The town is located in a scenic area, placemaking while accommodating with Eagle Hill a dominant feature to the population growth, promoting south of the town and views of the Wicklow employment opportunities within the Mountains in the backdrop. Hacketstown is town, addressing vacancy and located on the main regional roads (R747 and dereliction thereby improving quality R727) from the East Coast to the Midlands of life, whilst pursuing a continued and is proximate to Tullow, Baltinglass and pattern of high quality development Tinahely. Hacketstown is the southern that respects the inherent gateway to the major tourist attractions of characteristics of the natural and built County Wicklow. The town is located c.27 environment. kilometres from Carlow Town. Hacketstown Position in Settlement Hierarchy Small Town 2016 Population 597 2011 Population 600 % Change 2011-2016 -0.4% Households 228 Committed Units not yet Built 4 Core Strategy Housing Allocation 56 Population Projection 2028 724 Education Facilities Primary and Secondary Schools including Childcare / Pre School Facilities Community Facilities Community Centre, GAA Facilities located outside the town Architectural Conservation Areas None Protected Structures 7 no. Zone of Archaeological Potential / NMR 2 no. Sites Natura 2000 Sites River Dereen located on northern boundary is a tributary of the River Slaney (SAC -Site Code 000781) Strategic Flood Risk Assessment Lands located within Flood Zones Open Space and Amenity Water Services Infrastructure / Capacity Sufficient Capacity exists in Water and Wastewater Infrastructure to accommodate development 408 | P a g e Draft Carlow County Development Plan 2022-2028 Town and Village Plans / Settlement Boundaries 15.3.5.2 Settlement Form and Function along Water Street/ Moffett’s Lane. Large derelict and vacant sites are located close to Hacketstown main street reflects the the junction of Main Street and Mill Street character of a traditional small Irish town that and impact significantly on the vitality, developed as a crossroads town between the viability and character of this road including R747 and the R727. It operates primarily as a the former Perry Oil Company on Mill Street. goods and services centre and provides a Mill Street located just off the Main Street restaurant, post office, credit union, fire comprises a mix of commercial and residential station, pharmacy, primary and secondary premises. schools and a community centre. The town centre also contains several public houses and fast-food stores. To the north of the town centre are significant underutilised industrial lands which detract from the appearance of the town. To the west, south and east of the town centre the majority of development comprises of housing areas. SuperValu is the main convenience anchor retailer in the town, located on Main Street Upper at the junction with Mill Street. There is also a smaller convenience store (Londis) located in the petrol station on Moffetts Lane. Main Street also accommodates a pharmacy, butchers, barbers and hairdressers, with a large hardware shop. Along secondary streets, there is a high rate of vacant buildings, this is particularly evident Main Street Hacketstown 409 | P a g e Draft Carlow County Development Plan 2022-2028 Town and Village Plans / Settlement Boundaries Historic Map 25 Inch (1888-1913) of Leighlinbridge (Source: www.osi.ie) Aerial imagery of Hacketstown captured between 2013-2018 (Source: www.osi.ie) 410 | P a g e Draft Carlow County Development Plan 2022-2028 Town and Village Plans / Settlement Boundaries 15.3.5.3 Population and Socio – Economic Within the Hacketstown ED the Pobal HB Profile Deprivation Index identifies over 50% of the population residing in the ED as According, to the 2016 data, Hacketstown has disadvantaged or very disadvantaged. a population of 597 representing an decrease of -0.4% from 2011 (600). Population levels 15.3.5.4 Housing have been consistently decreasing in the town with an overall population decline of 16% (110 There were 228 households recorded in the persons) since 1991. 2016 Census. One and two person households made up 57% of all households. 57% of the Population Demographic / Nationality units were also classified as owner occupied. The 0-24 age group represents 35% of the 20% of all housing units were completed population which is in excess of the national between 2001-2010. average of 33%. 12% of the population were in excess of 65 years of age which is similar to The Core Strategy, as described in Chapter 2 the national average. 53% of the population of this Plan gives a target of 56 new were aged between 25-64 years of age. residential units in the town between 2022- 2028. Permission currently exists for a small Approximately 7% of the population comprise infill scheme of 4 units on Penny Lane. Two non-Irish nationals, a figure substantially no. residential units remain to be completed below the National (11%) and County (11%) in Fairgreen off the Main Street. average. The priority objective of the Council over the Economic Profile period of this Plan is to facilitate regeneration 2016 CSO data indicates that there were 292 of the town core area, building on existing persons in the labour force (aged 15 years and opportunities to reduce vacancy and over who were able to work; excluding dereliction on the Main Street, improving the students, retired, those looking after family or public realm and upgrading pedestrian unable to work due to illness or disability). Of linkages. A significant proportion of new those in the labour force 66% were in residential opportunities in Hacketstown will employment (193 persons). The biggest therefore be encouraged within the existing sectors of employment were in commerce town centre zoned area including intervention and trade (25%), followed by manufacturing areas no.2 and 3, together with infill industries (16%) and professional services opportunities in existing residentially zoned (15%). Less than 600 jobs were recorded in areas. Slate Row new residential zoning will the Hacketstown ED in 2016 (POWCAR data). accommodate a maximum of 20 no. units over the period of this Plan and will be subject Hacketstown had an unemployment rate of to a detailed masterplan providing for the 34% (2016 data), which was more than two appropriate phasing of development and and a half times the national average (13%). provision of supporting community / open Of persons not in the labour force, 38% were space facilities. retired, 25% were students (aged 15 years and over) and 12% are unable to work due 15.3.5.5 Services and Facilities illness or disability. A further 25% were categorised as looking after home/family. Primary education needs are catered for by St. Joseph’s National School. The town is also 411 | P a g e Draft Carlow County Development Plan 2022-2028 Town and Village Plans / Settlement Boundaries served by the Coláiste Eoin secondary school. 2016, 15% of residential properties were The town has a Montessori pre-school at recorded as vacant. Commercial vacancy is Church Hill. Adult learners may avail of adult also evident within the town centre. There is a education in Coláiste Eoin. Hacketstown visibly high rate of vacant and derelict Health Centre provides healthcare services in commercial and residential units on Main the town. A playground has been permitted Street particularly along the east side of the within the town at Mountain View, while GAA street , with many of the frontages facilities are located outside the town dilapidated, impacting negatively upon the boundary. character and vitality of the town. 15.3.5.6 Economic Development 15.3.5.8 Regeneration/Redevelopment Opportunities Hacketstown is currently an unemployment blackspot and apart from local services and The Council promotes and supports the use of community facilities there are few other previously developed brownfield and infill significant employment industries located opportunity sites within the established built within the town. The Retail Hierarchy of footprint of Hacketstown, as well as the Carlow County designates Hacketstown as a redevelopment of existing sites and buildings. level 3 small town. A level 3 town generally This will contribute to: has a more limited retail role and function ▪ Securing more compact and sustainable than other towns in the area. Retail is often growth. limited to the provision of services and ▪ Enhancing the public realm and overall convenience shopping. Retail and commercial character and appearance of the town. development should generally be located ▪ Retaining and increasing vibrancy and within the town centre area of Hacketstown vitality in the town centre, including in order to consolidate and strengthen the viability for local services, shops, and role of retail. Retail and commercial public transport. development in the town of Hacketstown ▪ Increased opportunities for sustainable should take the planned population growth travel such as walking and cycling. into consideration. Development proposals on brownfield, infill, As a smaller town it is to perform important and backland sites must be accompanied by a local level retail, residential, social, leisure, Site Brief. The Site Brief must demonstrate service and amenity