Taghmon Local Area Plan 2009-2015
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Taghmon Local Area Plan 2009-2015 Wexford County Council Forward Planning 14th September 2009 Taghmon Local Area Plan 2009-2015 Table of Contents PART 1 Section 1.Introduction 5 1.1 Location & Background 5 1.2 Legal Status of Plan 6 1.3 Purpose of Plan 6 1.4 Plan Area 7 1.5 Planning Context 7 1.6 Relationship with other Plans and Strategies 8 1.7 Strategic Environmental Assessment 10 Section 2.Strategic Assessment 11 2.1 Population 11 2.2 Population Projections 2009-2015 12 2.3 Age Profile 12 2.4 Employment 12 2.5 Travel Patterns 13 Section 3. Urban Character Assessment 15 3.1 Historical Background 15 3.2 Urban Character Assessment 16 3.2.1 Distinctive Features of the Streetscape 18 3.2.2 Buildings in the Town 18 3.2.3 The Interrelationship between Buildings and Spaces 20 3.3 SWOT Analysis 25 PART 2 Section 4.Core Strategy 27 4.1 The Vision for Taghmon 27 4.2 Masterplan 28 4.3 Development Proposals 28 4.4 Purpose of Land Use Zoning 29 4.5 Landuse Zoning and Matrix 33 Section 5.Policies & Objectives 37 5.1 Population & Zoned Land 37 5.2 Housing 38 Wexford County Council 1 Forward Planning Taghmon Local Area Plan 2009-2015 5.2.1 Housing land supply based on population projections 39 5.2.2 Existing Residential & Future Residential 40 5.2.3 Social and Affordable Housing 41 5.2.4 Residential Density and Housing 42 5.2.5 Infill Housing & Development of Backlands 43 5.2.6 Special Needs Housing 43 5.2.5 Traveller Accommodation 44 5.3 Sustainable Development 44 5.4 Village Centre 44 5.5 Retail and Commercial 46 5.6 Employment and Economic Activity 48 5.7 Education 50 5.8 Childcare Facilities 52 5.9 Amenity and Open Space 53 5.10 Community Facilities 57 5.11 Tourism 58 5.12 Protected Views 59 5.13 Transportation & Infrastructure 59 5.14 Wastewater Treatment Capacity & Water Supply 63 5.15 Flooding/Climatic Factors 64 5.16 Broadband 65 5.17 Waste Management 65 5.18 Development Management Standards & Guidelines 66 PART 3 Section 6.Conservation Proposals 67 6.1 Introduction 67 6.2 Historical Development 67 6.3 Archaelological Heritage 68 6.5 Natural heritage 70 6.6 Architectural Heritage 71 Wexford County Council 2 Forward Planning Taghmon Local Area Plan 2009-2015 Appendices Masterpan Areas Map 1 - Masterplan Areas Map 2 - Area 1 Map 3 - Area 2 Map 4 - Area 3 Map 5 - Area 4 Map 6 - Aeriel Photograph Map 7 - Land use Zoning Map Map 8 - Protected Structures within the Plan boundary Map 9 - Archaeology within the Plan boundary Map 10 - Protected views within the Plan boundary Wexford County Council 3 Forward Planning Taghmon Local Area Plan 2009-2015 Wexford County Council 4 Forward Planning Taghmon Local Area Plan 2009-2015 The Draft Taghmon Local Area Plan 2009-2015 shall be read in conjunction with the Wexford County Development Plan 2007-2013. In particular, regard shall be had to Section 10 - Development Standards and Guidelines, which will be applied to any development proposal within the Local Area Plan boundary. Wexford County Council Forward Planning Taghmon Local Area Plan 2009-2015 Part 1 Section 1 - Introduction Section 2 - Strategic Assessment Section 3 - Urban Character Assessment Wexford County Council Forward Planning Taghmon Local Area Plan 2009-2015 Section 1 Introduction 1.1 Location & Background Taghmon is located approximately 14 km southwest of Wexford Town and some 24 km east-southeast of New Ross. The village is located adjacent to the R378 just south of the main Wexford to New Ross National Primary road (N25), which is one of the main traffic routes serving the south-east of the country. Given its proximity to Wexford Town, Taghmon acts Map of Taghmon as an important settlement serving a large rural hinterland. Many Irish place names are topographically descriptive, and Taghmon is no exception. From the western side of Forth Mountain, as it slopes down towards Ballintlea, a succession of gradual hills and valleys undulate their way across this part of County Wexford towards Camross, Bree and Carrigbyrne Hills. It is on one of these hills or ridges that the village of Taghmon is situated. The name Taghmon ‘ Teach Munna’ in Irish means House of Munn . St. Munn also known as St. Fintan founded a monastery in Taghmon in 634 AD. It can be established, from historical records, that the area now comprising the village of Taghmon has been inhabited since at least as early as Ariel Photo of Taghmon 595 AD. Wexford County Council 5 Forward Planning Taghmon Local Area Plan 2009-2015 1.2 Legal Status of the Plan The Taghmon Local Area Plan 2009-2015 has been prepared under Sections 18, 19 and 20 of the Planning and Development Acts 2000-2007 and the Planning & Development Regulations 2001-2008. This Plan sets out the vision that will guide the development of Taghmon for the next six years and is consistent with the objectives of the Wexford County Development Plan 2007. 1.3 Purpose of the Plan Having regard to the settlement hierarchy contained in Section 2.3 of the Wexford County Development Plan 2007, Taghmon is listed as a District Growth Area. These areas are designated because they provide an important range of service facilities and employment to a large surrounding hinterland. To ensure that these areas continue to fulfill their role, it is a stated objective of the County Council to prepare a Local Area Plan for each of them. Having regard to this, the local area plan has been prepared to formulate a long term view of the future development of Taghmon in order to manage change in the village’s physical environment and provide for new development that contributes to, and enhances the existing qualities of the village. This shall be achieved by ensuring that development is planned in a comprehensive and co-ordinated manner. Though the development policies and objectives set out in this Plan are for the next six years, the Development Strategy provides the foundations that will shape the future development of the Taghmon area beyond 2015. The aim of the Taghmon Local Area Plan 2009-2015 is to: “Facilitate the planned, integrated economic and sustainable development of Taghmon by balancing the needs of the community and preserving and enhancing the natural and built environment”. Wexford County Council 6 Forward Planning Taghmon Local Area Plan 2009-2015 1.4 Plan Area Wexford County Council has established a development area boundary for the village following consideration of the following factors: • The stated aim of this plan; • Consistency with strategic policies at National, Regional and Local level; • Anticipated population target; • The existing urban structure of the village; • The proper planning and sustainable development of the area; • Likely future development needs; and • Availability of existing and proposed services. 1.5 Planning Context Village Function Taghmon is typical of a village settlement located in a predominantly rural area. The village performs an important civic and service function with a concentration of civic amenities including churches, school, crèche and a community centre. Main Street, Taghmon These provide services not only for the resident population but also for a much wider rural and parish based population. The village provides a relatively high concentration of urban dwellings in a compact area, and services such as Main Street, Taghmon Wexford County Council 7 Forward Planning Taghmon Local Area Plan 2009-2015 pubs, small retailers and local economic activity concentrated along its Main Street. The economy of the village is based on the provision of local services and facilities, such as Irish Pride and a bank supporting mainly the village’s resident population and the wider surrounding rural area. As indicated in Section Two of this Plan, it is important to acknowledge that Taghmon will accommodate a certain growth in its natural population and surrounding areas to give people an alternative to single rural housing. Physical Setting and Appreciation Situated between Wexford Town and New Ross, Taghmon is located on a low- lying area of relatively undulating land within a large agricultural hinterland. Taghmon is essentially a linear town with development having taken place off the radial routes to the north and south of Main Street. The Market Square, Taghmon Castle and the traditional streetscape are all important elements that contribute to the village’s physical appearance. 1.6 Relationship with other Plans and Strategies National Spatial Strategy 2002-2020 and the Regional Planning Guidelines 2004: The National Spatial Strategy (NSS) and the Regional Planning Guidelines (South East Region) are the two primary strategies which the review of the Taghmon LAP has had regard to. Wexford County Development Plan 2007-2013 In the context of the Settlement Strategy set out in the County Wexford Development Plan 2007 Taghmon is identified as a one of 13 District Growth Areas in the County. In addition to good transport links these settlements also provide good infrastructural facilities, employment opportunities and services combined with a good population base to maintain them. Appropriate forms of Wexford County Council 8 Forward Planning Taghmon Local Area Plan 2009-2015 development will be considered in these settlements including medium density developments. The plan area relates to that of the town and immediate environs located within the functional area of Wexford County Council. The village of Taghmon is located within the Local Authority Administrative Area of Wexford County as set out in the County Development Plan 2007-2013. The Wexford County Housing Strategy The Housing Strategy for 2007-2013 sets out current and future housing requirements within the County and the requirement for social and affordable housing.