South-East Regional Planning Guidelines
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South-East Regional Authority Regional Planning Guidelines for the South-East Region 2010-2022 Acknowledgements Cover photo courtesy of Conan Power. Photo on p.110 by kind permission of the O’Sullivan Family, Fethard, Co. Tipperary. Other photos and imaging courtesy of South-East Region local authorities and other public authorities. Design and printing by Snap, Waterford. South-East Regional Authority Regional Planning Guidelines for the South-East Region 2010-2022 Made by the South-East Regional Authority on 26th July 2010 Contents Glossary of Terms 05 List of Tables 06 List of Maps 06 Foreword 07 Executive Summary 08 Section 1: Context 13 Section 2: Population & Regional Profile 28 Section 3: Regional Development Strategy 45 Section 4: Employment & Economic Development Strategy 60 Section 5: Infrastructure 80 Section 6: Communications/Energy/Regional Climate Change Strategy 98 Section 7: Community & Social 105 Section 8: Heritage & Environment 111 Section 9: Flood Risk Assessment 125 Section 10: Implementation 130 APPENDICES 138 5 5 Glossary of Terms Regional Planning Guidelines for the South-East Region 2010-2022 AA Appropriate Assessment (also known as LAP Local Area Plan Habitats Directive Assessment) LCA Landscape Character Assessment LEADER EU Community Initiative for Rural CEB City/County Enterprise Board Development implemented through CERT Training and Research body in the Tourism a network of 36 Local Action Groups & Hospitality Sector LUTS Land Use and Transportation Studies CFRAMS Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management Studies MAN Metropolitan Area Network CLÁR Ceantair Laga Ard-Riachtanais. (Rural (telecommunications) areas of special disadvantage that benefit MIU Major Inter Urban routes (roads) from Targeted Investment Programmes) MMP Mobility Management Plans CSO Central Statistics Office MNC Multinational Company Mw Megawatt (Electricity) DCENR Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources NAPS National Anti-Poverty Strategy DoEHLG Department of the Environment, Heritage NATURA 2000 European Network of Special Areas and Local Government of Conservation and Special DoT Department of Transport Protection Areas DSL Digital Subscriber Line NCPF National Cycle Policy Framework NDP National Development Plan ECJ European Court of Justice NLS National Landscape Strategy EIRGRID Ireland’s independent electricity NRA National Roads Authority transmission system operator NSS National Spatial Strategy ELC European Landscape Convention NTA National Transport Authority EPA Environmental Protection Agency ESB Electricity Supply Board OPw Office of Public Works EU European Union PLUTS Planning, Land Use and FÁS National Training & Employment Authority Transportation Study FDI Foreign Direct Investment PPO Planning Policy Objective FORFÁS National Advisory Body for Enterprise and PPP Public Private Partnership Science QBC Quality Bus Corridor GDP Gross Domestic Product QNHS Quarterly National Household Survey GSI Geological Survey of Ireland GVA Gross Value Added, used to measure R&D Research and Development regional output RAPID Revitalising Areas by Planning Investment and Development HDA Habitats Directive Assessment (also RBD River Basin District referred to as AA - Appropriate RBMP River Basin Management Plan Assessment & Habitat Impact RO RO Roll-on/Roll-off Ferries Assessment) RPG Regional Planning Guidelines HEI Higher Education Institute HGV Heavy Goods Vehicle SAC Special Area of Conservation HLC Historic Landscape Characterisation SEISS South-East Information Society HPSU High Potential Start-up Businesses Strategy HSE Health Service Executive SEA Strategic Environmental Assessment SERA South-East Regional Authority ICT Information & Communications SFI Science Foundation Ireland Technology SME Small and Medium Enterprise ICZM Integrated Coastal Zone Management SPA Special Protection Area IDA Industrial Development Agency SuDS Sustainable Drainage Systems INTERREG EU Community Initiative that helps Europe’s regions form partnerships to TI Tipperary Institute work together on common projects IT Carlow Institute of Technology, Carlow VEC Vocational Education Committee KV Kilovolt (Electricity) wFD Water Framework Directive wIT Waterford Institute of Technology LA Local Authority wwTP Waste Water Treatment Plant 5 5 Lists: Tables & Maps Regional Planning Guidelines for the South-East Region 2010-2022 List of Tables 1.1 Progress on Critical Enabling Investment Priorities 23 2.1 Population Change by Local Authority Area 2002-2006 29 2.2 Population of Larger Urban Centres in 2006 30 2.3 Changing Employment Profile of the South-East Region 2002–2006 31 2.4 Summary of Regional Strengths and Opportunities 42 3.1 Population Targets for each Local Authority Area 50 3.2 Population Targets for Main Settlements 50 3.3 Development Roles for Different Types of Urban Centres 55 4.1 Summary of Appropriate Locations for Increased Enterprise Activity 73 5.1 NRA Road Schemes 86 5.2 Priority Rail Improvements for the South-East Region 89 8.1 European Landscape Convention: Article 5 – General Measures 113 List of Maps 1 Map of South-East Region 14 2 National Spatial Strategy – South-East Region 18 3 Map of Waterford PLUTS Area 21 4 Population Change by District Electoral Division 2002 – 2006 30 5 Average Disposable Income by County 31 6 Spatial Components of the South-East Region 43 7 Waterford Regional Gateway 51 8 Spatial Settlement Strategy 59 9 Spatial Infrastructure Strategy 97 10 Environmental Spatial Strategy 124 67 7 Foreword Regional Planning Guidelines for the South-East Region 2010-2022 Foreword Regional Planning Guidelines (RPG) for the South-East Region were made by the South-East Regional Authority on 24th May 2004. Those RPG have been reviewed and the Authority made new Guidelines for the region on 26th July 2010. The National Spatial Strategy (NSS) published in November 2002 has as its main objective the achievement of more balanced regional development. The changing economic and social environment over recent years has posed challenges for policy makers in ensuring that development is regulated and managed in a balanced and sustain- able manner in the best interests of the nation and its regions. The Regional Authorities have been entrusted with the important responsibility of implementing the NSS at regional level. This is a role that they have embraced with enthusiasm and commitment. The Planning and Development Act, 2000 conferred on the Regional Authorities the power to make Regional Plan- ning Guidelines for their functional areas. The RPG, which also incorporate a socio-economic development strategy, are intended to constitute a strategic planning framework for the period 2010-2022 for the development of each region and for inter-regional cooperation. The strategic policies and objectives set out in the RPG will form the back- drop for socio-economic planning by national and regional agencies and will constitute the policy framework within which county, city, town and local area development plans will be made. The Planning and Development (Amend- ment) Act, 2010 confers an important role and responsibilities on Regional Authorities with respect to the making, review and variation of Development Plans. The South-East Region covers Waterford City and counties Carlow, Kilkenny, South Tipperary, Waterford and Wex- ford. The preparation of these RPG has taken account of the key issues affecting the development of the region, such as population and settlement; economic and employment trends; industrial and commercial development; transportation; water supply and waste water facilities; energy and communications; education, healthcare, retail and community facilities; environmental protection. In addition, they have taken account of the changed global and national economic environment, new and updated planning and environmental policies and legislative requirements relating to strategic infrastructure, strategic environmental assessment, potential impacts on habitats, flood risk as- sessment etc. A Regional Competitiveness Agenda, prepared by Forfás, provided a basis for the employment and economic development strategy element of the RPG. During the RPG review process the Regional Authority engaged in wide ranging consultation with interested bodies and individuals and in public consultation. In preparing and in making the RPG the Authority considered and had regard to all submissions received. I believe that the RPG made by the Regional Authority and the regional vision and policies contained in them will make a valuable contribution to the proper planning, sustainable and balanced development and growth of the South-East Region over the coming years. I wish to acknowledge the support and cooperation received by the Regional Authority in this important process from the constituent local authorities, government departments and agencies, public and private sector bodies and individuals. In particular, I wish to express thanks and appreciation to the members of the Steering Committee and the Working Group, chaired and directed by Mr. Joe Crockett, Kilkenny County Manager, to the RPG Officer, Mr. Dominic Walsh, the SEA Officer, Ms. Bernadette Guest, and to the Director and staff of the Regional Authority for their work in bringing this process to a successful conclusion. Finally, I wish to thank and compliment my fellow members of the Regional Authority for their valuable input into the process and for the enlightened manner in which they approached the consideration and making of the RPG in the