Gorey Town and Environs Local Area Plan 2017-2023
Made by Wexford County Council on Monday, 10 th April 2017
The Gorey Town and Environs Local Area Plan 2017-2023 was made by Wexford County Council on Monday, 10 th April 2017, and shall be read in conjunction with the Wexford County Development Plan. Table of Contents Section 1 Introduction ...... 1 1.1 Legal Status ...... 1 1.2 Format of the LAP ...... 1 1.3 The Plan Area-Location and Function ...... 1 1.4 Planning Policy and Context ...... 2 1.4.1 National Spatial Strategy 2002-2020 ...... 3 1.4.2 Regional Planning Guidelines for the South-East Region 2010-2022 .... 3 1.4.3 National Planning Guidelines ...... 4 1.4.4 Local Area Plan Guidelines for Planning Authorities ...... 4 1.4.5 Wexford County Development Plan 2013-2019 ...... 5 1.4.6 Wexford Local Economic and Community Plan ...... 6 1.5 Environmental Considerations ...... 6 1.5.1 Strategic Environmental Assessment ...... 6 1.5.2 Appropriate Assessment ...... 6 1.6 Vision and Principles ...... 7 1.6.1 Vision for Gorey Town ...... 8 1.6.2 Key Principles ...... 8 1.7 Implementation of the LAP ...... 9 Section 2 Housing and Social Infrastructure Delivery ...... 10 2.1 Existing Population Profile...... 10 2.2` Existing Housing Profile ...... 11 2.2.1 Existing Housing, Type and Mix ...... 11 2.2.2 Social Housing Needs ...... 12 2.3 Future Population and Housing ...... 12 2.3.1 Population Allocation ...... 12 2.3.2 Housing Land Requirements ...... 15 2.3.3 Sustainable Neighbourhoods ...... 15 2.3.4 Social Housing ...... 16 2.3.5 Housing for People with Specific Requirements ...... 16 2.3.6 Accommodation for Members of the Travelling Community ...... 16 2.3.7 Housing Mix ...... 17 2.3.8 Density ...... 17 2.4 Phasing ...... 18 2.5 Social Infrastructure ...... 22 2.5.1 Education Facilities ...... 22 2.5.2 Childcare Facilities ...... 24 2.5.3 Healthcare Facilities ...... 24 2.5.4 Community Facilities...... 25 2.5.5 Arts and Cultural Facilities ...... 26 2.6 Accessibility and Universal Design ...... 28 Section 3 Urban Design Strategy ...... 31 3.1 Introduction ...... 31 3.2 Urban Analysis ...... 31 3.2.1 Historical Development ...... 32 3.2.2 Existing Character Areas ...... 34 3.2.3 Overall Urban Structure ...... 34 3.2.4 Landscape Structure ...... 36 3.2.5 Urban Grain ...... 37 3.2.6 Continuity and Enclosure ...... 38 3.2.7 Scale and Building Height ...... 38 3.2.8 Building Styles and Materials ...... 38 3.3 Urban Design Strategy ...... 39 3.3.1 Place Concept ...... 39 3.3.2 Route Concept ...... 40 3.3.3 Landscape Concept ...... 41 3.4 Urban Design Objectives ...... 42 Section 4 Access and Movement Strategy ...... 43 4.1 Background ...... 43 4.2 Existing Access and Movement ...... 43 4.2.1 Roads ...... 43 4.2.2 Footpaths ...... 44 4.2.3 Cycling ...... 44 4.2.4 Public Transport ...... 44 4.2.5 Car parking ...... 45 4.3 Challenges ...... 45 4.4 Access and Movement Strategy ...... 46 4.5 Route Structure ...... 46 4.5.1 Main Streets and Roads ...... 47 4.5.2 Country Roads ...... 48 4.5.3 Local Streets and Roads ...... 48 4.6 Pedestrian ...... 49 4.7 Cycling ...... 50 4.8 Public Transport ...... 50 Section 5 Greener Gorey-Open Space, Recreation and Green Infrastructure Strategy ...... 53 5.1 Background ...... 53 5.2 Existing Open Space, Recreation and Green Infrastructure ...... 53 5.3 Greener Gorey 2023 ...... 54 5.3.1 Hub Open Spaces ...... 55 5.3.2 Neighbourhood Parks ...... 57 5.3.3 ‘Pocket’ Open Spaces ...... 59 5.3.4 Merging and Linking Open Spaces ...... 59 5.3.5 Design of Public Open Spaces ...... 59 5.3.6 Education Spaces and Sporting Facilities...... 60 5.3.7 Amenity Walks, Green Corridors and River Corridors ...... 60 5.4 Play Facilities ...... 65 5.4.1 Provision of Playground Facilities ...... 65 5.5 Allotments/ Community Gardens ...... 66 Section 6 Economic Development Strategy ...... 68 6.1 Existing Jobs Profile ...... 68 6.2 Existing Employment Base ...... 70 6.3 Policy Context ...... 70 6.4 Economic Development Strategy ...... 71 6.4.1 Locations for Economic Development ...... 73 6.5 Tourism ...... 75 Section 7 Town Centre Development and Regeneration ...... 79 7.1 Introduction ...... 79 7.2 Town Centre Development...... 80 7.2.1 The Public Realm ...... 80 7.2.2 Enhancing the Town Centre ...... 81 7.3 Urban Regeneration and Renewal ...... 83 7.3.1 Derelict Sites ...... 83 7.3.2 Vacant Sites ...... 84 Section 8 Retail ...... 86 8.1 Retailing in Gorey – The Town of the Markets ...... 86 8.1.1 Retail Diversity in Gorey ...... 86 8.1.2 Existing Retail Structure ...... 87 8.1.3 Vacancy ...... 88 8.2 Policy Context ...... 88 8.3 Future Retail Development in Gorey ...... 88 8. 3.1 Locations and Scale for Retail Development ...... 89 8.4 Criteria for assessing Retail Development ...... 92 8.5 Specific types of Retail Development ...... 93 8.5.1 Retail Warehousing ...... 93 8.5.2 District Centre ...... 93 8 5.3 Betting Offices and Takeaways ...... 93 8. 6 Need for Additional Retail Development ...... 94 8.7 Design of Retail Development ...... 95 8.7.1 Shopfronts ...... 95 8.7.2 Flexibility ...... 96 Section 9 Heritage ...... 98 9.1 Background ...... 98 9.2 Architectural Heritage ...... 98 9.2.1 Protected Structures ...... 98 9.2.2 Architectural Conservation Areas ...... 100 9.3 Archaeological Heritage ...... 102 9.3.1 Recorded Monuments ...... 102 9.3.2 Graveyards ...... 104 9.4 Natural Heritage ...... 104 9.4.1 Natura 2000 Sites ...... 105 9.4.2 Natural Heritage Areas ...... 106 9.4.3 Ecological Networks and Wildlife Corridors ...... 106 9.4.4 Invasive Species ...... 107
Section 10 Climate Change, Flood Risk Management and Services ...... 112 10.1 Climate Change ...... 112 10.1.1 Climate Change in the LAP ...... 113 10.2 Flood Risk Management ...... 114 10.2.1 Flood Risk in the Plan Area ...... 115 10.2.2 Future Development in the Plan Area ...... 116 10.3 Services ...... 118 10.3.1 Water and Waste Water ...... 118 10.3.2 Sustainable Drainage Systems ...... 120 10.3.3 Telecommunications ...... 120 10.3.4 Broadband ...... 120 10.4 Environmental Management ...... 121 Section 11 Land Use Zoning and Matrix ...... 125 11.1 Background ...... 125 11.2 Land Use Zoning Objectives ...... 126 11.3 Land Use Zoning Matrix ...... 130
Maps Map 1 Location of Gorey Town and Environs Map 2 Existing Car Parking Provision Map 3 Proposed Footpaths Network Map 4 Proposed Cycling Network Map 5 Locations for Economic Development Map 6 Retail Core Area and Opportunity Sites Map 7(a) and (b) Protected Structures Map 8 Proposed Architectural Conservation Area Map 9 Recorded Monuments and Zone of Archaeological Potential Map 10 Flood Zones Map 11 Land Use Zoning
Figures Figure 1 Contrasting Urban Structure Figure 2 Indicative Residential Urban Block Figure 3 Place Concept for Gorey Figure 4 Route Concept for Gorey Figure 5 Landscape Concept for Gorey Figure 5(a) Key Development Sites in Gorey Figure 6 Town Centre-Place Concept Figure 7 Town Centre-Route Concept Figure 8 Town Centre-Landscape Concept Figure 9 Town Centre-Key Development Sites Figure 10 Creagh-Place Concept Figure 11 Creagh-Route Concept Figure 12 Creagh-Landscape Concept Figure 13 Creagh-Key Development Sites Figure 14 Ballytegan-Place Concept Figure 15 Ballytegan-Route Concept Figure 16 Ballytegan-Landscape Concept Figure 17 Ballytegan-Key Development Sites Figure 18 Clonattin-Place Concept Figure 19 Clonattin-Route Concept Figure 20 Clonattin-Landscape Concept Figure 21 Clonattin-Key Development Sites Figure 22 Gorey South-Place Concept Figure 23 Gorey South-Route Concept Figure 24 Gorey South-Landscape Concept Figure 25 Gorey South-Key Development Sites Figure 26 Indicative Avenue Layout Figure 27 Indicative Avenue R772 Layout (Former N11) Figure 28 Indicative County Road/Green Route Layout Figure 29 Indicative Local Streets and Roads Layout Figure 30 Open Space and Green Infrastructure Concept Figure 31 Green Corridor between Ballytegan and the Arklow Road Figure 32 Green Corridor along Chucky’s River Figure 33 Indicative Layout of a Riparian Zone
Tables Table 1 Percentage Population by Age Cohort-Gorey, County Wexford and State, Census 2011. Table 2 Socio-Economic Profile of the Gorey Town and Environs Area Table 3 Housing Objectives-Wexford County Development Plan 2013-2019 Table 4 Education Completed, Gorey, County Wexford and the State Table 5 Primary Schools in the Plan Area Table 6 Post Primary Schools in the Plan Area Table 7 Social Infrastructure Objectives-Wexford County Development Plan 2013-2019 Table 8 Access and Movement Objectives-Wexford County Development Plan 2013-2019 Table 9 Open Space, Recreation and Green Infrastructure Objectives-Wexford County Development Plan 2013-2019 Table 10 Census 2011 Broad Industrial Groups and Numbers at Work Table 11 Main Socio-Economic Groups (SEG) in Gorey, County Wexford and State (% of total SEG) Table 12 Economic Development Objectives-Wexford County Development Plan 2013-2019 Table 13 Vacant Floorspace in Gorey Table 14 Net Spare Expenditure Capacity in Gorey to 2022 Table 15 Retail Development Objectives-Wexford County Development Plan 2013-2019 Table 16 Recorded Monuments in the Plan Area Table 17 Newly Identified Sites in the Plan Area Table 18 Natura 2000 Sites within a 15km radius of the Plan Area Table 19 Proposed Natural Heritage Areas within a 15km radius of the Plan Area Table 20 Heritage Objectives-Wexford County Development Plan 2013-2019 Table 21 Climate Change, Flood Risk Management and Services Objectives- Wexford County Development Plan 2013-2019
Appendices Appendix 1 Urban Design Guidelines and Neighbourhood Framework Plans Appendix 2 Implementation and Infrastructure Delivery Schedule Appendix 3 Protected Structures Appendix 4 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment Appendix 5 Strategic Environmental Assessment Appendix 6 Appropriate Assessment Screening Report
Acronyms/Abbreviations AA Appropriate Assessment ACA Architectural Conservation Area CDP County Development Plan CFRAM Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management CPO Compulsory Purchase Order CSO Central Statistics Office DECLG Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government DEHLG Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government DES Department of Education and Skills DMURS Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets GCS Gorey Community School HSE Health Service Executive GI Green Infrastructure IFI Inland Fisheries Ireland LAP Local Area Plan LCDC Local Community Development Committee LCS Local Community Space LECP Local Economic and Community Plan LEO Local Enterprise Office MD Municipal District MUGA Multi Use Games Area NAF National Adaptation Framework NIAH National Inventory of Architectural Heritage NMP National Mitigation Plan NFP Neighbourhood Framework Plan NPWS National Parks and Wildlife NSS National Spatial Strategy OPW Office of Public Works PLC Post Leaving Certificate POWCAR Place of Work Census of Anonymised Records RMP Record of Monument and Places RPGs Regional Planning Guidelines for the South-East Region 2010-2022 RPS Record of Protected Structure SEA Strategic Environmental Assessment SFRA Strategic Flood Risk Assessment SuDS Sustainable Urban Drainage System UDS Urban Design Strategy WSS Water Supply System WTP Water Treatment Plant WWTP Wastewater Treatment Plant
Section 1 Introduction Plan (CDP) which is currently the Wexford County Development Plan
2013-2019 in particular, the objectives
and development management 1.1 Legal Status standards set out therein. The LAP The Gorey Town and Environs Local primarily focuses on specific objectives Area Plan 2017-2023 (LAP) has been relating to the plan area. While prepared in accordance with Sections development proposals must comply 18, 19 and 20 of the Planning and with these objectives, they must also Development Act, 2000 (as amended). comply with all relevant objectives and It will remain in force for a period of six standards in the parent County years from the date on which it was Development Plan (the most important made, or for an extended period as of which are set out in a table at the provided under Section 19(1)(d) of the end of each section the LAP). Planning and Development Act, 2000
(as amended). A Strategic Environment Assessment
(SEA) Environmental Report, 1.2 Format of the LAP Appropriate Assessment Screening The LAP is comprised of a written Report (AA) and Strategic Flood Risk statement, a set of maps and Assessment (SFRA) are included as appendices. The Written Statement appendices to the plan. sets out the strategies and objectives which will guide the future 1.3 The Plan Area-Location development of the plan area during and Function the period of the plan and beyond. The Gorey Town is the third largest town 1 plan area is divided into five character in the county and it is the principal areas and a Neighbourhood town in North Wexford. The town is Framework Plan (NFP) is included for strategically located with immediate each. The NFP sets out detailed urban access to the M11 motorway network. design objectives and key components This network connects Gorey to for each area. Enniscorthy Town, Wexford Town and
The LAP shall be read in conjunction 1 This is based on the Census of Population with its parent County Development 2011. 1
Rosslare Europort and to Dublin and commuter town for people working in other strategic urban centres along the the Greater Dublin area. east coast. It is located approximately 52km from Wexford Town and Map 1 Location of G orey Town approximately 90 km from Dublin City Centre (via the M11). The town is also located on the Rosslare Harbour to Dublin City rail line. Map 1 identifies the geographical location of the Gorey Town. The boundary of the LAP is identified on Map 11. The area includes the town c entre and the townlands of Creagh, Ballytegan, Ramsfort, Clonattin, Millands, Knockmullen, Ramsgate, Ramstown and Gorey Hill.
Gorey Town is an important and thriving urban centre providing a range of services to the residents of the town, the wider rura l hinterland and
District including primary and post primary educational facilities, health 1.4 Planning Policy and care services, retail, employment and Context recreational. The town also forms part of a tourism cluster which is based The LAP was prepared at a tentative around the coastal resorts of time in the development of national Courtown, Riverchapel , Ballymoney and regional planning as it was and Morriscastle. prepared in advance of the National The population of the town and Planning Framework (which will environs area was 9,114 persons in replace the National Spatial Strategy) 2011. The area now has an enhanced an d the Regional Economic and Spatial Strategy (which will replace the residential function as it has become a current Regional Planning Guidelines). 2
The LAP is consistent with current 1.4.2 Regional Planning Guidelines national and regional planning for the South-East Region 2010- strategies and the CDP, in particular, 2022 the Core Strategy and Settlement The Regional Planning Guidelines Strategy. (RPGs) set out a long-term strategic planning framework for the 1.4.1 National Spatial Strategy development of the South-East Region 2002-2020 up to 2022. The South-East Region is The National Spatial Strategy (NSS) is divided into six smaller sub-areas. designed to achieve a better balance Gorey Town is located within Sub-Area of social, economic, physical –North County Wexford. The principal development and population growth issues associated with this area are: between regions. This will be achieved • Strong population growth- through closer matching of where influence of the Greater Dublin people live and where they work. The Area is present. focus is on people, places and on • Strong physical links to Dublin building communities. and the Mid-East Regions. • Demographic implications for The key to the successful the rest of the County and the implementation of the NSS in the Hub at Wexford Town. South-East Region is the formation of • Tourism development to be a strategic growth triangle with facilitated. Waterford City as the Gateway, • Urban sprawl to be controlled supported by Wexford and Kilkenny as and monitored. hubs. Enniscorthy, New Ross and • Sensitive coastal landscapes. Gorey towns are recognised as important urban centres providing a The RPGs designate Gorey Town as a range of services and opportunities for ‘Larger Town’. The town has recently employment, whilst smaller towns and experienced high levels of population villages throughout the County will act growth and the RPGs highlight that as a focus for social and economic while the town will continue to be an activity as well as housing. attractive location for new residential development, care must be taken to
3 ensure that the continued expansion of 1.4.3 National Planning Guidelines the town is more measured to ensure Planning Authorities are required by that community, social and retail the Planning and Development Act developments keep pace with recent 2000 (as amended) to have regard to rapid phases of mainly residential Section 28 Ministerial Guidelines. This development. includes guidelines on Architectural The potential of these Larger Towns to Conservation, Urban Design, support sustainable economic activity Childcare Facilities, Apartments, will need to be supported by the Schools, Retail Planning, Strategic development of Industrial Estates and Environmental Assessment, Enterprise Parks. The RPGs also Sustainable Residential Development highlight the importance of promoting in Urban Areas, Telecommunication town centres as the primary locations Structures, Flood Risk Management, for retail activity and the role of the Appropriate Assessment and National retail sector in employment and Roads and Spatial Planning. The economic growth. Council has had regard to these guidelines in the preparation of this LAP and will amend the plan, where necessary, to take account of any new guidelines published during the plan period.
1.4.4 Local Area Plan Guidelines for Planning Authorities These Section 28 Guidelines highlight best practice in local area plan making with the aim of improving the quality and effectiveness of these plans. The Guidelines outline that LAPs must focus on identifying the needs of the local community and delivering quality outcomes for that community through enhanced public participation in the
4 plan preparation process. LAPs have a hierarchy for the county and allocates key role to play in promoting economic population targets to the different development and employment growth levels in the hierarchy. The settlement as well as integrating environmental hierarchy for County Wexford is: considerations such as climate change, biodiversity and green Hub infrastructure into the local planning Larger Towns process. The role of LAPs in District Towns implementing national policies relating Strong Villages to planning for schools, smarter travel, Smaller Villages and Rural sustainable residential development Settlements and urban design is also emphasised. Open Countryside
The Guidelines require the use of The Settlement Hierarchy reinforces graphics/2D and 3D Gorey Town’s designation as a ‘Larger modelling/illustrations and Town’ in the RPGs. The role of Gorey photographs as a means of Town is discussed in Section 3.4.6 of communicating and making the vision the Settlement Strategy. The and objectives for the area easy to development approach for Gorey understand and interpret by the local Town is to accommodate more community and developers. measured growth in the town, consolidating the existing pattern of 1.4.5 Wexford County Development development ensuring that that it does Plan 2013-2019 not grow to an inappropriate scale or The Local Area Plan Guidelines suffer from overdevelopment. The require LAPs to contain a statement focus will be on encouraging and that clearly places the area in question facilitating the further development of within the settlement structure as physical and social infrastructure for established by the relevant the town. While there will be support development plan. The Core Strategy for economic activity through the in the Wexford County Development development of industrial estates, Plan 2013-2019 sets out the enterprise parks and district enterprise settlement strategy and settlement
5 centres, Gorey will support the role of of implementing a plan or programme the Hub rather than compete with it. prior to its adoption. The Planning and Development (Strategic Environmental Assessment) Regulation 2004 (as 1.4.6 Wexford Local Economic and amended) require SEA to be carried Community Plan out in respect of an LAP where the The enhanced role of Wexford County population of the area is 5,000 persons Council in economic development and or more. An Environmental Report was community development is envisaged prepared in conjunction with the in the County’s first Local Economic preparation of the plan (The and Community Plan (LECP). The Environmental Report is contained in purpose of the LECP is to set out, for a Appendix 5). The report documents six year period, the objectives and the likely significant effects of actions needed to promote and implementing the plan and outlines support the economic development measures to maximise positive effects and the local and community and reduce or offset potential adverse development of County Wexford. The effects. The report also identifies LECP will be delivered by Wexford methods for monitoring environmental County Council, the Local Community effects over the lifetime of the plan. Development Committee (LCDC) and through partnership with other economic and community 1.5.2 Appropriate Assessment development stakeholders. Article 6(3) and 6(4) of the Habitats
Directive (92/43/EEC) place an 1.5 Environmental obligation on competent authorities to Considerations consider the effects of every plan and 1.5.1 Strategic Environmental project on the Natura 2000 network of Assessment sites through a process known as The EU Strategic Environmental Appropriate Assessment (AA). The Assessment Directive (2001/42/EC), LAP was screened for AA to assess, in otherwise referred to as the SEA view of best scientific knowledge, if the Directive, requires all member states LAP, individually or in combination with to systematically evaluate the likely other plans or projects, would be likely significant effects on the environment 6 to have significant effects on the Where a plan/project is likely to have a Natura 2000 network. It was significant effect on a Natura 2000 site determined that the LAP, alone or in or there is uncertainty with regard to combination with other plans or effects, it shall be subject to projects, would not adversely affect the Appropriate Assessment. The integrity of Natura 2000 sites. The AA plan/project will proceed only after it Screening Report is contained in has been ascertained that it will not Appendix 6. adversely affect the integrity of the site or where, in the absence of alternative The Council will ensure, during the solutions, the plan/project is deemed period of the LAP, that all plans or by the competent authority imperative projects in the plan area which are for reasons of overriding public likely to have a significant effect on the interest. a Natura 2000 site, either individually or in combination with other plans or 1.6 Vision and Principles projects, shall be subject to Land use planning affects everyone; it appropriate assessment of their shapes the places we live and work, implications for the site in view of the where and how our children go to site’s conservation objectives. school, how we interact and socialise while at the same time balancing other Appropriate Assessment Objective economic, social and environmental Objective AA01 needs. It helps to develop sustainable The Council will ensure that any communities and in this regard it plays plan/project and any associated works, an important role in achieving the individually or in combination with overall purpose of local government other plans or projects, are subject to which is to ensure the well being and Screening for Appropriate Assessment quality of life of citizens and local to ensure there are no likely significant communities. effects on any Natura 2000 site(s) and that the requirements of Article 6(3) and 6(4) of the EU Habitats Directive are fully satisfied.
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1.6.1 Vision for Gorey Town • Continue to ensure that adequate provision is made for By 2023 Gorey Town will be a high childcare, educational and quality, green, well connected town recreational facilities. with a compact, walkable urban form. • Improve the movement, It will have a network of sustainable connectivity and legibility within neighbourhoods that are socially the plan area for users of all inclusive and desirable places to live. forms of transport, in particular Gorey Town will have high quality pedestrians and cyclists. sustainable jobs and it will be an • Require high quality accessible attractive place to live in, to visit and to public open spaces and enjoy its high quality public realm, its continue to provide a network of vibrant arts and culture and its bustling public open spaces at town centre and premier retailing appropriate locations in the plan services. area.
• Protect natural, built and cultural heritage 1.6.2 Key Principles • Maximise the benefits of The key principles for the achieving biodiversity and enhance the the LAP Vision are: green infrastructure network in • Require high quality and people the area. friendly design. • Continue to develop Gorey as a In order to achieve the vision and thriving and attractive town with principles and having regard to the a vibrant mix of uses. issues presenting in Gorey, the • Continue to develop the town as following key strategies for achieving a premier retail destination. the Vision have been developed • Continue to improve the public around the following 7 themes: realm so that the town is an 1. Housing and Social attractive place to live, work and Infrastructure Policy visit. 2. Urban Design Strategy • Prioritise local economic and 3. Access and Movement Strategy employment development.
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4. Open Space, Recreation and surveys of housing land availability, Green Infrastructure Strategy retail health checks and audits of open 5. Economic Development space and community facilities. Strategy 6. Heritage 7. Climate Change, Flood Risk Management and Services.
1.7 Implementation of the
LAP One of the main factors in the successful implementation of the LAP is securing necessary funding and partnerships to deliver key objectives in the plan such as those relating to the infrastructure and services. An Implementation and Infrastructure Delivery Schedule has been prepared and is set out in Appendix 2. The Council will work closely with all relevant departments, agencies and stakeholders in securing the delivery of both the objectives relating to infrastructure and services and other key objectives relating to the delivery of ‘soft infrastructure’ such as community facilities. The Council will carry out periodic reviews of the success or otherwise of implementing the objectives in the LAP. This monitoring will include reviewing the progress achieved in securing the objectives supported by periodic 9
Section 2 Housing and the population cohorts in 2011 compared to County Wexford and the Social Infrastructure State. At that time, 28% of the Delivery population was under the age of 18
and 35.8% were between the ages of 2.1 Existing Population 25-44; both above the County and Profile State averages. The high level of population in these age groups has The plan area has undergone implications for housing, childcare and significant change in its population and education facilities. Given the high demographic profile since 2002. In proportion of children in the 0-4 age Census 2002, the population was cohort (10.2%), there is a need to 5,282 persons. This increased to 7,193 ensure that sufficient childcare, persons in Census 2006-an increase primary and post primary education of 1,911 persons/+36%. The recorded and recreation facilities will be population in Census 2011 was 9,114 available. There will be a demand for persons. This represented an increase housing as many of the 25-44 age of 1,921 persons (+27%) since 2006. cohort may be first time buyers or
looking to trade up the property ladder The significant increase in population to a family home. between 2002 and 2011 is largely attributed to the area becoming a In 2011, there were 865 persons popular commuter town for Wicklow (9.5%) in the 65 plus cohort. This and Dublin for reasons including the figure is much lower than the county availability of affordable housing, average of 12.6% and the State quality of life and improved transport average of 11.4%. However, this will links. change in time as the cohorts
progress. It is also likely that the trend The increasing population and of retired people trading down their associated inward migration has properties and relocating to County resulted in a relatively young Wexford will continue, as will the population which in itself presents both growing trend of older people moving opportunities for and demands on the from rural areas to towns for ease of town. Table 1 provides a breakdown of
10 access to services, facilities and 2.2 Existing Housing Profile quality of life. With this in mind, it is 2.2.1 Existing Housing, Type and important that Gorey Town is a great Mix place to grow old and that it offers Gorey experienced a substantial older people a good quality of life in an increase in house construction from age friendly environment with suitable the mid 1990s to 2006. The demand accommodation and facilities including for new private housing was met by healthcare. the development of housing schemes in the environs area with the majority Table 1 Percentage Population by of the development occurring to the Age Cohort-Gorey, County Wexford west of the railway line (to the and State, Census 2011 southwest, northwest and north of the town centre). Clonattin Village Age Gorey Wexford State developed to the east of the town and 0-4 10.2 7.9 7.8 railway. 5-12 12.0 12.0 11.0 13-17 5.9 6.8 6.3 Despite the high level of new 18-24 8.0 7.6 9.0 residential development in the 25-44 35.8 29.4 31.6 environs area, the town centre 45-64 18.6 23.6 22.7 continues to maintain a vibrant 65+ 9.5 12.6 11.7 residential use and only experienced a 0.5% decline in its population during A detailed socio-economic baseline the period 2006-2011. report of the county was prepared as part of the first LECP for County Census 2011 recorded 3,448 private Wexford. Table 2, which is an extract households in the area. Of these, 833 from the report, provides a brief (24%) were single person households; overview of the socio-economic profile 636 (18.4%) were comprised of of Gorey Town and Environs. couples with no children, 1,599 (46%) were couples with children or lone parent families. The average household size in 2011 was 2.6 persons which was lower than the
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County and State average of 2.7 2.3 Future Population and persons. Housing
2.3.1 Population Allocation In Census 2011 the largest category of The Core Strategy in the CDP accommodation provided in the plan allocates a population of 11,883 area was semi-detached housing persons to Gorey by the year 2022. (1,423 households/41%), followed by This will be an increase of 2,769 detached housing (970 people (30%) on the 2011 population. households/28%) and terraced houses The rationale for the allocation is (755 households/22%). The number of discussed in more detail in Section households in purpose built apartment 3.4.3 of the CDP. In summary, the blocks or apartments in converted figure was arrived by examining the houses/commercial buildings was projected population of Gorey relative 237/6.9%. to the objective in the RPGs to ensure
more measured growth in the town so 2.2.2 Social Housing Needs that services can keep pace with Gorey is a key area of need for social recent residential development. A housing in the county. As of June 2016 similar population allocation has been there were 988 persons on the applied for the final year of the LAP- housing list for the Gorey Town. There 2023. This results in a total population is a high demand for housing in the allocation of 2,991 persons between area for reasons including lower the years 2011 and 2023. housing stock, shortage of supply, proximity to and cheaper rents than At present, and in advance of the Dublin. There is a demand for all for release of detailed Census 2016 types of housing- one and two results, it is not possible to determine bedroom units as well as three and the current population of the plan area four bedroom units in the plan area. or how much progress has been
achieved in delivering this population allocation. The town remains a popular place to live. There is significant demand for housing in the area which has arisen as a result of the decline in
12 house construction, the demand for rental accommodation and the attractiveness of the area as a place to live. This demand need to be dealt with through various measures.
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Table 2 Socio-Economic Profile of the Gorey Town and Environs Area.
Town Profile : Gorey Town and Environs
Population by Age 0 to 4 5 to 12 13 to 17 Under 18 18 to 24 25 to 44 45 to 64 65plus Total Count 926 1,098 533 2,557 733 3,264 1,695 865 9,114 Percent 10.2 12.0 5.8 28.1 8.0 35.8 18.6 9.5
Family Cycle Early Pre- Pre-Family Empty Nest Retired Pre-School School Adolescen Adolescent Adult Total Count 322 240 149 381 364 294 288 420 2,458 Percent 13.1 9.8 6.1 15.5 14.8 12.0 11.7 17.1
Lone Parents Disabilities Lone Lone Total Familiess with Total Population Mother Lone Father Parents Children with a Disability Total Pop Count 514 56 570 1,747 Count 1,252 9,114 Percent 29.4 3.2 32.6 Percent 13.7
Non-Irish Nationals Rest of Traveller Popualtion Non-Irish UK Polish Lithuanian EU28 World Traveller Total Count 1,502 238 590 101 359 214 Popualtion Population Percent 16.6 2.6 6.5 1.1 4.0 2.4 Count 62 9,114 Percent 0.7
Labour Market Labour LF at LF Carers Force Work Unemployed Population 15+ Total Providing Total Count 4,437 3,188 1,157 6,855 Unpaid Care Popualtion Percent 64.7 71.9 26.1 Count 288 9,114 Percent 3.2
SEG Key: A. Employers and managers D. Non-manual G. Unskilled J. Agricultural workers B. Higher professional E. Manual-skilled H. Own account workers Z. All others gainfully C. Lower professional F. Semi-skilled I. Farmers occupied and unknown
Socio-Economic Group (SEG) ABCDEFGHIJ Count 403 117 329 825 393 311 173 172 28 26 Percent 11.7 3.4 9.5 23.9 11.4 9.0 5.0 5.0 0.8 0.8
Education Completed No Formal/ Lower Upper Technical/ Third Primary Secondary Secondary Apprentice Level Total Count 827 1,122 1,360 1,062 1,295 5,884 Percent 14.1 19.1 23.1 18.0 22.0
Commuting Green Public Private Modes Transport Modes Total Count 1,295 214 3,254 5,019 Percent 25.8 4.3 64.8
Housing Age Year Built 2001-2005 Year Built 2006 or Later Count 1,025 650 Percent 29.8 18.9
Housing Tenancy OO with OO No Owner Private Social Total Mortgage Mortgage Occupier Rented Rented Households Count 1,211 880 2,091 844 86 3,443 Percent 35.2 25.6 60.7 24.5 2.5
Source: NIRSA Wexford Socio Economic Baseline Report, 2015 14
2.3.2 Housing Land Requirements There are two residential zonings in The Core Strategy population the Plan-‘Residential’ and ‘Long-Term allocation equates to an additional 1, Residential’. There is approximately 372 households/residential units 2. 101ha of ‘Residential’ zoned land for Between April 2011 (Census 2011) development during the lifetime of the and the end of 2015 it is estimated that Plan. There is a further 34ha of Long- 50 3 residential units were constructed Term Residential land which is in the plan area which reduces the reserved for future residential required figure to 1,320 units. There is development beyond the period of this a limited amount of vacant residential plan. properties in the plan area and as such it is not considered necessary to adjust 2.3.3 Sustainable Neighbourhoods the figures to reflect households that The LAP Guidelines encapsulate what could be accommodated in vacant sustainable communities are. They are properties. “... places where people want to live
and work, now and in the future. They The number of units translates to a meet the diverse needs of existing and requirement for 66ha of residential future residents, are sensitive to their zoned land. The Development Plan environment, and contribute to a high Guidelines for Planning Authorities quality of life. They are safe and (2007) recommend that 50% inclusive, well planned, built and run, headroom/overzoning is provided to offer equality of opportunity and good allow for market choice and land not services for all ”. becoming available. This overzoning increases the residential zoned land Developing sustainable communities requirement to 99ha. lies at the heart of the LAP and this is
echoed in the vision for the plan area.
While the main purpose of the LAP is
2 An average household size of 2.7 is used up to plan for the future growth and to 2015. An average household size of 2.55 is development of the plan area and to used for 2017-2023. set out the objectives which will guide 3 This figure is based on commencement and regulate this development, it notices received by the Planning Authority during this time. focuses on identifying and meeting the 15 needs of the local community. This has requirements are met in a manner been enhanced through the public which suits their physical and social consultation undertaken during the needs. This includes housing for older preparation of the LAP. people and people with disabilities. The Council will continue to address 2.3.4 Social Housing particular identified needs through The Council will continue to implement facilitating the provision of purpose the Housing Strategy (Volume 6 of the built, adaptable dwellings, where CDP) and to use Part V to assist with feasible, facilitating alterations to the delivery of social housing in the existing properties and the plan area. development of quality, small, self- contained living units within a complex There are a number of other options of facilities which offer people the for the delivery of social housing opportunity to maintain their including collaborative partnerships independence while having the with Approved Housing Bodies, protection of a more sheltered leasing arrangements with landlords environment. and the introduction of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) for the 2.3.6 Accommodation for Members private rented sector. At a time of of the Travelling Community demand for increasing housing According to the current Traveller services the Council is currently Accommodation Programme 2014- exploring a portfolio of measures to 2018, standard local authority address this shortage including accommodation remains the preferred seeking expressions of interests from option for traveller households in landowners and developers to provide County Wexford. The Council will either land for housing or turn key continue, as the need arises and developments. subject to budgetary funding, to provide suitable accommodation for travellers and will endeavour to ensure 2.3.5 Housing for People with that this accommodation is appropriate Specific Requirements to their particular needs through the The Council will continue to ensure implementation of the Traveller that housing for persons with specific
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Accommodation Programme 2014- accommodation. Well designed 2018 and any updated version of the apartment buildings can play an programme. influential role in urban design and creating a sense of place particularly 2.3.7 Housing Mix when used to define streetscapes and The Council encourages a mix of enclosures. house types-bungalows, terraced, semi-detached and detached housing. The Council will ensure that the Proposals for new residential schemes standard of accommodation is will be required to provide diversity suitable. While new apartments will be rather than uniformity in terms of required to comply with minimum house types, and in all housing national standards, the Council proposals an appropriate mix of encourages such developments to dwelling houses to meet the needs of achieve the higher standards set out in various categories of households will the CDP. While the sub-division of be required. dwelling houses into apartment/flats will be considered in the town centre, Objective H05 sets out the house type this will generally not be permitted ratios that will be required in residential within residential areas designed and schemes to ensure that a sufficient mix developed for single family occupancy. of house types is provided. The Council will consider a deviation from 2.3.8 Density this mix ratio where it is demonstrated The Council will have regard to the that there is an overprovision of a Guidelines for Planning Authorities- particular type of house type, or there Sustainable Residential Development is a lack of a particular house type(s) in Urban Areas (Cities, Towns and in the area. Villages) and accompanying Design Manual (DEHLG, 2009) when Apartments may be considered at considering the appropriate density for appropriate locations in the plan area residential schemes. on appropriately zoned land and where there is an identified significant demand for smaller units of
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Higher densities may be considered at 2.4 Phasing suitable locations such as the town Residential land should be developed centre, brownfield sites, where it will in a sequential manner linked with and provide street frontages and nodes in tandem with the delivery of and in the vicinity of public transport necessary infrastructure such roads, nodes and corridors will be footpaths, cycleways, open space, encouraged in the interests of ensuring education and recreational amenities. the sustainable use of serviced lands It is critical for residential development and resources. Developments built at to progress in this ordered manner in higher density ensure that zoned and order to avoid the development of serviced land is used in an efficient lands geographically isolated from the manner and minimises the existing settlement and infrastructure unnecessary extension of public provision. This approach will contribute infrastructure such as water, sewers, to the creation of sustainable footpaths and lighting. communities and neighbourhoods by linking residential development to the The Council recognise however that delivery of infrastructure and facilities. higher densities will not be appropriate in every circumstance. In achieving The sequential approach to higher densities the protection of the development is focused on the amenities of existing developments settlement expanding outwards from and those of the residents of the the centre through the development of proposed development will be a physically adjoining lands in a significant consideration. High quality coherent manner. This approach siting and design providing a good allows for new development to quality living environment is essential if integrate successfully with the existing higher residential densities are to be settlement. acceptable. The phased development of individual schemes, including residential, will also be linked to the delivery of necessary infrastructure. This is set out in further detail in the
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Neighbourhood Framework Plans in Framework Plans and Appendix 2 Appendix 1 and the Implementation Implementation and Infrastructure and Infrastructure Delivery Schedule Delivery Schedules includes set out in Appendix 2. wastewater and water supply, public lighting, footpaths, cycleways, play Housing Objectives ground/play facilities, parks and H01 schools. To ensure that all new residential developments in the plan area provide H04 a high quality accessible living To require planning applications for environment with attractive and residential developments to efficient dwellings located in a high demonstrate how the scheme quality public realm and served by well complies with the Neighbourhood designed and located open spaces. Framework Plan which the subject lands are located in. It must be H02 demonstrated how the development To provide social housing and housing complies with the layout, form, density, supports in accordance with the Social linkages and accessibility and open Housing Assessment of Needs. space provision . Where a deviation from the framework is proposed, the H03 application must demonstrate that this To facilitate new residential deviation does not compromise the development in accordance with the delivery of the Framework and is Core Strategy and to require physical, equally permeable and proposes a social and community infrastructure to positive relationship with adjacent be provided either prior to or in tandem existing and proposed development, with this new residential development. including public open spaces and No dwelling within that residential linkages. development shall be occupied until the required infrastructure has been H05 provided. The required infrastructure To require residential schemes to which is identified on Maps 3 and 4 provide an appropriate mix of house and in Appendix 1 Neighbourhood types that will cater for the various
19 household compositions in the plan area. In general the following house type ratio will be required in residential schemes: • 25% two bedroom dwellings • 30% three bedroom dwellings • 30% four bedroom dwellings • 15% to be allocated to any of the above based on evidence of demand. The Council will consider a deviation from this mix ratio where it is demonstrated that there is an overprovision of a particular type of house type or there is lack of demand for a particular house type(s) in the area.
H06 To ensure that the phased development of a residential scheme delivers the quantum of public open space commensurate to the number of dwellings in that particular phase. Planning applications for residential schemes of 25 or more dwellings shall be accompanied by a detailed phasing schedule detailing the number of dwellings, amount of public open space and infrastructure which will be developed as part of each phase.
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Table 3 Housing Objectives-Wexford County Development Plan 2013-2019
This table sets out some of the relevant sections and objectiv es in the Wexford County Development Plan 2013 -2019 that will relate specifically to housing developments in the LAP area. Section Objective Heading Summary 4.2 HP01, HP15 Universal Design and Lifetime Promote universal design and lifetime housing. Homes Planning applications for 10 or more dwellings to include a Universal Design Statement. HP21 Access Access Statement to be carried out for significant developments. HP09, HP10 Housing Strategy Implement the objectives of the current Housing Strategy and Part V. HP08 Density Require appropriate density for the location. Have regard to the Sustainable Residential Development in Urban Areas Guidelines. HP14, HP15 Housing Mix Housing to be available for all income types. Planning applications for housing developments of 10 or more dwellings to contain mix of house types. HP17 Specific housing needs Accommodation for those with specific housing needs, such as the elderly, persons with a disability and Travellers, must be appropriate to the specific needs. HP20 Housing for People with A minimum 20% of dwellings in all new housing estates of 5 or more dwellings to Disabilities be suitable to accommodate or adaptable to provide accommodation for people with disabilities. HP22 Traveller accommodation To implement the current Traveller Accommodation Programme
8 T10 Walking and cycling Walking and cycling friendly development layouts. 16 CF16 Assessment of school capacity No significant residential development to proceed without an assessment of existing schools capacity or the provision of new school facilities in tandem with the development. 11.4 EN21, EN23 Energy efficiency Energy performance and efficiency in new residential developments.
18 18.10 Standards Design, layout, private open space, public open space, landscaping, energy efficiency. 18.14 Backland/Infill Well designed developments on infill and backland sites, especially when such developments bring into use derelict sites.
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2.5 Social Infrastructure securing employment and attracting The provision of ‘social infrastructure’ employment opportunities and inward in the form of buildings, facilities, clubs investment. and the means of accessing and using services, is necessary for the Table 4 compares the percentage of development of sustainable people in the plan area who have communities. The purpose of such completed education to County infrastructure is both to provide a Wexford and State figures. It shows service and also to promote that while Gorey has a higher community cohesion and community percentage of people who have identity and in doing so combat social completed Upper Secondary, isolation and alienation. A wide variety Technical/Apprentice and Third Level of facilities are required and a person’s than the County average, it is lagging use of facilities is dependent on a behind the State averages in the range of factors including age, family Technical/Vocational and Third Level structure and physical ability. Facilities categories. include: • Education facilities Table 4 Education Completed, • Healthcare, nursing homes, Gorey, County Wexford and State residential care homes, Level Completed Gorey Wexford State childcare and preschools No formal/Primary 14.1% 18.5% 15.2% • Community facilities including Lower Secondary 19.1% 20.1% 16.6%
community centres, youth Upper Secondary 23.1% 20.7% 20%
clubs/cafes and sports clubs Technical/ 18% 15.8% 20% • Cultural facilities such as Apprentice libraries, theatres, arts centres, Third Level 22% 20.9% 29% places of worship and burial Source: CSO 2011 grounds.
2.5.1 Education Facilities
Education is one of the foundation stones for well being and a good quality of life. It is a key factor in
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Primary and Post Primary Table 6 Post Primary Schools in the Education Facilities Plan Area There are currently seven schools in Name 2015-2016 the plan area: five primary schools and Enrolement two post primary schools. There has Gorey 1,535 been significant investment in Community educational infrastructure in the plan College area during the last 10 years. This has Creagh College 374 resulted in the development of an Total 1,909 ‘Education Hub’ at Creagh where three primary schools and a post primary The provision of high quality education school have been developed. facilities will lead to the increased
attractiveness of the area for the Table 5 Primary Schools in the Plan location of businesses and families Area and increased development and 4 Name 2015-2016 prosperity. Enrolement Bunscoil Loreto 624 There is sufficient land zoned for Gorey Central 216 community and education in the plan Gaelscoil 242 area to provide additional educational Mhoshíolog facilities should the need arise during Educate 412 the period of the plan. The subject Together lands have been considered in the St Joseph’s 342 context of the Department of CBS Education and Skills (DES) Technical Total 1,836 Guidance Documents on the ‘Identification and Suitability Assessment of Sites for Primary and Post Primary Schools’.
The Council will continue to work closely with the DES in identifying 4 Department of Education and Skills suitable sites for new schools to meet www.education.ie 23 the needs of the expanding population The Council will continue to support of the town and surrounding area in and work with existing and new service accordance with The Provision of providers to expand opportunities for Schools and the Planning System access to post leaving certificate (DEHLG and Department of Education courses, third level courses and adult and Science, 2008). education.
Third level Education 2.5.2 Childcare Facilities Gorey Community School (GCS) offers There are a range of childcare facilities Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) courses in the plan area both private and at NFQ Level 5 and 6 in the areas of community operated. The provision of Art, Design and Film at Gorey School these facilities is recognised as being of Art which is located at Mary Ward important for economic and social well Lane adjacent to GCS. Gorey School being. It not only enables parents to of Art is also an accredited Apple participate in the workforce but it can Authorised Training Centre for also make a significant contribution to Education. a child’s emotional and educational development in the early years of their GCS also offers a range of adult life. The Council will continue to education night time classes and ensure that sufficient childcare accredited courses. Wexford and facilities are provided alongside new Waterford Education Training Board residential schemes in accordance offer the VTOS Programme in Gorey with the Childcare Guidelines for Adult Learning Centre which is located Planning Authorities (2001) and any in the Civic Square. This programme future update of these guidelines. (Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme) offers adults the opportunity 2.5.3 Healthcare Facilities to return to full time education and Healthcare facilities are essential to achieve qualifications in a wide range ensure that the residents of the town of skills for employment or to progress and the surrounding area have access to third level education. to the care that they need. Healthcare is provided by a range of State, private, community and charitable
24 service providers. The Health Service homes and residential care homes Executive’s (HSE) current policy should be integrated wherever approach reflects a shift away from possible into the residential areas of traditional hospital-based care towards the town where residents can avail of more community-based care with reasonable access to local services. increased emphasis on meeting Medical centres/surgeries and local people’s needs at local level within health centres which meet the needs primary care teams. It provides a wide of and are easily accessible to local range of public primary health care service users will be favourably and community services from Gorey considered in the town provided they Health Centre and The Palms Centre, do not impact on residential amenity The Avenue. Gorey District Hospital, and have adequate parking availability. which is located on McCurtain Street, is an HSE operated nursing home 2.5.4 Community Facilities which provides 33 beds for a mix of Community facilities provide long-term care, medical, opportunities for activities, sports and convalescence, respite and palliative recreational events, social interaction care. and meeting spaces; all of which benefit the local community and assist St Aidan’s Day Care Centre, which is with social inclusion. The range of located at Millands, offers invaluable community facilities is developing in services to the people of North the town. The new public library and Wexford. The range of services the Civic Square which provides provided include residential care, day community meeting spaces and the services for the elderly, day care for proposed redevelopment of Gorey adults with special needs and Town Park are all welcome additions preschool education for children with to the town’s community infrastructure. special needs. There are groups providing support to various members of the local The Council will facilitate the provision community including Gorey Youth and expansion of built facilities to Needs Group, FDYS Gorey ensure accessible healthcare services Community Youth Project and Gorey are available in the town. Nursing Men’s Shed.
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The Council is committed to providing arts and culture in the county and accessible community facilities to recently commissioned a report serve the needs and expectations of entitled ‘Creative Wexford-Reviewing the growing and diverse population of Wexford County Council’s Gorey Town and the surrounding area. engagement with the Arts’ which There are lands zoned for community explored the range of arts in the and education uses throughout the county and the strengths, weaknesses plan area. While there are many small and opportunities. Gorey was identified individual buildings throughout the as a creative cluster for Contemporary town that are used by groups, Art, New Media, Creative use of new organisations and sports clubs, Gorey technology and Amateur Drama Town does not have its own production 5. The report identified the community centre. The Council will need for an Arts centre in Gorey (for work alongside community groups and design and crafts/new media and organisations in any effort to deliver contemporary art). such a multi user facility which would be a significant addition to community ‘OpenGorey’ is a local group which set facilities for the both the town and the up the Gorey Cultural Centre. The wider District. group has undertaken cultural mapping for the purposes of Community Facilities Objectives identifying, preserving and developing Objective CF01 the cultural assets of Gorey Town To support the provision of a multi- including clubs and groups, festivals user community building at an and events, spaces and places, appropriate location in the plan area. vacant/underutilised places and heritage. 2.5.5 Arts and Cultural Facilities Arts and culture have a very important role in facilitating social inclusion, health and wellbeing and as an economic and tourism product for the 5 ‘Creative Wexford-Reviewing Wexford county. The Council has a pivotal role County Council engagement with the Arts in to play in promoting and developing County Wexford’, Glasshouse Arts & Creative Industries and Wexford County Council, 2015. 26
Gorey Market House, Gorey Little interests of enhancing the urban Theatre and the Peripheries Centre of development of Gorey for economic or Creative Design are important cultural cultural benefit. The future of this site facilities in the town. will be further considered in the new Public Realm Plan. The Market House is a significant building and has a unique place in the Festivals play an important role in historical development of Gorey with supporting the local community, previous uses including a prison, a developing the image of an area and courthouse, parochial and a council attracting tourism. There are a number chamber (meetings of Gorey Town of successful festivals and events held Commissioners were held there until in the town during the year including the new Civic Offices were opened in the Byrne Perry Festival, Market 2012). The Market House, which is a House Festival, Polska Eire, Sri protected structure, is currently home Lankan New Year, Christmas Festival to a Design and Craft Galley on the and Halloween Festival. ground floor of the building. The Council will continue to seek to The Market House formed an integral promote the cultural life of the town part of a Public Realm Plan for the and increase accessibility to arts and town centre which was prepared in culture facilities for all members of the 2010 but not implemented. The community. This will be achieved proposal was to develop a through both the retention of existing thoroughfare from Main Street to facilities and the introduction of new Market Street/ Market Square which facilities in the town. would continue on to the Avenue and the Civic Square. The Plan identified Section 2.5.6 Funding for the subject lands as the potential Community and Cultural Facilities location for an Arts, Crafts and Books The delivery of community and cultural Market. The Council has recently facilities is crucial in terms of creating completed the CPO of some lands to sustainable communities. There are the rear of adjoining properties with a key facilities that will benefit both the view to redeveloping the block in the existing and future residents of the
27 plan area such as a community centre development protects and enhances and an Arts Centre. The financial the building’s architectural character resources to fund such projects are and heritage. limited and as such the Council will seek to avail of all funding Objective ACF04 opportunities, both public and private. To encourage the use of public art in This will include the Council’s public spaces including the Town Park, Development Contribution Scheme and in large scale developments. and the above mentioned specific projects will be included in the revised Objective ACF05 scheme. To promote the town’s local cultural heritage by using local placenames, Arts and Culture Objectives cultural or geographical names in the Objective ACF01 naming of new residential or other To continue to actively foster and developments. promote the development of the arts and cultural diversity in Gorey and to 2.6 Accessibility and facilitate infrastructural improvements, including the provision of an Arts Universal Design Centre, to assist in the development of The LAP aims to deliver safe, the arts and culture. accessible, age friendly and socially inclusive places which are well Objective ACF02 planned and designed, are people To support the provision of spaces for friendly and easy and efficient to get artists in suitable buildings to live, work around. and exhibit their work such as the temporary use of vacant buildings as The Council promotes the concept of pop up shops and the use of vacant universal design as a key component public buildings. of sustainable communities. Universal Design is the design and composition Objective ACF03 of an environment so that it can be To promote the continued use of accessed, understood and used to the Market House, and ensure any future greatest extent possible by all people regardless of their age or ability. The 28 design of new sustainable residential allows the public to inform the local communities should consider people’s authority by text if a vehicle is parked diverse needs and abilities throughout in a designated disabled parking space the design process so as to provide an without displaying the required Blue adaptable environment that meets the Disc. needs of all. All buildings should be designed to meet the needs of all Accessibility and Universal Design people who wish to use it. This is not a Objective AUD01 special requirement for the benefit of To ensure that Gorey Town is a safe, only a minority of the population. It is a accessible, age friendly and socially fundamental condition of good design. inclusive place which is well planned Everyone benefits when an and designed, is people friendly, and is environment is accessible, usable, easy and efficient to get around. convenient, and a pleasure to use. The universal design approach also complements Council’s commitment to making Wexford an age friendly county. The Council is signed up to the Age Friendly Cities and Counties programme (AFCCP). The overarching goal of the programme is that every local authority area in Ireland will be a great place in which to grow old.
The Council’s ‘Disability Implementation Plan-Moving Forward’ will be a key driver for accessibility in the plan area. Wexford County Council is one of the leading local authorities in the area of accessibility. In 2016 the Council rolled out a WCC Disabled Parking App and a Pilot Text Alert Scheme in the town. The latter
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Table 7 Social Infrastructure Objectives-Wexford County Development Plan 2013-2019
This table sets out some of the relevant sections and objectives in the Wexford County Development Plan 2013-2019 that will relate specifically to Social Infrastructure developments in the LAP area. Section Objective Heading Summary 16.4 CF09, Community facilities Community facilities to be physically integrated with residential and employment areas and CF10 provided concurrently with new residential development. 16.5 CF14, Schools New development adjacent to existing schools will be restricted where such development may CF15, have the potential to restrict the expansion of that school. CF16 Multi-use of school buildings and facilities encouraged provided this does not conflict with the delivery of the education service. Significant residential developments-assessment of school capacity CF17 Third level Support the development and ongoing provision of Third Level Education in the county.
16.6 CF19, Childcare facilities Location and provision of facilities. Schemes of 75+ dwellings to provide a childcare facility with a CF20 minimum 20 child places.
16.7 CF23 Healthcare Promote the improvement and expansion of health and medical care facilities which meet the needs of and are accessible to local service users.
7.4.6 TM24, Culture Safeguard cultural and heritage. Support and promote existing festivals and cultural events and TM25 support the establishment of new events where viable.
14.7 CH01, Arts and Culture Support and promote the sustainable development of the county’s cultural heritage. CH02, Safeguard cultural heritage and facilitate the expansion and development of appropriate facilities CH03, at points of interest. CH04, Stimulate and support cultural and artistic excellence and innovation. CH05
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Section 3 Urban Design The overall UDS is supported by the detailed Neighbourhood Framework Strategy Plans (NFPs) which provide greater guidance on the urban design measures and components needed to 3.1 Introduction develop and consolidate key areas of Urban design is an important aspect of the town. These can be found in local area planning. It is a process Appendix 1 of the LAP. that brings together the social, economic and environmental Detailed Urban Design Guidelines and dimensions and aspirations of urban guidance on the function and design of planning and places them within an the roads and streets are also integrated, spatial strategy. contained in Appendix 1.
The Urban Design Strategy (UDS) has 3.2 Urban Analysis evolved from an analysis of Gorey’s Gorey has a distinctive urban urban character which is contained in character, which is derived from both Section 3.2 below. The key concepts natural and man-made determinants. in the strategy are contained in Section The surrounding topography and 3.3 below. It is based on a ‘place landscape have played an important concept’, which seeks to reinforce the role in the development of the town. role of the town centre and to establish Gorey is ringed by low hills (notably new and improved roles for existing Gorey Hill, Creagh and Clonattin) to and new places around the town. It is the west, north and east. In contrast supported by a ‘route concept’ to the southern environs of the town are secure an accessible and functional relatively level. The Banoge River is town and a ‘landscape concept’ to the principal watercourse flowing from provide a coherent network of green north to south adjacent to the eastern routes and spaces for amenity, fringe of the town centre. It has a recreation, biodiversity and water number of significant tributaries along management. its course that connect it to other parts
of the town and the surrounding 31 landscape. It is a relatively small was later used as a prison, watercourse, contained within narrow courthouse, school and town hall. banks and it has been realigned and Some 548 houses were enumerated in covered in a number of locations in the the town in 1837 and the first survey town. The surrounding landscape is map of the town in 1843 shows a very characterised by paddocks enclosed compact and finely subdivided by hedgerows, tree lines and tree structure around Main Street/Esmonde groups. A number of country houses Street. The grid area developed and former demesnes surround the further in this period and it was also town. This area is also traversed by notable that development expanded at attractive, local and regional roads, the bottom of Clonattin Road/Courtown connecting the countryside with the Road around the R.C. Church and town. National School. The town had a population of 3,044 in 1851. 3.2.1 Historical Development
The distinctive structure of the town The arrival of the railway and the centre is a legacy of the planning and opening of the station in Gorey in 1863 incorporation of the town in the as part of the Dublin and South seventeenth century as ‘Newborough’. Eastern Railway (DSER) line marked a It was common for planned towns at major change in the morphology of the this time to use regular grids of streets town. New streets were developed to with regular blocks subdivided into connect to this new infrastructure. narrow and deep plots for Notably, St. Michael’s Road was development. The grid, which is added to provide access to the new St largely intact, is centred on Main Street Michael’s Church and a direct and includes surrounding and connection between the junction of connecting streets such as George Main Street and Esmonde Street. Street, John Street/James Street. Gorey Avenue/The Avenue were Many of the older buildings of the town added to provide connection with the centre were constructed in the mid-to railway and the west end of Main late eighteenth century and include Street. At this time also North Parade French’s The Premier House (c.1775) was developed on the line of an and the Market House (1709), which existing lane. During the second half
32 of the nineteenth century modest new ownership and the inevitable housing developed in terraces along emergence of ribbon development streets such as McCurtain Street and along the main routes into Gorey. Esmonde Street. Suburban development in the town commenced in earnest in the 1970s, The nineteenth century also witnessed with the incremental development of the addition of many of Gorey’s housing estates. Many of these landmark buildings, including The developments were designed in line Courthouse (1819), Gorey United with the then current car-based Methodist and Presbyterian Church standards and trends in Ireland. They (1830-1835), St. Michael’s Church incorporated few points of entry and (1839-1842) and Christ Church (1858- exit, convoluted routes, many cul-de- 1861). On the town fringes a sacs and limited connections with collection of fine country houses of adjoining and nearby developments. regional architectural merit were These layouts, which were designed constructed within designed primarily for car-use, present landscapes (e.g. Marlfield House, difficulties for local access for Ramsfort House, Millmount House and pedestrians and cyclists, continue the Merrion). Some of these houses and reliance on the car even for short trips. their curtilages remain intact and make This is a challenge for Gorey in moving a positive contribution to the character towards more sustainable travel. of the town. There has also been significant A major change in the form of the town redevelopment in the town centre area occurred with the development of local in recent years (post 2000). A number authority housing adjoining the town of the infill schemes have successfully centre between 1925 and 1940. This integrated with the established pattern was based on the notions of cottage- and character of the town centre. The style housing in garden suburbs. It development of the Civic Centre and was planned on small plots (e.g. Library has also been a significant Cluainín and Sraid Éireann) and on addition to the civic infrastructure of larger, semi-detached and detached the town. Major retail development housing plots (e.g. Garden City). The has been added to the south west of 1960s witnessed increasing car 33 the town centre, with the opening of • The surrounding countryside. the lands to the west of the Avenue and south of the McCurtain Street and 3.2.3 Overall Urban Structure the development of Paul Funge The urban structure of the town is Boulevard. While this has protected made up of the main routes and the larger retail function of the town spaces (key spaces are described centre, it will be necessary to allow for later in the landscape sections). The the current suburban nature of the main feature of the structure is a area to evolve into a more urban distinctive hierarchy of routes (See character over the coming years. Figure 4), which in the case of Gorey
could be described as: 3.2.2 Existing Character Areas • Main streets and roads – such Character derives from a combination as Main Street and the main of many different facets of an urban approach roads; area, including land use and activities, • Country roads – smaller rural built form, landscape and movement. roads leading from the Gorey has distinctive, existing countryside; and character areas, which could be • Local roads and streets - lanes described as: and alleys/mews. • The Town Centre – the areas th largely completed in the 19 The spine of the primary route network Century, and including the new is Main Street and McCurtain Street. town centre expansion areas; The main approach roads provide the • The Garden Suburb (The extension of this spine. The Inner Garden City and other social Relief Route (IRR) is a significant housing areas, largely although incomplete, orbital route developed between the 1920s connecting the radial country routes in and 1950s); the northern suburbs. The country • The modern suburbs including roads provide important radial the main residential and connections but they are of lesser industrial areas (developed importance than the main streets and largely from the 1960s roads in terms of access and onwards); and movement. Most other routes in the 34 town are local in nature, serving small Key problems of the suburban layout areas or single developments. The are as follows: rear access lanes in the town centre • Many suburban estates are and the surviving country lanes or either not connected, or poorly ‘boreens’ of the suburban areas also connected, to each other; provide local level connections. • Some adjoining areas of public open space are not connected The network of routes in the town or have a poor interface; centre is generally permeable with all • Many natural or desired streets leading to other streets. The walking, cycling or amenity street grid provides small-scale urban routes are absent or blocks, which are highly connected for discontinuous; and all users, particularly pedestrians. The • Many developments are well pattern of routes changes at the urban positioned, adjacent to the town edge, although the garden suburbs centre but have no direct areas maintain good levels of (notably pedestrian or cycle) connectivity and permeability. The access to it . later suburbs of Gorey however, have been developed in an incremental, Figure 1 below illustrates the ‘pod-like’ manner without the benefit of contrasting urban structure in Gorey a larger, guiding urban structure. A Town (Left to right, Town centre grid, consequence of this has been the garden suburb and later suburban dendritic and convoluted route pods). networks which are not designed around pedestrians and cyclists. Additionally, these layouts tend to funnel traffic onto a small number of routes rather than distribute it more evenly throughout an area.
Fig 1 Contrasting Urban Structure
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3.2.4 Landscape Structure been culverted or covered and this has Although the landscape surrounding impacted on their biodiversity role. the town has distinctive qualities and Most local level public open spaces in character, the landscape within the the town are located in suburban town is weak and largely incoherent. housing estates. These spaces are Overall, the structure of public open dispersed reflecting the incremental spaces in Gorey is weak, with few growth of the town. As they are not corridors providing biodiversity, part of a planned or designed open amenity or water management space network, they are often poorly functions. The lack of continuous connected, or not connected, with walking or cycling routes for amenity in each other. In terms of quality, many Gorey is apparent. spaces are poorly graded and planted and lack basic furniture and play Currently, the Town Park is the only facilities. In contrast, there is a good notable open space hub in the town. range of facilities for the major team Although a valuable asset, it is sports in the suburban areas of Gorey. somewhat underutilised and will benefit from the proposed plan for its Significant lands remain undeveloped redesign as flagship park. Its in the plan area. Some of these have connections to surrounding areas and significant rural landscape quality and the town centre are poor and there are include country houses and their few amenity links to or from the Town curtilages. The country roads make a Park to other parts of the town. strong contribution to the landscape Although the Ramsfortpark Forest character of Gorey. Typically, they remains under forestry, it has clear transition in character from rural tree potential as an amenity and and hedgerow-lined roads to biodiversity hub for the town. The realigned, suburban roads and streets. watercourses in the town, principally They have been compromised by The Banoge River and its tributaries, ribbon development and the treatment provide varying degrees of access and of their frontages has been quality along their banks. Significant inconsistent and often out of character. stretches of the watercourses have
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In summary, the main features of the highly varied. In the town centre town’s landscape structure are: blocks are well-sized and shaped • Hubs – such as the Town Park perimeter type blocks. These blocks and Ramsfortpark Forest; have small and narrow plots that are • Watercourses - principally the typical of the traditional town centres Banoge River and tributaries; (typically 5-7m in frontage width, with • Public open spaces – mainly larger plots measuring up to 10m). developed as part of housing There has been some later estates; consolidation of plots but these do not • Sports and leisure facilities – normally exceed two plots (for including sports fields and other example Heatons on Main Street with facilities; its frontage of 18m). Esmonde Street • Undeveloped lands – largely features some very small plots of less remaining in agricultural use, than 4m frontage. This urban grain such as Gorey Hill, Kilnahue, reflects the very modest scale of Ballytegan and Clonattin, domestic architecture on this including country houses and nineteenth century, secondary street. demesnes; and • The radial routes/country The fine urban grain of the town centre roads– which transition from has provided very significant benefits rural tree and hedgerow-lined in terms of variety of streetscape, roads to suburban roads and diversity of building types and floor streets. spaces. Fine urban grain produces many smaller spaces which are ideal for smaller, independent and local 3.2.5 Urban Grain businesses and start ups. This The urban grain of a town refers to the produces a great variety of uses, fineness of the patterns of urban including retail, office, legal and blocks and plots. Fine urban grain is financial, community use and present where there are many different residential. The fine urban grain in the plots and buildings within a block. town centre is, therefore, essential to Coarse urban grain is where there are its longer-term viability. very few plots and buildings within a block. The urban grain of Gorey is 37
3.2.6 Continuity and Enclosure centre. The church spires are the only The continuity and enclosure of streets features that breach the relatively and spaces is a key objective of good consistent skyline of the town centre. urban design and an important The consistency of building height contributor to the coherence of urban adds to a sense of coherence and areas. Gorey has some fine examples general urban quality in the town of continuous and enclosed centre. In the suburban areas building streetscapes. The town centre heights typically range between 1 and possesses a coherent streetscape 3 storeys, with some later apartment where streets are typically twice as buildings exceeding this range. wide as the buildings fronting them (a ratio of 2:1). This relationship between 3.2.8 Building Styles and Materials height and width provides a Building styles and materials in Gorey comfortable sense of enclosure, which vary widely reflecting the historical is typical of the small Irish town. This development of the town. The town relationship changes in the later centre retains much of the earlier avenues and suburban areas where building fabric, including many small there is a lesser degree of continuity of eighteenth and nineteenth century frontage and much weaker enclosure townhouses. This reinforces the (a ratio of between 5:1 and 7:1). This coherence of the town centre. Recent is a fundamental difference in the infill development has, by and large, character of urban and suburban succeeded in integrating with the areas. established streetscape. In the
suburban areas contemporary 3.2.7 Scale and Building Height suburban design styles have been General building height in Gorey is chosen for individual estates. In most typical of small country towns in cases quality of design and materials Ireland. In the town centre building has been appropriate in terms of heights typically range between 2 and quality and context. However, poor 4 storeys. Main Street is dominant in weathering of external materials is terms of scale. A lower scale of evident in some developments. between 2 and 3 storeys is typical of the secondary streets in the town 38
3.3 Urban Design Strategy The overall urban design strategy for Gorey comprises spatial concepts for the development of Gorey. It comprises a place concept, which shows the longer term development of places or small local centres, a route Illustration 1 Indicative Local concept, showing the longer-term Community Space hierarchical structure of routes, and a landscape concept, which shows the longer term network of open space corridors and hubs.
3.3.1 Place Concept The place concept, which is illustrated on Figure 3, envisages the continued Illustration 2 A Local Community primacy of the town centre as the heart Space of Gorey. It also envisages the development of local places with distinctive character, focal spaces (Local community spaces), connectivity of urban and landscape structure and good connections to the town centre. Within the character areas local focal spaces (Local community spaces) are identified where local service and community functions should be co-located.
Illustration 3 Indicative Cross Section of a Local Community Space
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The overall place concept is based on connections or avenues between the following character areas: existing radial routes into the town. • Town Centre; • Creagh (Gorey north-west); • Ballytegan (Gorey north-east); • Clonattin (Gorey east); and • Gorey South.
NFPs have been prepared for each of these character areas (Appendix 1).
Photo 1 A 1930s Avenue 3.3.2 Route Concept The route concept, which is illustrated on Figure 4, shows the concept for the longer-term development of the network of routes in and around the town. The existing hierarchy of routes, comprising main streets and roads, country roads and a range of local streets and roads, will be improved and extended. The concept envisages Photo 2 An Avenue with three improvements to the existing route storey frontage structure of main streets and roads, country roads and local streets and roads routes at different levels in the hierarchy.
Guidance on the role and design of new streets and roads is provided in Section 4 and Appendix 1 of the LAP. A key element of the concept is the creation or improvement of orbital Photo 3 An Avenue with two-storey frontage 40
identified in Section 5 Open Space, Recreation and Green Infrastructure Strategy.
The concept envisages improvements to the existing landscape structure through the enhancement of hubs and the creation of extended and coherent Photo 4 An Avenue with two and corridors. Key corridor elements of the three storage frontage landscape structure are The Banoge River and its tributaries, the country The strategy also provides the roads and the main streets and roads framework for high levels of in the town. These corridors can serve connectivity and permeability in new multiple functions such as biodiversity development areas. protection and enhancement, local water management, local accessibility Improvements to local-level and amenity. Biodiversity can be permeability in existing areas is enhanced by providing and addressed in the NFPs. rehabilitating corridors of natural vegetation for the migration of flora and fauna. 3.3.3 Landscape Concept
The landscape structure, which is The strategy will allow for local water illustrated on Figure 5, shows the management by facilitating concept for the longer-term connections to sustainable urban development of the network of open drainage systems in new space corridors and hubs in and developments and potential for around the town. This concept managed floodplains along provides the structure for the hierarchy watercourses. New walking and of Hub Open Spaces, Neighbourhood cycling routes will enhance local Parks, Pocket Spaces, Educational accessibility. Amenity will be served by Spaces and Sporting Facilities, Green extensive and continuous amenity Corridors and biodiversity parks space of different type and function.
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Objective UD02 3.4.4 Implementation To require development to Key development parcels are indicated demonstrate compliance with the on Figure 5(a). Further details on the Urban Design Strategy and the Urban development objectives and the Design Guidelines contained in supporting infrastructure are contained Appendix 1. in the individual NFPs.
Objective UD03 3.4 Urban Design Objectives To encourage innovation in the built Objective UD01 environment and to ensure that high To require planning applications to quality urban design and architecture demonstrate compliance with the is carried out in accordance with the Neighbourhood Framework Plan within guidelines contained in this LAP along which the subject lands are located. It the Guidelines for Planning Authorities must be demonstrated that the on Sustainable Residential development will deliver the main Development in Urban Areas, its components and objectives of each companion document Urban Design Neighbourhood Framework Plan with Manual (DEHLG, 2009), the Design regard layout, form, density, linkages, Manual for Urban Roads and Street infrastructure, open space provision (DTTS and DECLG, 2013), the and key infrastructure provision . Architectural Heritage Protection - Where a deviation from the framework Guidelines for Planning Authorities is proposed, it must be demonstrated (DAHG, 2011) and the National that the development does not Disability Authority (NDA) Buildings for compromise the delivery of the Everyone: A Universal Design components or objectives of the Approach. Framework.
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assigning higher priority to pedestrians Section 4 Access and and cyclists without unduly compromising vehicular movement in Movement Strategy order to create secure, connected places that work for all members of the community. 4.1 Background
The integration of good land use A key aim is to ensure compact, planning with transportation is connected neighbourhoods based on fundamental for efficient and street patterns and forms of sustainable planning. It is also development that will make walking important for climate change and cycling, especially for local trips, adaptation and helping to reduce more attractive. green house gas emissions. Good urban design, land use patterns and 4.2 Existing Access and transportation systems promote walking and cycling which help to Movement create active, healthier and 4.2.1 Roads sustainable communities. There has been significant investment
in road and pedestrian infrastructure in The creation of accessible and Gorey during the last 10 years. inclusive communities requires a re- examination of the way streets are The completion of the M11 motorway, designed in order to meet the needs of which is located to the east, southeast all users. Going forward this will be and northeast of the town, has made achieved through the implementation Gorey a highly accessible and of the Design Manual for Urban Roads strategically located town. It is and Streets (Department of Transport, important that the M11 is protected 2013) and hereon referred to as from inappropriate developments that DMURS. may compromise the efficient and safe
operation of this route. DMURS sets out a series of principles, approaches and standards to be used when designing streets and advocates
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There are no national roads within the Street have improved local plan area. The former N11 has been connections and accessibility. downgraded to a Class 2 Regional 4.2.3 Cycling Road (R772). The majority of While the completed sections of the movement in the town occurs along ‘Inner Relief Road’ have provided this route which is also the main street dedicated cycle paths, there is an of the town. Other regional routes absence of a continuous cycling include the R741, which runs network in and around the town. southwards from the town centre to
Wexford Town, the R725 which runs westwards linking Gorey to Carlow and 4.2.4 Public Transport the R742 which runs eastwards from Gorey enjoys good levels of the Gorey to Courtown. accessibility by public transport. The Rosslare Europort to Dublin Connolly The delivery of substantial sections of Irish Rail service runs five trains a day the ‘Inner Relief Road’ and the Monday to Friday including an early completion of the ‘Paul Funge morning service, four trains on Boulevard’ has resulted in new orbital Saturdays and three trains on Sundays connections and a re-ordering of traffic through Gorey with the station located movement as well as increased within walking distance of the town permeability in and around the town. centre.
Bus Éireann offers frequent bus 4.2.2 Footpaths services linking Gorey to Dublin City, The town is well served by footpaths Dublin Airport and Wexford Town as a and most local journeys can be safely well as a bus service linking Gorey navigated by walking. The with Rosslare Europort via Courtown redevelopment of footpaths along The and the Coast Road. Wexford Bus, Avenue together with local which is a privately operated service, improvements to footpaths, public runs a frequent service to Dublin and lighting and crossings on the Dublin Airport while Ardcavan Bus Ballytegan Road, Carnew Road, operates a daily service to the capital. Kilnahue Lane, Paul Funge Boulevard,
Esmonde Street and Mc Dermott
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Gorey Bus Links provides an 4.3 Challenges invaluable transport link for people in An audit of existing movement and the surrounding areas of Ballycanew, access in and around the plan area Ballygarrett, Ardamine, Courtown to identified a number of problems and Gorey town. This has proven to be an key challenges which need to be integral part of community life in these addressed. These include: rural areas. This service provides a • A development trend toward a form of transport to people who would car-based layout and design otherwise be isolated and allows users has created a highly ‘dendritic’ 6 to carry out their weekly shopping and network with limited access business in the town. options and poor connections to surrounding developments. This
4.2.5 Car parking is a problem for pedestrians and A detailed survey and analysis of cyclists as journeys can be existing car parking provision convoluted. concluded that the town is well served • Many natural or desired by car parking facilities. It identified in walking, cycling or amenity excess of 500 metered on-street car routes are absent or parking spaces in the town centre. It discontinuous. also identified that there are circa • Many developments are well 1,400 car parking spaces provided in positioned, adjacent to the town public and private cars within a 500m centre but have no direct radius of the Market House and 1,340 pedestrian or cycle access to it. car spaces provided in close proximity • The railway line is a significant to the town centre in car parks such as barrier with low levels of the new and old Tesco sites, Aldi, permeability Knockmullen Retail Park and the • The need to improve the Ashdown Hotel (see Map 2). The accessibility of routes in the parking fees in many of the public and town. private car parks (where a fee is charged) is reasonable with most charging €2 for all day parking. 6 Dendritic networks place heavy restrictions on movement. 45
4.4 Access and Movement as identified in the relevant Strategy Neighbourhood Framework Plans. The Strategy is focused on: • Ensuring new development • Providing optimum levels of complies with the requirements accessibility, connectivity and of DMURS. permeability, particularly for
pedestrian and cyclists. In general every street should lead 4.5 Route Structure to a street. The route concept set out in Section 3 • Providing new connections Urban Design Strategy establishes the between existing and new hierarchy of routes of different role and developments in selected type in the plan area. The route locations to address issues of concept is important in that it is a key local level access and element of the urban structure of permeability. Gorey which informs not only • Improving the existing route movement, but also building type and structure within and around the density, landscape and land use. town and the addition of new routes. The route hierarchy is: • The creation or improvement of • Main streets and roads orbital connections between • Country roads/green routes existing radial routes • Local streets and roads. • Ensuring the provision of footpath and cycle paths in new Appendix 1 Urban Design Guidelines developments and developing includes road design guidelines for new and improved accessible each road typology in the hierarchy of routes. routes. The purpose of these • Increasing and enhancing guidelines is to provide for a coherent public transport usage for all design of new streets and roads and users. the improvement of existing routes to • The development of new achieve a wider range of urban design strategic railway crossings to and planning objectives and to coincide with new development 46 contribute to greater quality and take account of existing constraints coherence of the town. and opportunities.
The planning and design of all streets One of the proposed elements at this and roads in the plan area should level is the creation or improvement of comply with the objectives and orbital connections between existing guidelines included in DMURS. radial routes into the town . The orbital routes are referred to as avenues and In relation to the regional roads within the key proposals are: the plan area, developments requiring • The completion of the ‘Inner direct access or the intensification of Relief Route’ and to upgrade its existing accesses onto the regional layout and design to create road network will be carefully urban avenues. Creagh Avenue considered in accordance with the will form the main spine through relevant objectives and development the Creagh area and Ballytegan management standards in the County Avenue will form the main spine Development Plan. through the Ballytegan area. • A new Clonattin Lower Avenue which will provide access to the 4.5.1 Main Streets and Roads Arklow Road. This will also be The main streets and roads are the connected to the Ballytegan highest level routes within the street Avenue. and road hierarchy of the town. This • A new Clonattin Upper Avenue typology is diverse as it includes which will provide a north-south existing routes and planned new connection between Clonattin avenues connecting the local Road and the Courtown Road. community spaces (as shown in the • A new connecting avenue NFPs). (South Gorey Avenue)
connecting all new focal spaces On new routes a more consistent and and existing radial routes in this integrated approach to design will be area. required. On existing routes, more
bespoke approaches will be needed to
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Figures 26 and 27 in Appendix 1 character and configurations as they illustrate an indicative layout of a approach the town centre, however, proposed avenue and the R772 their essential functions will be (Former National Primary Road N11). consistent.
The keys proposals for country 4.5.2 Country Roads roads/green routes include: Gorey’s existing country roads, such • Along Ballytegan Road and as the Hollyfort road, Fort road, Ramsfortpark Forest Road. Ballytegan road and Clonattin road, • Kilnahue Lane, Hollyfort road provide important radial connections and Fort Road. from the surrounding and suburban • Ramstown and Millands local areas to the town centre. They are road also important access routes for many • New green routes at Clonattin existing developments. The routes are Road and the Courtown Road. typically rural in character at the town
fringe, but have been altered and Figure 28 in Appendix 1 illustrates provided with a variety of new indicative layouts of a country boundary types, set-backs and splays . road/green route. Pedestrian facilities are intermittent in
places. 4.5.3 Local Streets and Roads The overall approach will be to bring Local streets and roads are the most greater coherence to the protection common and lowest level of route in and enhancement of the country roads the hierarchy of routes in the plan as green routes by retaining as much area. Although important from an of their landscape character and access point of view, they generally biodiversity function and providing for (although not always) carry low levels new and improved pedestrian and of traffic. They are particularly cycle facilities. Approaches will need to important as places in their own right, be bespoke given the individual often acting as social spaces for character and the characteristics of the interaction, children’s play, recreation, town’s existing country roads. Green business and other activities. Rear routes will transition to more urban access lanes in the town centre
48 provide important local level • A new pedestrian route connections and should be upgraded between John Street, Main and utilised where possible. Street and the Avenue. • An improved pedestrian route A more consistent and integrated from the rear of Esmonde Street approach to design will be required on to St Michael’s Road. new local streets and roads. On • New pedestrian accesses from existing local routes more bespoke the Avenue and McCurtain approaches will be needed to take Street to the recently expanded account of existing constraints and town centre areas at Gorey opportunities, particularly where Shopping Centre and Tesco. retrofitting is appropriate to calm traffic or achieve new local connections. The LAP aims to deliver safe, accessible, age friendly and socially Figure 29 in Appendix 1 illustrates inclusive places which are well indicatives layouts of local streets and planned and designed, are people roads. friendly and easy and efficient to get around. The Council’s Disability Implementation Strategy includes an 4.6 Pedestrian action to carry out an audit of all The route concept outline in Section existing footpaths to identify where 3.5 proposes a connected, accessible remedial works are required to ensure pedestrian network in and around the all footpaths are accessible and safe town. Map 3 identifies where additional for all users. The Strategy also footpaths are required along existing includes an action to review roads within the plan area. These accessibility issues on the Ramstown footpaths must be provided in tandem road. There is no pavement on part of with new developments. the road to Gorey Business Park which
is an issue for service users from the Alongside the delivery of pedestrian training centre as they are unable to facilitates discussed in Section 3.5, access the local community. key pedestrian proposals in the town centre include:
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The provision of a footpath link and hub incorporating an accessible inter- cycle way between Gorey and modal transport node with park and Courtown is considered to be an ride facilities. The railway station offers important piece of infrastructure for the ideal location for this hub given the local tourism. The existing footpath, available lands on which a bus which extends 1.75 km from the plan terminal could be developed within the area is well utilised by local walkers existing car park. This location allows and joggers. While outside the plan immediate access to the town centre area, the Council supports the further and almost direct access to the M11. development of this link. The Council will also support the provision of a town and rural hinterland service. 4.7 Cycling
The route concept outlined in Section
3.5 provides for a continuous cycling Access and Movement Objectives network in and around the town. This Objective AMS01 network is detailed on Map 4. New To ensure the design of all streets and developments, in particular roads in the plan area complies with employment generating, schools and the objectives and guidelines in the residential, will be required to provide Design Manual for Urban Roads and cycling facilities such as bicycle Streets (Department of Transport and parking. Department of the Environment,
Community and Local Government, 4.8 Public Transport 2013) and the Urban Design Strategy, the Access and Movement Strategy The Council will continue to encourage and the Urban Design Guidelines the expansion of rail and bus services contained in Appendix 1 of the LAP. to and from Gorey and support the provision of infrastructure to Objective AMS02 encourage the use of public transport, To secure the provision in tandem with including bus stops, bus shelters, taxi new developments, or provide subject ranks and enhanced facilities at the to available resources, the footpath railway station. The Council supports and pedestrian linkage objectives the development of a public transport detailed on Map 3. 50
Objective AMS03 To undertake an accessibility audit of existing footpaths in the plan area in order to identify and implement a scheme of works required to provide accessible and safe footpaths for all users.
Objective AMS04 To secure the provision in tandem with new developments, or provide subject to available resources, the cycle objectives detailed on Map 4 .
Objective AMS05 To support the development of a public transport hub incorporating an accessible inter-modal transport node with park and ride facilities at an appropriate location in the plan area.
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Table 8 Access and Movement Objectives-Wexford County Development Plan 2013-2019 This table sets out some of the relevant sections and objectives in the Wexford County Development Plan 2013 -2019 that will relate specifically to Access and Movement
Section Objective Heading Summary 8.1 T01, T02, T03 Transportation Compliance with National Transportation Guidelines, compliance with EU Habitats Directive
8.2 T04,T05, T08, Public Transport Support and facilitate public transport use, services and facilities T09 8.3 T10 Walking and Cycling Encouragement of walking and cycling
8.6.1 T14, T18, T19, National Roads Support development of and improvements to national roads network, have regard to T20, T21,T22, Transport Infrastructure Ireland guidelines for development on National Roads, prevention of T23,T24,T25 uses which would adversely affect national roads network, specifications for developments requiring access to national roads network, signage on national roads
8.6.2 T26, T27,T28, Regional Roads Management and maintenance of regional roads network, access requirements for Regional T29 Roads, development of inner relief routes
8.6.3 T30, T31 Local Roads Management and maintenance of local roads network, facilitation of access proposals to local roads
8.6.4 T32, T33, T34, Universal Roads To promote and encourage road safety, assessment of access proposals, restriction of T36 T38 inappropriate advertising and lighting proposals, consideration of noise levels
8.6.5 T39 Service Stations Assessment of proposals for filling stations, service stations, truck parking facilities
8.6.6 T40, T41 Parking and Servicing Maintenance and provision of parking facilities
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Section 5 Greener Gorey- economic benefits, provide high quality open spaces with associated health Open Space, Recreation and social benefits for people through and Green Infrastructure the provision of play areas, safe and Strategy attractive areas and routes for meeting, walking and cycling. It
provides opportunities and space for 5.1 Background contact with nature which is High quality open space and considered essential for good health recreation areas play an important role and wellbeing. It also provides efficient in developing sustainable communities and sustainable surface water and contributing to quality of life and drainage systems and helps well being while also playing a vital communities to adapt to the impacts of role in developing and strengthening a climate change and flooding. sense of community. In order for open spaces to be successful, they must be The Council is committed to ensuring well located and designed, overlooked that Gorey Town and Environs has a and accessible to all. high quality network of open spaces,
recreation facilities and GI, which Open space has a variety of functions together will contribute to the making including passive recreation, active the town an attractive place to live, recreation, visual amenity, ecology, work and visit. drainage and socio-economic needs and comes in a variety of forms 5.2 Existing Open Space, including parks, playgrounds, playing Recreation and Green fields, walks and trails. Infrastructure Green Infrastructure (GI), which is a Gorey has a variety of open space and network of green spaces that connect recreation areas ranging from open ecosystems, is important for spaces within residential estates, the biodiversity and provides benefits for Town Park and sports and leisure humans. A well-designed GI network facilities to excellent natural amenities helps to create a high-quality on its doorstep such as a ‘blue flag’ environment which will provide 53 beach and woods in Courtown, Such projects include: Ballymoney beach and Tara Hill. • The Urban Park at the Civic The existing open space provision in Square. the plan area is described in the Urban • The re-development of The Design Strategy under ‘Landscape Avenue Structure’, the main elements of which • The Magic Garden on the are: Coach Road • Gorey Town Park and • The Magic Woodland on the Showgrounds Arklow Road • Ramsfortpark Forest • The Magic Compass on • The Banoge River and its McCurtain St tributaries • Gorey Heritage Orchard • Existing sporting facilities and • The Paul Funge Boulevard playing pitches wildlife corridor • Local level open spaces • The landscaping of roundabouts • Radial routes and country roads in and around the town
The Council, together with Gorey Tidy With regard to active recreation much Towns, local businesses, community of the space used for sporting activities and voluntary groups, have been belongs to privately managed clubs active in developing and managing and organisations, such as the GAA, small valuable urban amenity areas rugby, soccer and tennis. These, and greenscapes in the town. These together with the local schools, provide consist of urban planting and minor invaluable facilities for the residents of streetscape and approach road the town and the wider District. improvements where innovative landscaping has been used to 5.3 Greener Gorey 2023 enhance the urban environment and ‘Greener Gorey 2023’ is the open add significantly to local habitat and space, recreation and GI strategy for biodiversity value. the plan area and it is focused on developing a hierarchy of accessible open spaces which can be used by all members of the local community. It
54 recognises that the various groups in total site area of development the community have different needs in land relation to open space and recreation • A lack of permeability between from playgrounds, Multi Use Games existing developments and Areas (MUGAs) and sporting facilities future development lands. to walking, cycling and jogging. • A recognition that open space is a good way to integrate old and The ‘Greener Gorey’ strategy is new developments. derived from the following: • The consideration that sport • An audit of the existing open facilities are well provided for in space provision which identified the town. deficits and opportunities for improvement at all levels in the The strategy, which is illustrated on open space hierarchy. The audit Figure 30 is focused on the following identified deficits at hierarchy of spaces: neighbourhood level and that (1) Hub Open Spaces the main open space in the (2) Neighbourhood Parks Town Park would benefit from (3) Pocket Spaces significant upgrading. Quality (4) Education Spaces and Sporting parkland provides invaluable Facilities amenity space for everyone, (5) Amenity Walks, Green particularly those without the Corridors and River Corridors means to travel to other types of recreational facilities. 5.3.1 Hub Open Spaces • The need to provide access to These are the highest level of open high quality neighbourhood and spaces and provide for a wide range of local parks within a short walk uses at strategic, accessible locations of the majority of dwellings in in the plan area. The spaces are that area intended to be destinations for all • A requirement that public open residents in the town. Three key sites space should be provided at a have been identified: minimum rate of 15% of the
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Gorey Town Park Ramsfortpark Forest The planning process has been Ramsfortpark Forest currently consists completed for the re-development of of 36.5 ha of afforested lands. In Gorey Town Park and Show grounds consultation with Coillte and local into a high quality public park and interest groups, the Council would see recreational area. The park will consist these lands develop into a unique of a series of safe interlinked spaces amenity and destination area for all and open playing fields to be used for users of the town. Examples of passive and active recreation and will proposed uses could include woodland also function as a conduit for raising walks, bike trails, adventure runs, awareness of wildlife, habitat, weekly parkruns, biodiversity and environmental and sustainability education trails. issues. The park will also be capable of hosting small outdoor and local events. Preliminary design works are due to commence in September 2016 with construction to follow in 2017. The new park layout is illustrated in Figure
31.
Figure 31 Proposed layout of Gorey
Town Park
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Clonattin Park 5.3.2 Neighbourhood Parks A new hub park has been identified on The second level of open space the eastern side of the town at provision, neighbourhood parks, are Clonattin which will facilitate the needs based on the principle of having a high of existing and new residents in the quality open space for residents area as well as other users in the located within a ten-minute walk of the town. The park will accommodate majority of dwellings in the area. formal and informal play areas, a new It is important that these spaces are of playground, passive recreation areas, an appropriate size in order to be biodiversity areas and riverside walk. useful and as such neighbourhood Part of this park will be delivered in parks should be between 1ha-2ha in tandem with housing developed on the size. residential zoned land. The ‘linear’ section of this park will be delivered in Neighbourhood parks have been tandem with the development of the identified at a rate of 10% of the lands zoned for business and overall development lands and are technology and tourism and leisure in zoned as ‘Open Space and Amenity’. this area. The location of these parks is identified on Figure 30.In some cases, it is Objective OS01 envisaged that these new spaces will To support the development of Gorey combine with existing spaces to create Town Park, Ramsfortpark Forest and a larger, more useful open space, e.g Clonattin Park for high level Meadowgate Housing Estate and recreational and amenity uses. The adjoining lands. delivery of Gorey Town Park and Ramsfortpark Forest will be supported The Planning Authority will consider through the Development Contribution alternative locations for the identified Scheme. Clonattin Park will be Neighbourhood Parks. However, this delivered in tandem with the will only be considered if the revised development of the residential and the location is better and the proposal is business lands in this area. enhanced. The revised location must be within 500m of the neighbourhood which it is intended to serve and it
57 must comply with the specified If there is no identified Neighbourhood quantum requirements. The revised Park parcel in the area of the location will not be considered a development, the 10% neighbourhood material contravention of the LAP. park open space allocation may be provided as follows: Delivery of Neighbourhood Parks (a) It may be offset against other In general, a total of 15% public open Neighbourhood Parks space will be required for residential previously provided by the schemes and this shall include the developer where there is in zoned Neighbourhood Parks as excess of the 10% of the identified in the open space strategy. previous development site and This open space must be developed in which will serve the tandem with the residential scheme. development. That Neighbourhood Park must be It is intended that developers will within a 5 minute walk of the deliver the neighbourhood parks as proposed development. In part of their overall development order to avail of this, it will be proposals. The park should therefore necessary to identify the open be included within the site edged red space in the earlier planning and full specifications on the design application, identify which lands and layout of the park shall be it serves and to design the submitted with the planning application space so it serves both for consideration. It is noted that the developments in terms of area, location of these parks may not reflect quality, linkages and play land ownership parcels. Where there facilities. are two or more landownerships (b) The 10% is provided within the involved in the neighbourhood park, a residential scheme as a single proposal must be submitted with the space. planning application to address this issue. However, it will not be appropriate to provide small parcels to aggregate to the required 15%. A minimum of 10% must be in one large useful space.
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5.3.3 ‘Pocket’ Open Spaces approach can be achieved through The remaining 5% public open space successful community consultation must be provided by means of pocket and involvement. parks within the development. A lower level of open space provision but none 5.3.5 Design of Public Open the less a vital component of Spaces successful neighbourhoods, pocket Open spaces must be designed and open spaces can provide play areas laid out to a high standard and an for smaller children but not necessarily emphasis must be placed on the formal play areas. They have an quality and long term sustainability of important visual and social function the open space. Details of the and should not be located to the rear proposed landscaping (both hard and of dwellings. It is essential that pocket soft) of these spaces will be required parks are well located within at the planning application stage. developments, are adequately overlooked and protected from The maintenance of open spaces and vehicular traffic. play facilities will be dealt with by
condition of the planning permission. 5.3.4 Merging and Linking Open Spaces Public open spaces should be Open space is an excellent way of overlooked and designed to ensure integrating new and older that potential for anti-social behavior is developments. The Council will minimised through passive encourage new developments to surveillance. merge open spaces with existing development where possible. This will The Sustainable Residential be mutually beneficial providing Development in Urban Areas- spaces which are large enough to be Guidelines for Planning Authorities usable while increasing permeability. It (2009) provides detailed guidance on could be delivered through the the provision of open space in new provision of an attractive, safe residential developments. Proposals pedestrian linkage to the adjoining new for new residential development will be open space development. This
59 required to comply with these support the development of such guidelines. facilities where required.
The provision of open spaces in 5.3.7 Amenity Walks, Green apartment type developments will be Corridors and River Corridors required to be delivered in accordance Amenity walks and green corridors are with the standards recommended in linear open spaces along paths, ‘Sustainable Urban Housing: Design watercourses, planting or other natural Standards for New Apartments: features that provide opportunities for Guidelines for Planning Authorities’ walking and cycling, informal published in 2015, in particular, the recreation, biodiversity and wildlife community amenity space provisions migration. Article 10 of the Habitats and children’s play facilities. Directive outlines the importance of green corridors and requires that they Objective OS02 are protected in order to ensure the To require a 15% provision of the continued migration of species and overall site area for use as public open genetic diversity throughout the area. space in new residential schemes. This open space shall be provided as Green corridors should not be set out in Sections 5.3.2 calculated as part of the open space Neighbourhood Parks and 5.3.3 provision (unless they provide for Pocket Parks functional open space) but should be incorporated into new developments 5.3.6 Education Spaces and as part of the green infrastructure Sporting Facilities provision, linking larger areas of open Gorey is home to a wide range of space with areas outside the site. It is sports such as the GAA, rugby, intended that all spaces will eventually soccer, hockey and tennis all of which be linked to outside the plan area provide an invaluable recreational through green corridors. outlet for the residents of the town. Opportunities exist to develop and River corridors and their associated share existing facilities and the further riparian zones are important for use of schools facilities could provide a ecological and amenity reasons, flood key role in this regard. The Council will 60 risk management and water protection. Small local interventions will play a key The riparian zone needs to be role in creating amenity walks and considered as an integrated part of a green corridors. Key proposals to river and it can be particularly achieve this include: vulnerable to damage from • A green corridor link from the inappropriate development. Ballytegan Road to the Arklow Road following the tributary line Inappropriate development in the of the Banoge River through a riparian zone can lead to significant new wetlands park (Figure 31). environmental and economic problems • A green corridor link along including restricted public access and Chucky’s river. (Figure 32). angler access, increased surface • The development of a local water runoff, increased flooding and wetland park at Ramstown erosion, loss of habitats and food for Lower will provide a biodiversity fish and mammals and a reduction in rich area. This, together with the biodiversity. provision of pedestrian linkages to the area, will enhance both The GI Strategy aims to enhance amenities and biodiversity. biodiversity by • Green routes along the country (a) providing a new, connected roads, mains streets and local green infrastructure of corridors roads. and hubs to provide for • The rehabilitation of the Creagh improved quality and tributary stream corridor as a GI connectivity of biodiversity, corridor amenity and local water • Development of Clonattin management, and Stream as a GI corridor. (b) respecting locally distinctive
landscape features such as tree
lines and field boundaries in the
new urban structure and to
enhance these as part of an
improved and integrated green
infrastructure network.
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Figure 31 Green Corridor Link and Wetlands Park at Ballytegan and the Arklow Road
Figure 32 Proposed River Walk through Garden City along Chucky’s River
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There is an opportunity to explore in incorporation of green enclosures and consultation with the relevant appropriately located planting into new landowners the development of a hill developments will also facilitate green walk from the Monument on McCurtain linkages. to the Carnew Road at Gorey Hill. This hill walk would provide an Key landscape features such as trees, enjoyable local amenity walking route stone walls, rock outcrops, streams and could also raise historical and ponds should be retained where awareness and civic pride. possible and incorporated into the design of new developments. Amenity and riverside walks, including Watercourses should not be culverted backlanes, must be delivered in a but safely integrated into the design of manner that ensures the safety of the development. users. This can be achieved by ensuring good design including active With regard to river corridors and the and passive surveillance thereby riparian zone, the Council will apply removing opportunities for anti-social the principles for protecting behaviour and crime. The delivery of watercourses set out in the document safe amenity and riverside walks will ‘Planning for Watercourses in the encourage people to use them and to Urban Environment’ (Shannon guarantee their success as an amenity Regional Fisheries Board) when and enhanced permeability provision considering development proposals. It for the town. The development of will be necessary to set aside buffers these walks should be carried out in zones with a sufficient area of land consultation with the local community. along the river corridor. The width of the riparian buffer zone will be New development along county roads dependent on the width of the river as proposed in the Urban Design and the nature of the site and as such Strategy will be required to retain it will be decided on a case-by-case natural roadside ditches and basis. However, a minimum of 10m in hedgerows. This will create green width will be required. In some corridors and the linkage of the instances buffers of up to 50m may be countryside to the built up area. The appropriate (as set out in the
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Guidelines). It is important that the Objective OS04 buffer zone is large enough to protect To ensure riparian buffer zones, a the ecological integrity of the river and minimum of 10m in width (in some the riparian zone. (See Figure 33 for cases buffers zones up to 50m may be the suggested layout of a riparian appropriate), are created between all buffer zone). Applicants are advised watercourses and any future to refer to the above document and development. In considering the contact the Planning Authority at pre- appropriate width, the Council will planning stage with regard to buffers have regard to ‘Planning for and the requirement for ecological Watercourses in the Urban assessments. Environment Guidelines’ (Shannon Regional Fisheries Board. Objective OS03 To have regard to the ‘Planning for Objective OS05 Watercourses in the Urban To only consider proposals for Environment Guidelines’ (Shannon culverting/piping of streams and Regional Fisheries Board) when watercourses where these works are considering development proposals in deemed absolutely necessary and the vicinity of rivers and streams within appropriate. Inland Fisheries Ireland and adjoining the plan area. (IFI), National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and the Office of Public Works (OPW) will be consulted, where appropriate. Figure 33 Indicative Layout of a Riparian Zone
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5.4 Play Facilities to a maximum of eight pieces. The Council will require the provision In larger residential schemes or of suitably designed and landscaped phased schemes (>100 play areas in new residential estates. residential units) play facilities Playground facilities should cater for should incorporate proposals for defined age groups and provide for a larger play areas (playing variety of facilities and play pitches, courts, MUGAs etc). opportunities. Play areas should be (b) The developer may propose to located where they are overlooked and provide an innovative high do not create an unreasonable quality and safe landscape nuisance to residents. Play facilities proposal with an integrated should be fully inclusive and active play facility/natural play accessible to all children. areas of equivalent play value in lieu of static fixed play equipment . 5.4.1 Provision of Playground (c) The developer may contribute a Facilities special financial contribution to The Council will require the provision be used by the Planning of a high quality landscape and play Authority in the local Hub Park facilities to form part of new residential or Neighbourhood Park. schemes. The Planning Authority will consider either or a combination of the The applicant is advised to agree following options for residential which option is proposed during pre- schemes of 50+ units (In phased planning. The type of option preferred development schemes of less than 50 will depend on the existence of play units the following will apply once the facilities in the vicinity or proximity to threshold is met). other proposed Hub or Neighbourhood (a) The developer may propose to parks. provide a playground facility as
part of the scheme at a rate of 4 The planning application shall include sq m per residential unit. A details of proposals relating to the minimum of one piece of play provision of play facilities and these equipment shall be provided for proposals to include a design every 50 sq m of playground up specification, shall be clearly identified 65 within the site edged red. The 5.5 Allotments/ Community maintenance of the open space and play facilities will be dealt with my Gardens condition of the planning permission. Public allotments and community gardens have a number of benefits Underutilised play areas will, subject to including promoting healthy lifestyles, resources, be targeted for providing a cheap and local source of improvement or replacement. food and a reduction in food miles. Working an allotment is a healthy Objective OS06 physical recreation for all age groups To require high quality landscaped and gives people the opportunity for areas with play facilities within new social contact and interaction with residential developments of 50+ other members of the community. The residential units as detailed Council will encourage the in accordance with the standards development of allotments/community contained in Section 5.4.1. Details of gardens. proposals shall be submitted with the planning application.
Objective OS07 To target underutilised play for improvement or replacement, subject to the availability of the necessary resources.
Objective OS08 To encourage and provide Multi-User Games Areas (MUGAs) at appropriate locations within the plan area.
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Table 9 Open Space, Recreation and Green Infrastructure Objectives-Wexford County Development Plan 2013-2019
This table sets out some of the relevant sections and objectives in the Wexford County Development Plan 2013 -2019 that will relate specifically to Open Space, Recreation and Green Infrastructure
Section Objective Heading Summary 14.3 GI01, GI02, Green Infrastructure Ensuring the protection of the natural environment through the integration of Green GI03, GI04, Infrastructure, implementation of GI strategies, use of GI in development management GI07 process, submission of Green Infrastructure Plan on significant development. 15.2 RS02, Recreation Provision of recreation and open space facilities, community use of school grounds outside RS03,RS04, school hours RS05 15.3 RS06, RS07 Sport Promotion and development of sports, recreation and amenity facilities
15.4 RS08, RS09, Children’s Play Provision of children’ s play facilities and Multi Use Games Areas (MUGAs) R10 Facilities
RS12 Natural amenities Promote the use of natural amenity areas including forests for recreational.
RS14 Natural amenities To co-operate with Coillte in the protection of existing and the development of additional forest amenity sites and walks.
RS19, RS20, Walking and cycling Support the recreational and tourist potential of walking and cycling routes. RS24 recreation Promote riverside walking routes.
15.7 RS29, RS30, Open Space Provision of open spaces, submission of landscaping plans. Avoid the loss of public and RS31, RS32 private recreational open space and facilities.
15.8 RS33 Allotments Promotion of allotments on suitable sites
18.9.2 Development Play Areas Provision of play facilities. Management Standards 18.10.4 Public Open Space Function, layout and design 67
Section 6 Economic The economic and social impact of Development Strategy commuting is a serious concern and it is recognised that many individuals in 6.1 Existing Jobs Profile this situation may have significant time Gorey is a commuter town for Wicklow and financial stresses while and Dublin and as such the town’s maintaining this working lifestyle. residents have become highly Therefore, in order to make the town dependent on jobs located outside of more self-sufficient and to improve the the county. An analysis of the 2011 quality of life of the town’s residents, it Place of Work Census of Anonymised is critical that the number of jobs, both Records (POWCAR) confirms the high locally and in the county, is increased. rate of commuting from Gorey out of the county. Unemployment is also a significant issue like other towns in the county. According to POWCAR, there were Census 2011 recorded an 3,147 people residing in the Gorey unemployment rate of 26% (1,157 settlement area who were classified as persons). The current level of being ‘At Work’. Of these workers, a unemployment, whilst improving 7, is a total of 38% (1,183) were employed in concern, and the priority for the Gorey, 18% (574) were employed Council and the LAP to 2023 is to elsewhere in Wexford and 30% (950) create and facilitate sustainable commute out of the county for employment opportunities so that employment. The remaining 14% (440) people can re-enter the workforce. were either mobile workers/un- Census 2011 recorded that the largest codeable work destination. percentage of the labour force at work were employed in wholesale and retail POWCAR analysis also showed that trade (20%), manufacturing (13%), an additional 1,723 workers commute 7 There were 3,049 people on the Live into Gorey for employment every day. Register in April 2016 compared to 4,221 in Of these, 84% (1,441) commute from April 2011. These figures relate to all those elsewhere in Wexford and the registered at the Gorey Intreo office which remaining 16% (282) commute from covers a much wider geographical area than outside the county. the plan area. 68 education (10%) and accommodation and food services (10%). Table 10 Analysis of the main socio-economic provides a breakdown of the Broad groups (Table 14) highlights that there Industrial Groups and the numbers at are lower numbers in the higher socio- work in each group. It is noted that economic groups (Employers and these often represent lower paid jobs Managers and Higher Professionals) in Gorey than the County Wexford and Table 10 Census 2011 Broad State averages. It also highlights that Industrial Groups and Numbers at the number in the Non Manual group is Work significantly higher than the County Broad Industrial Group No Wexford and State averages. Wholesale & Retail Trade and 644 Repair of Vehicles As previously outlined, education is a Manufacturing 428 key factor in the securing employment Education 347 and an educated workforce is crucial Accommodation and Food 320 to attract employment opportunities Human Health and Social 251 and inward investment into an area. Work Gorey is lagging behind State Public Administration and 152 Defence averages in the areas of Financial and Insurance 148 Technical/Apprentice and Third Level. Construction 146 Professional, scientific and 112 technical activities Transport and Storage 100 Arts, entertainment and 72 recreation
Administrative and support 65
service activities
ITC 63
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 53 Other 139 Industry not stated 148 Total labour force 3,188 Source: CSO
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Table 11 Main Socio-Economic Services), Silawrap (Crop Packaging Groups (SEG) in Gorey, County Systems), Stafford’s Bakeries and Wexford and State (% of total SEG) Weatherglaze (Windows and Doors Manufacturing). Gorey Business Park SEG Gorey County State is also home to range of small Wexford businesses. Public services, including Employers & 11.7% 13.3% 14.3% schools, HSE services and St Aidan’s Managers Services provide employment as do Higher 3.4% 3.7% 6.2% the many hotels, restaurants, public Professional houses and supermarkets in the town. Lower 9.5% 9.1% 11.0% Professional There is evidence of an increasing Non Manual 23.9% 16.8% 17.6% demand for office floor space, start up Manual 11.4% 11.2% 9.5% units, shared units/workspaces and Semi-skilled 9.0% 9.2% 8.4% warehousing units. Unskilled 5% 4.8% 3.8%
Source: CSO 6.3 Policy Context Since the introduction of ‘Putting 6.2 Existing Employment People First-Action Programme for Base Effective Local Government (2012) The 2011 POWCAR analysis showed and the consequent provisions of the that the total number of jobs with a Local Government Reform Act, 2014, fixed location is Gorey was 2,906. The the Council has a strong role and total number of jobs based in Gorey involvement in the promotion and represented 7.7% of all jobs located in delivery of economic development in the county. Existing employment in the the county. While the Council must set plan area is provided across a variety out their proposals for the promotion of of sectors including retail, local economic development in the manufacturing, food production, County Wexford LECP, development tourism and hospitality, information plans and local area plans have a technology, health care and education. critical facilitating role through the
formulation of proactive objectives Significant businesses in the town aligned with the principles of proper include Innovate (I.T. Consultancy 70 planning and sustainable enterprises, and capitalising on the development. strengths and opportunities of the region. The RPGs identify Gorey as a ‘Larger Town’ and outline that while there will Action 81 is to pursue the development be support for economic activity in this of an ICT innovation Hub in North category of towns through the Wexford to capitalise on the location development of industrial estates and south of Dublin and building the SE enterprise parks, these towns will capacity around cutting edge IT. support the role of the Hub of Wexford Town rather than competing with it. Wexford Local Enterprise Office (LEO) The Core Strategy and Economic will also play a pivotal role in the Development Strategy in CDP economic and enterprise development reinforce and support the ‘Larger in the area. The LEO is a first stop Town’ role of Gorey. shop for people looking to start or grow a small business. It provides a range The South-East Action Plan for Jobs of supports including business advice, 2015-2017 seeks to take advantage of business training, mentoring, the particular areas of opportunity for networking and grant aid. the region by building on the success of sectors such as tourism, agri-food 6.4 Economic Development and seafood, manufacturing and Strategy business services. This will be The strategic aim for the LAP is to achieved by growing competitive protect existing employment in the clusters in the areas such as precision town and to create new employment engineering and food nutrition, ICT, opportunities, improve the quality of business processes and financial employment, preferably locally, in services, pharmaceutical and medical order to reduce the unsustainable level devices. The objectives of the Plan of commuting and to reduce will be achieved through the delivery of unemployment. While a land-use plan 194 collaborative actions focusing on has no direct role in creating jobs or increasing the number of start-ups, bringing new employers to a town or developing the capacity of existing the county, it can set out objectives to
71 facilitate this aim, ensure that sufficient spaces/hot desks for start up zoned land is available in sustainable businesses; locations for employment uses and • Industry, manufacturing and that services are in place logistics at appropriate locations; Gorey Town must optimise its • Food production and processing advantages which include proximity to including the development of Dublin, immediate access to the M11 food incubation units for start-up motorway linking Dublin City and food companies Rosslare Europort and access to the • Tourism and its associated railway. In this regard, the plan area spin-offs lends itself to industry, transport and • Retail and its associated spin- logistics sector, the I.T sector (given its offs proximity to Dublin) and tourism (being the northern gateway town to the This will be achieved by: county and its proximity to Courtown; a • Providing the infrastructure and popular tourist destination in North zoned land necessary to attract Wexford). The town is also developing economic development. There a strong retail sector specialising in is approximately 64ha of quality boutiques. undeveloped lands zoned for
economic development related The Strategy is to promote the uses. successful economic development and • Fostering entrepreneurial growth in employment in the plan area. activity by promoting and While all types of employment supporting opportunities for generation will be encouraged, there is training and education, and a strong focus on promoting: business start-up and incubator • A range of office formats from facilities; small scale offices to large • Supporting and facilitating, office based enterprises at subject to environmental and appropriate locations; other relevant planning • Information Technology considerations, all forms of including incubator units/shared employment generation;
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• Supporting the development of 6.4.1 Locations for Economic future phases of the IT Development Innovation Hub at Knockmullen. There are many economic • Supporting appropriate tourism development land uses that are not developments and spin-off amenable to a town centre location for businesses reasons including their size, nature of • Continuing to develop Gorey as the activity or road network a premier retail ‘destination requirements. The Council have taken town’, and cognisance of the requirements of the • Developing a high quality built different types of enterprise and have environment which contributes zoned land for different economic to a good quality of life for development uses within the town and employees and residents and its environs. The areas have been managing development to carefully selected to ensure the land ensure an attractive use objectives are compatible with the environment to live, work and wider area and that the necessary land visit. is provided for enterprise to grow and develop. The Council has also ensured One of the key aims of the South East that in selecting the land, there is an Action Plan for Jobs is to promote a adequate choice in site sizes and collaborative approach to economic types to meet the needs of a diverse development. The Council, through the set of end users. The Economic Wexford LEO and the Economic Development Strategy is focused on Development Section, will work four main ‘Economic Districts’ in the alongside key organisations and plan area. These areas are identified agencies both locally and nationally on Map 5. such as Enterprise Ireland, the IDA, Gorey Chamber of Industry and District 1: Retail Core and Central Commerce, South East BIC, Business Area Enterprise Centres and Institutes of The Retail Core is the preferred Technology to attract and develop location for retail development and its employment opportunities in the area. vitality and viability will be protected at all times. Retailing in Gorey is
73 discussed in more detail in Section 7 District 3: Courtown Road and a number of opportunity sites are This area offers immediate access to also identified in this section. The the M11 motorway and is in proximity Central Business Area will contain a to the town centre. This area is already more diverse range of uses including home to the IDA Industrial Estate retail, business, civic administration where Silawrap are based. Lands to and residential. the west of Silawrap are zoned for Commercial (c.2ha) while the District 2: Ramstown remainder of the lands are zoned for a This area is currently home to Gorey ‘Business and Technology Park’ (c Business Park which is zoned for 17.6ha). It is envisaged that the latter General Business Use and will provide greenfield lands will develop as a high for a range of light industry, enterprise quality, campus style development, and employment uses. There is home to high-end employment uses in approximately 4.7ha of undeveloped the area of Information Technology, land at this location. Research and Innovation, Pharmaceutical and medical devices, There is approximately 12ha of and Light Industry. The characteristics undeveloped land zoned for Industry of the lands and the area in general development to the southwest of lend themselves to a ‘parkland’ style Gorey Business Park. The needs of development. Furthermore, as this is industry and transport/logistics sectors one of the main approach roads to the can be accommodated on these lands town, it is imperative that the through the development of attractiveness of the area is manufacturing premises, ancillary maintained and enhanced in the warehouse and truck parking. The land design and layout of any development. use zoning objectives and zoning matrix contained in Section 11 District 4: Knockmullen provides further guidance on the types This area also offers immediate of uses that will be considered in this access to the M11 motorway and is district. Transition zones have been located in proximity to the town centre. zoned to act as a buffer between the A new IT Innovation Hub is currently industrial lands and adjoining lands. being developed here. There is 2.5ha
74 of land is zoned for Business and equestrian centres in proximity to the Technology and it is envisaged that town as well as the beautiful Well the Innovation/High Tech theme will be House and Gardens and the nearby further developed through subsequent historic village of Ferns (which will phases of the IT Hub development. form part of the Norman Way). The Arts and rich culture also offer District 5: Ballyloughan significant tourism potential. This area is located on the R772 (Arklow Road) and offers immediate The cinema located on the Courtown access to the M11 motorway. There is Road is a popular leisure venue, approximately 30.5ha of lands zoned offering a non-weather dependent for Industry. Similar to the lands at activity as does Courtown Adventure Ramstown, the needs of industry and Centre. There is also potential to the transport and logistics sectors can develop a marina in Courtown. All of be accommodated on these lands these tourist attractions offer through the development of significant opportunities to develop a warehousing and truck parking. The tourism cluster in North Wexford. land use zoning objectives and zoning Wexford County Council has recently matrix provide further guidance on the commissioned a report entitled types of uses that will be considered in ‘Tourism Destination Report for the this district. Transition zones are also Gorey District to include Gorey Town, used in this zone as a buffer between Courtown and Ferns’. This report will the industrial lands and adjoining review the existing tourism assets and residential lands. infrastructure in the area and recommend proposals to develop 6.5 Tourism tourism and associated spin-off in the Gorey’s proximity to the popular area. coastal villages and beaches of Courtown, Ballymoney and Gorey Town is already benefitting from Morriscastle offers significant the spin-off from these attractions opportunities to further develop and through its many restaurants, cáfes generate employment from tourism. and public houses which offer good There are high quality golf courses and food and music. The arts and crafts
75 are developing such as The Gaslamp tourism and leisure product of the area and ‘Artbox Gorey’ art galleries on and if possible, extend the tourism Esmonde Street, the Market House season. Design Centre on Main Street and the Woodturning Studio on the Arklow Economic Development Objectives Road. There are also several well Objective EDS01 established hotels and guesthouses in To encourage and facilitate the town and surrounding area that appropriate employment opportunities offer a range of facilities and services. in the plan area to allow Gorey Town Gorey Town has also become a to become more self-sufficient in terms ‘destination town’ for shopping in of employment and to provide the particular for its niche clothes opportunity for people to work locally boutiques. rather than commute out of the county for work subject to compliance with the The promotion and development of proper planning and sustainable tourism in Gorey Town and the wider development of the area. North Wexford area will be supported by the Council in conjunction with Objective EDS02 relevant agencies, bodies and To work with State agencies and other commercial sectors. There are relevant bodies to attract new opportunities to promote green tourism industries and enterprises to Gorey packages and activity breaks in the Town and to facilitate the expansion of area which would exploit walks, golf existing industries in the town subject courses, water-based activities, horse to the proper planning and sustainable riding and retail. development of the area.
The LAP promotes appropriate tourism Objective EDS03 developments and provides for To encourage and assist the Tourism and Leisure zoned lands in redevelopment of already developed the vicinity of the cinema with a view to or brownfield lands for enterprise and encouraging leisure developments employment subject to the compliance which have large floorspace with the land use zoning objectives for requirements that will contribute to the the subject lands and the proper
76 planning and sustainable development Objective EDS07 of the area. To develop the public realm and amenities of Gorey Town and to Objective EDS04 facilitate the provision of adequate and To facilitate the provision of, or provide attractive housing so that the quality of enterprise centres, training life of employees and residents will act infrastructure and incubator units as a selling point for investors in the which provide support and shared town. facilities in a nurturing environment for entrepreneurs to start and develop Objective EDS08 their businesses. To develop and maximise the tourism potential of Gorey Town and the wider Objective EDS05 North Wexford area by facilitating the To ensure the development of expansion of existing and the provision buildings and land for enterprise and of new sustainable tourism products, employment related uses are of a high facilities and infrastructure and by standard in terms of their design, protecting and improving the existing layout, siting and associated signage heritage and natural assets of the and infrastructure. Established town. building lines and boundary treatments should be respected where appropriate and where no apparent building line exists the applicant should discuss the appropriate location for the building with the planning authority.
Objective EDS06 To support the development of future phases of the ‘IT Innovation Hub located at Knockmullen.
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Table 12 Economic Development Objectives-Wexford County Development Plan 2013-2019 Thi s table sets out some of the relevant sections and objectives in the Economic Development and Tourism chapters in the Wexford County Development Plan 2013-2019 that will relate specifically to such development in the plan area. Section Objective Heading Summary 6.4 ED01, ED02, Zoning Economic development proposals will be considered on suitably zoned lands, protect industrial and ED03 commercial lands from inappropriate development, consider extension to existing industrial and enterprise facilities subject providing compatible with character and scale of the area. 6.4.2 ED05, ED06 Education Support and encourage the expansion of third level facilities and research and development and and R &D innovation. 6.4.3 ED07 Tourism Develop and maximise the tourism potential of the county, facilitate the expansion of existing and the provision of new sustainable tourism products, facilities and infrastructure. 6.4.4 ED08 Green Support the development of green industries industries 6.4.6 ED17, ED18 Food Promote the continued development of food production and processing. 6.4.10 ED30 Home Facilitate appropriate home working economic activity. working 7.4 TM01, TM02, Tourism Support and promote appropriate tourism developments, facilitate a diversified tourism industry, support TM03, TM04, the development of conferencing facilities. TM05, TM06, TM07 7.4.4 TM16, TM17, Urban tourism Improve the visual appearance of towns, protect their character and maximise their tourist potential by TM18 the continuance of environmental schemes, design control and the removal/improving dereliction. Support a diversified range of tourist accommodation. Encourage and facilitate the development of ‘Craft and Design’ shops. 7.4.6 TM22, TM23, Arts and Safeguard the cultural and historic heritage of the county, facilitate the expansion and development of TM24, TM25 Culture appropriate facilities suitably located adjacent to points of interest, support and promote the existing festivals and events and facilitate new such events. 7.4.7 TM26, TM28 Resorts and Promote and facilitate the development of tourist related resorts and amenities in towns, encourage the amenities provision of indoor and activity based tourism facilities and events which extend the tourism season.
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These critical roles will be supported Section 7 Town Centre and further developed by the Council through the implementation of a co- Development and ordinated town centre development Regeneration strategy which will aim to ensure that:
• The town centre will support a vibrant mix of compatible uses 7.1 Introduction and it will be become a more The look, feel and visual quality of a attractive place for residential town centre creates an impression that uses. reflects on the overall tone and • Derelict and underutilised character of the area. . An accessible, properties will be redeveloped welcoming, pleasant and attractive and put to positive use town centre environment will • The natural, built and cultural encourage people to stay longer and heritage of the town will be to return. protected and developed for the benefit of the town, its people The town centre of Gorey is in the and visitors. most part an attractive, vital and • The town centre will be vibrant place with low levels of managed as a neighbourhood, vacancy and a thriving business as a business location and as a environment. It has an array of active public space. and positive day and night-time uses • The public realm will be further
developed and environmental The town centre has a number of and streetscape improvements important roles; it is the administrative will be carried out. centre for the district, a busy retail centre and an important location for business and employment. It is also a neighbourhood where people live and an important public realm for festival and events and for socialising and meeting people.
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7.2 Town Centre realm is reduced by vacancy, poor Development signage and poorly maintained buildings. The Council encourages the 7.2.1 The Public Realm incremental development of the side The town centre has an attractive streets off Main Street for a mixed public realm with strong frontages and uses in order to bring vitality to the pleasant building style and urban form. area. Uses encouraged include retail, The most important elements of the business and residential. public realm are centred around Main Street and particularly the area around It is proposed to prepare a public the Market House. Activity has realm plan for the town centre and extended onto McCurtain Street and adjoining streets. The main aims of Esmonde Street, although the building the plan will be to create a high quality form and realm is less formal at these landscaped public area which will easy locations. Nodes are provided by the to get to and get around, enjoyable to Civic Offices on the Avenue and the visit and spend time in and provide for Avenue itself and to a lesser extent by consistency in finishes and materials, Gorey Shopping Centre. street furniture, signage, landscaping, and SUDS. At present the quality of the public realm, particularly on Main Street, is The public realm plan will also look at diminished by the volume of traffic the creation and definition of additional passing through the area and the level spaces and the purposeful introduction of on-street parking. As well as traffic of uses which will add to the vitality of noise and pollution, it creates physical the public realm. Such uses may and visual severance. The removal of include cultural, artistic, entertainment, some of this traffic and parking would community and residential uses. provide an expanded area which could be designed as a high quality public space.
As one moves away from the Main Street the feeling of vibrancy diminishes and the quality of the public 80
The plan will address the use and re- • Develop cultural and artistic use of civic buildings. This will include activities, festivals and tourist the redevelopment of the Market activities to increase the footfall House, Market Square and in the town centre. Further surrounding areas. See Section 2.5.6 develop the night-time economy for further details. and investigate the feasibility of ‘purple flag’ concept which promotes a systematic 7.2.2 Enhancing the Town Centre approach to such development. The Council will support measures and • Carryout promotional events to actions outlined in the Local Authority attract visitors and shoppers to Retail Support: Improving our Cities Gorey. and Towns, June 2015 , to address difficulties associated with vacancy • Prepare an accessibility audit and to ensure that the potential and implement the benefits associated with retail activity recommendations. are captured. • Carry-out mobility management measures including facilities for To this end, it is proposed to establish bus parking and taxi ranks at a ‘Town Team’ made up of the District appropriate locations. Manager, Members, members of the • Prepare a revised parking Chamber, retailer representatives, scheme which will ensure traders and other stakeholders as optimum turnover in parking at appropriate. This team will develop a appropriate locations. Short range of co-ordinated actions which term parking will be incentivised will include to: in central areas. Long term • Develop the theme of ‘Gorey – parking will be located outside The Town of the Markets’, with the retail core and people the potential to hold a number should be incentivised to use of different themed markets parking in outer areas and ‘park such as fine art and craft, local and stride’. produce and artisan food, • Promote measures to address vintage clothes and other vacancy such as pop-up shops quality offerings. or cultural uses.
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• Promote measures and development and ensure that vacancy schemes to improve visual at first floor level is avoided. amenity such as shop-front painting schemes. Objective TC05 To provide for the development of a Town Centre Development mix of uses within the town centre, Objectives including residential, retail, services, commercial, complementary leisure, Objective TC01 entertainment, cultural and community To prepare and implement a Public facilities. Realm Plan for the town centre. Objective TC06 Objective TC02 To encourage the use of town houses To utilise the Council’s powers of as an appropriate form of housing Compulsory Purchase to improve the which are appropriately sized to meet public realm and stimulate economic smaller household sizes and single and cultural development. The Council occupancy households. will assist with site assembly where this is in the interests of the integrated Objective TC07 development of the town centre. To implement the recommendations of the Neighbourhood Framework Plan Objective TC03 for the Town Centre contained in To establish a Town Team which will Appendix 1. An emphasis will be engage with key stakeholders to placed on increasing permeability, in identify and implement measures for particular, pedestrian movement the benefit and advancement of the to/from and within the town centre. physical, economic and social well being of the town. Objective TC08 To implement the urban design Objective TC04 recommendations contained in To promote and encourage the Appendix 1. development of over-the-shop
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Further detail is provided on the Decisions on when to use each of historical development and existing these mechanisms will depend on a urban form of Gorey town centre in the number of factors. For example, a site Section 3 Urban Design Strategy. which is in a state of dereliction and The Urban Design Guidelines and which causes dis-amenity may be Neighbourhood Framework Plan for dealt with under either Act. However, the Town Centre contained in in the case of the former, the Council Appendix 1 sets out detailed guidance may require the applicant to take steps to ensure that future development in to remediate the site and in the latter it town centre is well laid out, attractive may not (as the legislation currently and of high quality. Retailing is dealt stands). The Urban Regeneration and with in Section 8 Housing Act 2015 may only be used if a premises is vacant and cannot be used on a house whereas the Derelict 7.3 Urban Regeneration and Sites Act can. The Vacant Sites Levy Renewal may be used until the site is put to The redevelopment of vacant and beneficial use whereas the Derelict derelict sites is vital to the Sites Levy may only be used until the development of Gorey town. It site is not longer derelict. There will be ensures that serviced brownfield or instances where the use of both Acts underutilised sites are reused in the will be appropriate. interests of sustainable development and that sites or premises do not 7.3.1 Derelict Sites cause dis-amenity to their neighbours Derelict sites detract from the amenity, or the town. Concentrating efforts in character or appearance of an area for particular areas will ensure that reasons including structures which are resources are efficiently and in a ruinous, derelict or dangerous appropriately targeted. condition, neglected/unsightly There are a number of legislative tools, condition of the land or of structures on such as the Derelict Sites Act 1990 (as it, or the presence, deposit or amended) or the Urban Regeneration collection of rubbish/waste. The and Housing Act 2015 which may be Council will continue to use its powers utilised for this purpose. under the Derelict Sites Act, 1990 (as
83 amended) to require property owners economic recovery. It is intention of to maintain their properties to ensure the Council to identify vacant sites in that they do not detract from the area. the plan area and enter such sites on the Vacant Site Register as a means Derelict Sites Objectives of incentivising the release of these Objective DS01 lands for housing. To encourage and facilitate the reuse and regeneration of derelict land and The Act defines a vacant site as buildings. follows: A site is vacant site 8 if Objective DS02 (a) in the case of residential land To use the powers, where appropriate, the site is in an area in which under the Derelict Sites Act, 1990, to there is a need for housing, is include sites on the Register of suitable for the provision of Derelict Sites and charge levies. housing and is, or the majority of the site is vacant or idle. Objective DS03 (b) In the case of regeneration To prioritise sites adjacent to major land, the site or the majority of thoroughfares and public spaces, the site is vacant or idle and the adjoining schools or community site being vacant or idle has spaces and sites that seriously detract adverse effects on existing from residential amenity. amenities or reduces the amenity provided by existing public infrastructure and 7.3.2 Vacant Sites facilities in the area in which the The Urban Regeneration and Housing site is situated or has adverse Act 2015 introduced measures to affects on the character of the incentivise the development of vacant area. sites in urban areas for housing and regeneration purposes to assist with addressing the current housing supply 8 shortage situation and to stimulate Site means an area of land exceeding 0.05ha identified by the planning authority in its increased activity in the construction functional area but does not include any sector, thereby contributing to structure that is a person’s home. 84
‘Residential land’ means lands Vacant Sites Objectives included by a planning authority in Objective VS01 its development plan or local area To pursue and encourage the plan in accordance with Section development and regeneration of 10(2)(a) of the Act of 2000 with the areas that are in need of regeneration objective of zoning for use solely or in order to prevent primarily for residential purposes, • Adverse effects on existing and includes any structures on amenities in such areas, in such land. For the purposes of this particular as a result of the plan this may include any or all of ruinous or neglect condition of the land zoned for residential use in any land; the plan area. • Urban blight and decay; • Anti-social behaviour; or ‘Regeneration land’ means land • A shortage of habitable houses included by a planning authority in or of land suitable for residential its development plan or local area use or a mixture of residential plan, after the coming into and other uses. operation of Section 28, in accordance with Section 10(2)(h) of Objective VS02 the Act of 2000 with the objective of To examine all lands zoned development and renewal of areas ‘Residential’ and ‘Regeneration Land’ in need of regeneration, and within the boundary of the Gorey Town includes any structures on such and Environs LAP 2017-2023 and land. For the purposes of this plan enter such lands on the Vacant Sites regeneration lands are defined as Register and apply the appropriate all those lands within the Central levies where they satisfy the criteria Business Area and Retail Core laid down in the Urban Regeneration Area which are outlined in blue on and Housing Act 2015. Map 11 Land Use Zoning.
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Section 8 Retail such as heritage, cultural and arts activities, open spaces and parks and
festivals and events that have the most 8.1 Retailing in Gorey – The potential to improve footfall and visitor Town of the Markets numbers and thus retailing in Gorey. It Gorey, recognised as The Town of the will also be important to ensure that Markets, is a vibrant and thriving the existing vibrancy is not negatively shopping town. During the preparation effected. of the County Retail Strategy as part of the CDP, 1,000 shopper and householder surveys were carried out 8.1.1 Retail Diversity in Gorey throughout the County. It became Gorey has a strong retail offering and apparent that Gorey was perceived specifically is very strong in terms of differently to the other towns of the independent retailers. This is County. The combination of an becoming more unusual in Irish attractive and walkable shopping country towns. The town also has a environment and the quality of the larger than expected number of high- retail offer has allowed it to continue to end boutiques tending to cluster on thrive in difficult times. Retailing is an Esmonde Street. The town has an important source of employment in the attractive range of eating town. establishments and complimentary retail services. Gorey has many of the attributes which are prerequisites for successful There is a low representation of retail towns. It is considered that it is national or international multiples, one of the best placed towns in the however this is not surprising having County and region to continue to thrive regard to its position on the retail in this role. It has an attractive public hierarchy and settlement size. As realm, including well maintained Gorey is unique in its strong traditional buildings and shopfronts. It independent sector specific care must has availability of well-priced and be taken to ensure that the vibrancy is accessible parking and it feels vibrant, not reduced by permitting a significant clean and safe. As such it will be amount of large floor space at value-added activities and facilities, 86 locations that would threaten the a secondary retail function but have a vitality and viability of the retail core. lower proportion of retail uses compared to primary frontages.
8.1.2 Existing Retail Structure The existing units at Paul Funge At present retailing is concentrated Boulevard and Gorey Shopping Centre along Main Street and has extended are considered as ‘edge of centre’ 11 to into some of the associated side ‘out of centre’ 12 locations and streets. It has extended into Esmonde Knockmullen Retail Park is considered Street, a trend that would have been as an ‘out of centre’ location. encouraged by the former location of retail anchor Tesco to the east of the The major retail anchors which provide town. This area, identified on Map 6 9 much of the footfall are dispersed is the retail core 10 for the purposes of throughout the town with Supervalu this plan. The retail core is the part of located in the retail core fronting onto the centre or central business area Main Street. Aldi and Lidl are located that is primarily devoted to shopping. to the east and north-east of the retail
core respectively. Dunnes Stores is Map 6 also identifies Primary and the main anchor in the shopping centre Secondary Shopping Streets. Primary located to the south-west of the retail Shopping Streets are the part of the core and the new Tesco Store is retail core which perform the primary located on what was a greenfield site retail functions. They have a high to west of the shopping centre. proportion of retail uses compared to other uses but food/drink and financial and other services may also contribute. Secondary Streets perform 11 ‘Edge of centre’ is defined for the purposes 9 This map has been updated since the CDP of this plan as an area within easy walking 2013-2019 having regard to recent trends in distance of the Core Retail Area generally a retail development (including vacancy). distance of no more than 300-400m. 10 For the purposes of the Gorey Local Area 12 ‘Out of centre’ is defined as clearly separate Plan ‘retail core’ has the same meaning as from the town centre but within the town Town Centre or Retail Area in the Retail development boundary in the LAP. In the case Planning Guidelines for Planning Authorities of Gorey this is considered a distance of more 2012. than 400m. 87
8.1.3 Vacancy contained in Appendix 4 of that plan Main Street and Esmonde Street have (except where more specific good levels of occupancy and where requirements are included in this LAP). units become vacant they are generally have a quick turnaround. The CDP identifies the Retail Large floorplate vacant units exist at Hierarchy of the County and Gorey is Paul Funge Boulevard, at Knockmullen designated as a Level 2 Settlement. Retail Park and the former Tesco site. Level 2 settlements generally provide There are also vacant units in the side major ‘convenience’ (milk, bread, streets connected to the Main Street. groceries) and ‘comparison’ (clothes, Table 13 below provides details of the books etc) shopping for their total vacant floorspace in the plan hinterlands. area. Future retail development will also be Table 13 Vacant Floorspace in guided by the requirements of the Gorey Retail Planning Guidelines for Category of Amount Vacant Planning Authorities 2012 (referred to Floorspace (m 2) hereafter as RG 2012) and the Convenience 13 2,661 associated Retail Design Manual. Comparison 14 4,430 Retail 1,629 8.3 Future Retail Development Warehousing 15 in Gorey Total 8,720 The fundamental aim of retail planning Source : Wexford County Council policy is to protect and develop the Retail Floorspace Survey 2016 vitality and vibrancy of the town centre or retail core. There are a number of 8.2 Policy Context important elements required to achieve The LAP sits in a hierarchy of plans this: and is subject to the policies contained Compact and Active in the CDP and the Retail Strategy The area for retailing should
remain compact and walkable 13 E.g. groceries, newspapers etc. so as footfall is concentrated 14 E.g. clothes, books, small electrical goods and benefits are maximised for 15 E.g. furniture, carpets etc. 88
all shops and services. In order b) Edge of centre 17 to ensure that footfall is c) Local Community Spaces maintained in the retail core any d) Opportunity sites development or developments which may cumulatively 8.3.1.1 Retail Core threaten the vitality of the Retail The retail core, identified on Map 6 is Core must be carefully the preferred location for future retail assessed. development. In accordance with the Diverse – It must provide a requirements of the RG 2012 the range of shops and experiences priority is for retail development to be to attract shoppers and other located in the retail core. There are a visitors. number of vacant premises in the retail Attractive – It must provide an core and there is also potential to attractive and enjoyable public convert existing buildings along the realm. side streets and along Esmonde Serviced – It must provide Street. This incremental growth of the retail, business, administrative retail core will ensure that the town and amenity functions. remains compact and that footfall is Accessible – It must be held therein. accessible to all who wish to
use it. Within the retail core it is not
anticipated that the quantum of 8. 3.1 Locations and Scale for Retail floorspace will be restricted unless the Development planning authority considers that
There are 3 primary locations identified where consideration will be given to business area land use zoning covers a wider area and it is envisaged that the town centre retail development: will contain a more diverse range of uses 16 a) Retail Core including retail, business, civic administration
and residential. Where reference is made to 16 See definition in Section 7.1.2 A distinction the ‘centre’ or town centre in the RG 2012 or is made between the retail core land use Retail Strategy of the CDP 2013-2019 it refers, zoning and the central business area land use in the case of Gorey, to the retail core as zoning. The retail core is the preferred defined in Map 6 . location for retail development. The central 17 See definition in Section 7.1.2. 89 following detailed assessment that any Sequential Approach 18 and Retail individual or cumulative developments Impact Assessment where may threaten the vitality or viability of appropriate, that the development will Main Street or Esmonde Street. not affect the vitality and viability of the retail core and it is necessary The Council will ensure that the vitality development to serve the population of and vibrancy of the retail core is the catchment (Table 14) or to address protected as the primary location for a deficit identified in the retail offer. It retailing in Gorey. must be demonstrated that the proposed development cannot be located in the retail core. Applications 8.3.1.2 Edge of Centre for multiple units are unlikely to be The existing units at Paul Funge acceptable at the edge of centre Boulevard and Gorey Shopping Centre locations as they could be are considered as ‘edge of centre’ to accommodated at a variety of diverse ‘out of centre’ locations and of locations within or immediately Knockmullen Retail Park is considered adjoining the retail core. Where as an ‘out of centre’ location. The development is proposed to meet a vacant units in these developments will specific deficit in the retail offer the end provide an alternative location for retail user would be a material consideration development, providing larger and the permission will contain a floorplates and modern retail formats. condition that the development shall
be restricted to that type of Having regard to the quantitative retailing/user. assessment outlined in Section 7.6 and the need to protect the retail core it is considered unlikely that further retail development will be appropriate in these locations during the period of this LAP. The exception to this will be if it can be demonstrated using the
18 See Criteria for assessing retail developments below and pp 29-34 of RG 2012. 90
8.3.1.3 Local Community 3. The car park at the Railway Spaces Station. Local Community Spaces are 4. The former Heiton Buckley site. identified in the NFP areas in Appendix 5. Pearse Street backlands and 1. They are intended as focal spaces infill lands. for community developments and 6. The Supervalu car park and services and the Council may consider adjacent lands. limited retail development at these 7. Esmonde Street car park and locations. Such retail development property to front. shall be strictly intended to serve the 8. The car park to front of Gorey neighbourhood in which it is located. It Community School. is not intended that all Local 9. The former Tesco Store and Community Spaces will have a retail associated car park. function as such retail space would 10. The site of the old St. Joseph’s generally not be justified having regard CBS and associated backlands. to the population of each NFP. In a number of instances these sites are currently parking areas to serve 8.3.1.4 Opportunity Sites existing development. These sites A number of Opportunity Sites are have been included as their identified on Map 6. It is important to development will assist in adding to note that the identification of an the urban structure by creating strong Opportunity Site in either the CDP or building lines. Where development is the LAP does not indicate that retail permitted on such sites it will be on the development is permitted in principle basis that commensurate parking is on these sites but rather these sites provided underground or elsewhere in must be examined and addressed in a close proximity. Similarly where such sequential approach before any site land contains community facilities its further from the retail core is proposed replacement would be contingent on for consideration. These sites include: the uses being accommodated 1. The area to the front and side of elsewhere. new Tesco site.
2. The area to the front of Gorey Shopping Centre.
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A number of the sites contain buildings Objective RS04 of heritage value. Where this is the To ensure the scale of retail case it is anticipated that they will be development in the Local Community sensitively incorporated into the design Spaces shall reflect the size of the of the scheme. neighbourhood it is intended to serve.
Retail Objectives 8.4 Criteria for assessing Objective RS01 Retail Development To promote and protect the vitality and There are two key mechanisms for viability of the retail core, identified on testing whether retail development is Map 6, and to ensure that it remains appropriate, namely the sequential the primary location for retail approach 19 and retail impact development. assessment (RIA) . The sequential approach examines the town for Objective RS02 appropriate locations, starting in the To restrict development outside of the town centre and attempting to identify retail core in accordance with Section the closest, suitable, available and 8.3 and the Retail Planning Guidelines viable site. The Retail Strategy in the for Planning Authorities, 2012. CDP (and the LAP) must be examined for any identified opportunity sites Objective RS03 which must be addressed. The To retain the retail function of ground sequential approach must also be floors on the Primary Retail Streets applied to applications for change of identified on Map 6. The Planning use or extensions of existing Authority will prohibit development developments. which would individually or cumulatively undermine the primary RIA is a tool to assess whether any use of the street for retail purposes given development is compliant with (with the exception of temporary uses the development plan or local area to address vacancy). plan and demonstrate that there will not be a material and unacceptable impact on the vitality and viability of
19 Page 31 RG 92 the retail core. In general RIA is It is stated that there should be a requested where development is over presumption against such out of centre 1000sqm. Outside the retail core in retail parks. Furthermore the capacity Gorey RIA will be required for any assessment set out in Table 14 development over 500sqm net retail indicates that the existing need for floor area. RIA will address amongst such development has been met in other things diversion of trade from the Gorey. It is anticipated that future retail core. The catchment to be used development can be accommodated in in any RIA shall be that contained existing vacant units. Table 14 below which has been calculated using the Core Strategy 8.5.2 District Centre Population Allocation for the Gorey No need has been identified for a area. district centre within the plan area.
Further detail of these assessments 8 5.3 Betting Offices and and other national and local retail Takeaways planning policy are available in Retail In order to protect the quality of the Strategy of the CDP (see Table 15 retail offer on Main Street and summary of objectives) and pp 29-34 Esmonde Street additional betting of RG 2012. offices and fast food restaurants and takeaways will not be permitted on 8.5 Specific types of Retail these streets. Development Objective RS05 8.5.1 Retail Warehousing To restrict the development of betting The RG 2012 state that, having regard offices on Main Street and Esmonde to the recent proliferation of retail Street. Where development is warehouses granted in the Country permitted for other development to and the fact that the range of goods which Class 2 of Part 4 of Schedule 2 being sold from these units typically of the Planning and Development contains a significant proportion of Regulations 2001 (as amended) non-bulky goods that out of centre relates (e.g financial and professional retail parks have the potential to services), a condition will be imposed impact negatively on the town centre. 93 restricting any change of use to a the period of the plan. The intention of betting office. these figures is to provide broad guidance as to the additional quantum Objective RS06 of floorspace required in the town and To restrict the development of fast its catchment. They are not intended food restaurants, takeaways and to inhibit competition and they shall be amusement arcades on Main Street balanced with such issues as vibrancy, and Esmonde Street and to restrict the choice, vitality and other qualitative development of fast food restaurants considerations. However, where and take-aways within 250m of development is proposed outside the existing schools. Where development retail core these figures will be a is permitted for a shop or restaurant in material consideration. As outlined in th ese area s a condition will be Section 8.3.1.2 above only imposed restricting any change of use development which is demonstrated to accordingly. be justified by reference to Table 14 below and which cannot be Further detail on the assessment of accommodated in the retail core or specific types of retail development is immediately adjoining will be available in the Retail Strategy of the considered at these locations. CDP 2013-2019 and RG 2012.
8. 6 Need for Additional Retail
Development A quantitative assessment of the need for additional retail floorspace was carried out as part of the Retail
Strategy in the CDP 2013-2019. This data has been updated as part of this
LAP to take account of permissions that have expired or been built.
Table 14 below highlights the quantitative requirements to serve the population of the Gorey catchment for 94
Table 14 Net Spare Expenditure 8.7.1 Shopfronts Capacity 20 in Gorey to 2022 (m 2) There is an interesting variety of
) traditional and contemporary retail 2 formats and shopfronts in Gorey. As is ) ) 2 ) ) 2 appropriate, the more contemporary Gorey styles have been used on greenfield Catchment sites in new development and on infill developments on the side streets. This approach will be continued. The Convenience (m Comparison (m Comparison (m Bulky Capacity between 1,404 1,245 -198 following are the key guiding 2011 and 2019 principles: • Existing traditional shopfronts Capacity between 224 1360 -84 shall be maintained or restored 2019 and 2022 where they exist.
• New shopfront design within Capacity between 1,628 2,605 -282 existing traditional buildings in 2011 and 2022 the town centre should: - reflect traditional proportions showing fascia, pilaster, stall 8.7 Design of Retail riser etc. They do not have Development to be traditional in design but The design of retail development plays must maintain traditional an important role in developing a proportions and materials. quality public realm. Development - respect plot width; if a within the plan area shall reflect the 12 shopfront extends over two Key Principles of Urban Design buildings then the shop front contained in the Retail Design Manual must reflect the two plots. which accompanies RG 2012. - Reflect facia levels of adjoining buildings.
• New shopfronts on infill sites 20 Note : Gross capacity minus turnover should, in general reflect efficiency, vacancy rates (to 5%) and traditional plot width dimensions extant permissions (50%). and floor to ceiling
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heights/fascia heights of adjoining buildings. While they do not have to be traditional in design they should reflect the traditional elements of composition. • External roller shutters will not be permitted and such security shutters must be mounted inside the window/building envelope.
8.7.2 Flexibility Both at Local Community Spaces in the NFP areas and at ‘edge of centre’ or ‘out of centre’ locations buildings (retail and otherwise) should be designed in such a manner as to be capable of being converted for uses including residential, childcare, community or office/business at a later stage.
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Table 15 Retail Development Objectives-Wexford County Development Plan 2013-2019
This table sets out some of the relevant sections and objectives in the Retail Chapter (Chapter Wexford County Development Plan 2013-2019 and Retail Strategy that will relate specifically to Retail Development Section Objective Heading Summary 6.1 ED31, ED34 Retail Compliance with Retail Planning Guidelines and County Retail Strategy, Capacity Assessment (as updated in Gorey LAP) 6.1 ED33, ED36, Retail Prohibit development which would be injurious to the vitality and viability of town centres, ED37, ED40 Assessment of ‘edge of centre’ and ‘out of centre’ development and requirement for special financial contribution , Protection of primary retail streets, Living over the shop, 6.1 ED41, ED42, Retail Tourism related retail, environmental Improvements, accessibility ED43 Vol 4 Objective 8 Retail Assessment of large scale retail development, RIA Vol 4 8.2 Retail Criteria for assessing retail development, RIA, TTA, Criteria for assessing specific categories of retail development
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9.2 Architectural Heritage Section 9 Heritage Gorey’s architectural heritage is a unique resource, an irreplaceable
expression of the richness and 9.1 Background diversity of our past. As highlighted in Heritage is defined in the Heritage Act, Section 3.23 Urban Analysis, Gorey is 1995 as including monuments, endowed with an impressive archaeology, heritage objects, architectural fabric and attractive built architecture, flora, fauna, wildlife environment reflecting the various habitats, landscapes, seascapes, stages in the development of the town. wrecks, geology, heritage gardens and There are many buildings throughout parks and inland waterways. the plan area which have character, Heritage is therefore all around us. It special interest and cultural is reflected in the landscape in which significance for various reasons from we live and it is reflected in how we its quaint terraces to large country perceive that very landscape. Aspects homes. The town streetscapes, form of our heritage help to define us and and its planned grid-like street they contribute to the development of a structure have significant architectural strong sense of identity and pride. In and heritage value. It is important addition, heritage is essential to our therefore that as we enjoy this economy being one of our greatest inheritance, it is conserved in order to selling points in the domestic and pass onto future generations. international tourism markets.
9.2.1 Protected Structures It is the duty of the Planning Authority The principle medium for protecting to protect the town’s heritage in the architectural heritage is through the interest of the proper planning and Record of Protected Structures . A sustainable development of the area, protected structure is a structure that and this section sets out objectives to the Planning Authority considers to be conserve, raise awareness of and worthy of special interest from an promote the enjoyment of all aspects architectural, historical, archaeological, of the town’s heritage. artistic, cultural, scientific, social or
technical point of view. The Record of 98
Protected Structures (RPS) forms part Planning Authority encourages the of the CDP and it includes 69 sympathetic reuse and/or development structures that are located within the of protected structures, including LAP boundary. These structures are appropriately designed additions. This shown on Map 7(a) and 7(b) and are approach allows our architectural listed in Appendix 3. heritage to continue to offer aesthetic, environmental and economic benefits Each owner and occupier of a now and in the future. protected structure is legally obliged to ensure that the structure is conserved The Planning Authority will have and that the structure, or any element regard to the Architectural Heritage of it, is not endangered. The effect of Protection-Guidelines for Planning protected structure status is to ensure Authorities (DECLG, 2004) and any that any changes or alterations to the subsequent guidelines in the character of a structure are carried out assessment of planning applications in such as a way that the existing relating to protected structures. character is retained and/or enhanced. Works which would, in the opinion of There are many buildings in the plan the Planning Authority, have a material area which are included in the National effect on the character of the structure Inventory of Architectural Heritage will require planning permission. (NIAH) 22 but which are not protected structures. The Planning Authority will It is important to note that not all works have regard to the NIAH when to a protected structure will constitute considering development proposals material alterations but that some works which would be exempt in an considers would or would not materially affect the character of the structure and ordinary structure may require consequently, which works would or would not planning permission when carried out require planning permission. 21 to a protected structure . The 22 The NIAH is a survey carried out by the Department of Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht for 21 Under Section 57 of the Planning and each county administrative area. The purpose of the Development Act 2000 (as amended), owners survey is to highlight a representative sample of the and occupiers of protected structures can architectural heritage of each county and to raise request a declaration from the Planning awareness of the wealth of architectural heritage in Authority as to the type of works that it Ireland. 99 related to buildings included in this Objective AH04 survey. To protected and enhance the form of groups of terrace buildings on the Architectural Heritage Objectives approach roads to the town centre, Objective AH01 especially as regards roofscapes, To protect the architectural heritage of chimneys, shape of opes and finishes. Gorey Town through the prevention of any works to protected structures Objective AH05 which would cause loss of, or damage To have regard to the National to, the character and special interest of Inventory of Architectural Heritage the structure and loss of, or damage to (NIAH) when considering development structures of heritage value within the proposals relating to buildings included curtilage or any specified features in on the inventory. the attendant grounds of the structure. 9.2.2 Architectural Conservation Objective AH02 Areas To promote the maintenance and Section 81 of the Planning and appropriate reuse of protected Development Act, 2000 (as amended) structures and older buildings of requires, that where warranted, architectural merit which make a development plans include objectives positive contribution to the character to preserve the character of places, and streetscape of Gorey Town. areas, groups of structures or townscapes that: Objective AH03 (a) Are of special architectural, To retain and reinforce the existing historical, archaeological, street layouts, historic building lines artistic, cultural, social or and traditional plot widths which derive technical interest or value, or from the town’s historical development (b) Contribute to the appreciation of (except in circumstances where there protected structures. is a reason of justifiable public interest). These areas are described as Architectural Conservation Areas
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(ACAs). ACA legislation may be used review the town during the preparation to protect the following: of the next CDP 2019-2025 with a view • Groups of structures of to designating ACAs. It is intended to distinctiveness or visual designate at least one part of the town richness or historical centre as an ACA and this area is importance; identified on Map 8. • The setting and exterior appearance of structures that It is noted that some works which are of special interest, but the would be exempt in an ordinary interiors of which do not merit structure may require planning protection; permission when carried out to a • The setting of a protected building or site in an ACA. structure where this is more Development proposals in an ACA will extensive than its curtilage; be assessed by the Planning Authority • Designed landscape where in accordance with the criteria outlined these contain groups of in Section 3.10 of the Architectural structures as in, for example Protection Guidelines for Planning urban parks, the former Authorities (2004). demesnes of country houses and groupings of archaeological Architectural Conservation Area or industrial remains; Objectives • Groups of structures which form Objective ACA01 dispersed but unified entities To carry out a review of the but which are not within the architectural heritage of Gorey Town attendant grounds of a single during the preparation of the Wexford dominant protected structure. 23 County Development Plan 2019-2025 with a view to designating Architectural Gorey has a distinctive town centre in Conservation Area(s). terms of scale, composition of streetscape and buildings of different periods and styles. It is proposed to
23 Architectural Heritage Protection Guidelines for Planning Authorities (DEHLG, 2004) 101
Objective ACA02 Section 12 of the National Monuments To preserve the character of (Amendment) Act 1994, provides a designated Architectural Conservation statutory list of all protected Area(s) by ensuring that all proposed archaeological remains in Ireland. It development within these areas are includes a set of maps and a list of carried out to the highest architectural monuments and places for each and urban design standards. county. These are known as Recorded Monuments. Zones of archaeological Objective ACA03 potential are also included. Gorey To engage in a targeted awareness Town is a recorded monument and a campaign on the character and special zone of archaeological potential. The interest of each Architectural recorded monuments within and up to Conservation Area during the process 100m of the plan boundary are shown of designation and provide assistance on Map 9 and listed in Table 16. The and guidance in preserving these RPM is not an exhaustive list of all areas. archaeology in existence. Additional newly identified sites are included on 9.3 Archaeological Heritage Map 9 and listed in Table 17. These are scheduled for inclusion in the next Gorey has an interesting revision of the RMP. Other sites may archaeological heritage and it is be listed on www.archaeology.ie important that this heritage is conserved as it helps us to understand Where the owner or occupier of a how cultures and past societies property, or any other person proposes developed. It consists of remains in the to carry out, or to cause, or to permit form of sites and monuments as well the carrying out of work at or in relation as artefacts or moveable objects. to, or near a monument which is
included in the RMP, they are required 9.3.1 Recorded Monuments to give notice in writing to the Minister Archaeological sites and monuments with responsibility for heritage two are protected under the National months before commencing work. Monuments Acts 1930-2004. The Record of Monuments and Places (RMP), which was established under 102
Table 16 Recorded Monuments in Table 17 Newly Identified Sites in the Plan Area the Plan Area Monument Townland RMP No Monument Townland RMP No Standing Gorey WX007-061 Kiln Gorey Corporation WX007- Stone Corporation Lands 085005 Lands Burnt Mound Ramstown Lower WX007- Urn Burial Gorey WX007-055 085006 Corporation Fulacht Fia Ramstown Lower WX007- Lands 085004 Holy Well Kilnahue WX006-062 Fulacht Fia Ramstown Lower WX007- Ringfort- Ballowen or WX007-017 085002 rath Ramsfort Burnt Mound Ramstown Lower WX007- 085003 Historic Gorey WX007-033 Burnt Mound Ramstown Lower WX007- Town Corporation 085007 Lands Excavation Ramstown Lower WX007- The Historic Town Monument includes the 085001 following, but is not limited to Metalworking Ramstown Lower WX007-082 archaeological sites, features and/or Sites objects. Excavation Gorey Corporation WX007-080 Church Gorey WX007- Lands Corporation 033001
Lands Burnt Mound Gorey Corporation WX006-093 Graveyard Gorey WX007- Lands Corporation 03302
Lands The Register of Historic Monuments Tomb Gorey WX007- was established under Section 5 of the Corporation 03303 National Monuments (Amendment) Lands Act, 1987. The Register may include
both historic monuments and
archaeological areas. There are no
historic monuments in or adjoining the
plan area.
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A ‘National Monument’ is a monument the setting of the feature or where it is or the remains of a monument, the injurious to its integrity, cultural or preservation of which is a matter of educational value. The Council shall national importance by reason of its consult with the National Monuments historical, architectural, traditional, Service in the Department of Arts, artistic or archaeological interest. Heritage and the Gaeltacht where There are no National Monuments in appropriate. or adjoining the plan area. Objective ARH02 9.3.2 Graveyards To have regard to the Zone of The importance of historic burial Archaeological Potential within Gorey grounds as a primary physical source town when dealing with planning for the history of the town is significant. applications for all development, Graveyards could, through careful including local authority own management, provide additional development. This area is identified on passive amenity spaces as well as Map 9. Where permission for such contributing to the heritage and proposals is granted, the applicant will genealogy tourism potential of Gorey. have due regard to the The graveyard on Market Square is a recommendations of the National Recorded Monument and the Council Monuments Service and the Heritage will continue to ensure this graveyard and Planning Division in the is protected. Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. This may involve the Archaeological Heritage Objectives employment of a licensed Objective ARH01 archaeologist at the expense of the To have regard to the Record of developer to record any archaeological Monuments and Places (RMP) and the remains uncovered and to supervise newly-identified sites identified on Map all excavation works. 9 when dealing with planning applications for development or threats 9.4 Natural Heritage to recorded items. Development shall Natural heritage, often referred to as be controlled in the vicinity of a biodiversity, includes everything from recorded feature where it detracts from trees to weeds, from mammals to
104 birds, from coast to countryside. The habitats and species in each of Biodiversity is important for many these sites are discussed in further things including food, fertile soils and detail in the Appropriate Assessment clean air and water. It can be Screening Report and the County threatened by the development of land Wexford Biodiversity Plan 2013-2018. and human activity. It is therefore important that the development The Council will ensure that all plans objectives in the LAP are balanced and projects and associated works in with objectives which ensure that the the plan area are subject to town’s natural heritage is protected, Appropriate Assessment conserved and enhanced. Screening/Appropriate Assessment to
ensure that they do not give rise, either 9.4.1 Natura 2000 Sites individually or in combination with Natura 2000 sites are a network of other plans or projects, to significant sites of the highest biodiversity effects on the integrity of any Natura importance in Europe designated 2000 site(s). under the EU Birds Directive
(79/409/EEC) and the EU Habitats Table 18 Natura 2000 Sites within a Directive (92/43/EEC). They are 15km radius of the Plan area comprised of Special Protection Areas Designated Code Distance (SPA) which provide for the protection Site and conservation of particular bird Slaney River 000781 1.5km to the species and bird habitats and Special Valley SAC west Areas of Conservation (SAC) which Kilpatrick 001742 9km to the provide protection and conservation of Sandhills northeast habitats and species (other than birds). SAC
Cahore 000700 13.5km to the There are no Natura 2000 sites within Polders and southeast or adjoining the plan boundary. There Dunes SAC is one SPA and three SACs located Cahore 004143 13.5km to the within a 15km radius of the plan area. Marshes southeast These sites are listed in Table 18. SPA
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9.4.2 Natural Heritage Areas Table 19 Proposed Natural Heritage Under the Wildlife (Amendment) Act, Areas within a 15km radius of the 2000, natural heritage areas (NHAs) Plan area are being designated to conserve Site Site Distance species and habitats of national Code importance and sites of geological Courtown Dunes 000757 4km east interest. While there are none within or and Glen adjoining the LAP area, there are nine Ballymoney Strand 000745 4.2 km east proposed NHAs within a 15km radius Ardamine Woods 001733 6 km southeast of the plan area. These are listed in Kilgorman River 001834 6.5 km northeast Table 19. Marsh
Kilpatrick Sandhills 001742 9 km northeast The Geological Survey of Ireland (GSI) pNHA and the National Parks and Wildlife Donaghmore 001737 9 km southeast Service (NPWS) are in the process of Sandhills identifying important geological and Cahore Point 001736 11.3 km geomorphological sites in Ireland for North Sandhills southeast designation as NHAs. There are two Arklow Rock- 001745 12 km northeast recommended County Geological Askintinny Sites in proximity to the plan area- Cahore Polders 000700 13.5 km Pollshone Head-Roney Point and and Dunes southeast Ballymoney Strand. These may also be recommended as NHAs. 9.4.3 Ecological Networks and Wildlife Corridors Areas of biodiversity value are not confined to Natura 2000 sites. Many of these habitats and species are linked to the surrounding landscape by ecological networks and corridors. Article 10 of the Habitats Directive refers to these ecological corridors/stepping stones and requires that they are protected in order to
106 ensure the continued migration of terms of their contribution to flood species and genetic diversity storage, nutrient and silt loading and throughout the entire area. for the protection of biodiversity.
Ecological networks are a network of It is proposed to carry out ecological core habitats linked by linear and surveys of the plan area and map the continuous structures such as rivers, ecological network and wildlife hedgerows or stepping stones such as corridors and identify any gaps therein. ponds or small woods. These networks are essential for the migration, The proposals for ecological, wildlife dispersal and genetic exchange of wild and river corridors are discussed in species. more detail in Section 5.3.5 Open Wildlife corridors are made up of Space, Recreation and Green hedgerows, riparian zones, tree lines Infrastructure Strategy. and wetlands and are an important feature of the landscape. These 9.4.4 Invasive Species corridors provide a vital habitat for Invasive non native plant and animal many species and also function as a species can represent a major threat corridor for animals, birds, bats, to local biodiversity. They can insects and other species to move negatively impact on native species, through. can transform habitats and threaten whole ecosystems causing serious The Council will continue to protect problems to the environment and the existing ecological networks and economy. While the Council is wildlife corridors and make provision committed to controlling invasive for new and enhanced connections as species, vigilance is required by all proposed in GI Strategy. This will landowners as invasive species can ensure that these connected networks spread quickly across boundaries. and corridors facilitate the free Preventative measures include movement of species for the purposes ensuring that good site hygiene of feeding, nesting and breeding within practices are employed for movement their wider habitat. The provision of of materials into, out of and around the ecological buffer zones is important in site and ensuring that imported soil is
107 free of seeds and rhizomes of key Objective NH01 invasive plant species . To protect existing ecological networks and wildlife corridors and provide for Natural Heritage Objectives new and enhanced connections, Objective AA01 where necessary, between fragmented The Council will ensure that any areas. In this regard, the Council will plan/project and any associated works, carry out an ecological survey of the individually or in combination with plan area and map the identified other plans or projects, are subject to ecological networks and wildlife and Screening for Appropriate Assessment any gaps therein. to ensure there are no likely significant effects on any Natura 2000 site(s) and Objective NH02 that the requirements of Article 6(3) To promote best practice in the control and 6(4) of the EU Habitats Directive of invasive species and support are fully satisfied. measures for the prevention and/or Where a plan/project is likely to have a eradication of invasive species as significant effect on a Natura 2000 site appropriate and as opportunities and or there is uncertainty with regard to resources allow. effects, it shall be subject to Appropriate Assessment. The Objective NH03 plan/project will proceed only after it To raise awareness in relation to has been ascertained that it will not invasive species, including making adversely affect the integrity of the site landowners and developers aware of or where, in the absence of alternative best practice guidance in relation to solutions, the plan/project is deemed the control of invasive species and by the competent authority imperative encouraging them to adhere to same for reasons of overriding public and, to ensure, in so far as possible, interest. that proposals for development do not lead to the spread of invasive species.
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Objective NH04 To ensure that proposals for development do not lead to the spread or introduction of invasive species. If developments are proposed on sites where invasive species are or were previously present, the applicants will be required to submit a control and management program for the particular invasive species as part of the planning process.
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Table 20 Heritage Objectives-Wexford County Development Plan 2013-2019 This table sets out some of the relevant sections and objectives in the Wexford County Development Plan 2013 2019 that will relate specifically to Heritage and associated developments in the LAP area. Section Objective Heading Summary 14.1 HT02,HT03 Heritage Assets Protect and ensure developments do not have an unacceptable impact on heritage assets. 14.2 NH01, NH02 Designated Sites Conserve and protect designated sites, e.g SACs/cSACs, SPAs, NHAs/pNHAs, County Geological Sites etc. NH04, NH05 Ecological corridors Protect ecological networks/corridors of local biodiversity value outside designated sites, e.g traditional field boundaries, ponds or small woods. NH06, NH07 Trees/Woodlands Protect trees and woodlands of particular amenity and nature conservation. Protect and Hedgerows woodlands and hedgerows from damage and/or degradation. NH08 Buffer Zone Ensure an appropriate buffer zone is provided between a development and a feature of ecological importance. 14.3 GI04, GI05 Green Infrastructure Ensure the principles of Green Infrastructure (GI) and the County GI Strategy inform the GI06, GI07 design and layout of developments. New developments should contribute to the protection and enhancement of existing GI and the provision of new GI where appropriate. Medium-high density residential schemes to have regard to the ‘Green City Guidelines’. Significant development proposals to include a GI Plan as part of the planning application. 14.5 AH01, AH02, Archaeological Conserve and protect archaeological sites, monuments, underwater archaeology and objects. AH03 heritage AH04 Archaeological Require an archaeological assessment for development that may due to its size, location or Assessment nature have a significant effect upon archaeological heritage and take appropriate measures
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to safeguard this heritage. Promote a presumption in favour of preservation in-situ. AH05 Preservation in-situ Presumption in favour of preservation in-situ of archaeological remains and settings. If not possible the Council will consider preservation by record in appropriate circumstances. AH11 Historic burial Protect historical burial grounds and encourage their maintenance in accordance with grounds conservation principles. 14.6.1 PS01 Architectural Protect the architectural heritage of the county, heritage PS02, PS03, Protected Structures Protect the curtilage of protected structures from works that cause loss of, or damage to, the PS04 special character of the structure, encourage development within the curtilage that is compatible with the character of the structure and promote the maintenance and appropriate reuse of protected structures. PS07,PS08 Architectural Applications relating to Protected Structures to include an architectural heritage Heritage assessment/architectural impact assessment report. Applications to be assessed taking into Assessment consideration the advice contained in the Architectural Heritage Protection-Guidelines for Planning Authorities. PS10 Shop fronts Encourage the repair and retention of traditional timber, rendered and/or tiled shop fronts and pub fronts, including those which may not be Protected Structures. PS11 Older Buildings To facilitate the retention of older buildings, consideration will be given to the relaxation of car parking and other development management requirements in appropriate circumstances. 14.6.2 ACA02 Architectural To ensure that all proposed developments are carried out to the highest architectural and Conservation Areas urban design standards within designated ACAs 14.6.3 G01 Graveyards Preserve and enhance graveyards through enhanced management and access and community stewardship. 111
Section 10 Climate Ireland can plan for and take the necessary action on both adaptation Change, Flood Risk and mitigation within the context of the Management and Services global targets and efforts.
Climate change adaptation refers to 10.1 Climate Change dealing with the impacts of climate Climate change will have wide ranging change while mitigation means dealing impacts on the environment, the with the causes of climate change by economy, natural resources and reducing emissions. society including water resources, agriculture and food production, Work is underway in the preparation of human health, natural habitats and these frameworks. The National biodiversity. Whilst uncertainties Mitigation Plan (NMP) will specify the surround the magnitude and extent of policy measures to reduce greenhouse climate change impacts, the predicted gas emissions. The National Climate changes in the Irish climate include Change Adaptation Framework (NAF) sea level rise, more intense storms will develop a national approach to the and rainfall events, an increased implementation of adaptation likelihood of river and coastal flooding, measures in different sectors (e.g water shortages in summer in the east agriculture, transport, energy) and at of the country, adverse impacts on local level. water quality and changes in distribution of plant and animal Local authorities must have regard to species. the NMP and NAF in the carrying out
of their functions. They will also be Ireland’s first ever dedicated climate required to prepare Climate Change change law, the ‘Climate Action and Adaptation Strategies setting out local Low Carbon Development Act 2015’, level adaptation measures. makes significant strides towards placing climate change at the heart of
Government policy and decision making. The Act makes provision for National Frameworks that will ensure
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10.1.1 Climate Change in the LAP are vulnerable to flooding. The The existing National Climate Change LAP has been subject to a Adaption Framework-Building Strategic Flood Risk Resilience to Change(DECLG, 2012) Assessment and new emphasises the need for local development proposals must authorities to embed adaptation comply with the requirements of planning in key local authority the Flood Risk Management functions such as the provision of local Guidelines; infrastructure, the implementation of • Encouraging the design of new building control, the planning process developments to take account and the co-ordination of emergency of the predicted impacts of planning actions. climate change; • Promoting the protection of the Mitigation and adaptation to climate town’s green infrastructure change is an underlying theme of the which will provide many benefits LAP. The strategies in the Plan- the as it regulates temperature, Economic Development Strategy, the reduces storm flows, provides Transport and Movement Strategy, the clean water and air; and Open Space and Recreation Strategy, • Promoting energy planning and the Green Infrastructure Strategy, the energy efficiency in buildings. NFPs and the land use zoning have all been formulated having regard to the Climate Change Objectives need to mitigate and adapt to climate Objective CC01 change. To have regard to the future National Mitigation Plan, the future National The LAP strives to minimise the Climate Change Adaptation potential consequences of climate Framework and any future Climate change by protecting people, property, Change Adaptation Strategy for vulnerable infrastructure and the County Wexford. environment by : • Ensuring new development is Objective CC02 appropriately located, in All planning applications for new particular, the areas of town that residential, commercial and industrial
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units within the plan area shall be Assessment and Management accompanied by an Energy Efficiency Programme (CFRAM) was carried out Statement showing how energy by the OPW. This was a national considerations have been incorporated screening exercise, known as the into the design of the proposed Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment development. (PFRA), which identified areas of potential significant flood risk in the 10.2 Flood Risk Management country. Gorey is one of eleven AFA The Planning System and Flood Risk identified in County Wexford. Stage 2 Management Guidelines for Planning of the programme involves preparing Authorities’ (DEHLG and OPW, 2009) detailed draft flood extent maps for the introduced mechanisms for the town which were placed on public incorporation of flood risk identification, display in November 2015. Stage 3 of assessment and management into the the programme will culminate with the planning process. The aim of flood risk production of a Flood Risk management is to minimise the level of Management Plan for the town flood risk to people, business, (FRMP). It will include measures in infrastructure and the environment relation to flood prevention, protection through the identification and and preparedness. Issues such as management of existing and potential climate change, land use practices and future flood risks. It is likely that the future developments will also be effects of climate change will make addressed in the FRMP. The OPW are flooding more frequent and severe in currently verifying these draft flood the future. maps and it is anticipated that the final flood extent maps will be published A SFRA of the LAP was carried out in with the Draft FRMP in accordance with the requirements of August/September 2016. the Guidelines (Appendix 4). The SFRA was carried out at an important 10.2.1 Advice Note time in planning for flood risk Flood hazard and flood risk information management in Gorey Town and is an emerging dataset of information. Environs. In 2011, Stage 1 of South The flood risk maps used by the Eastern Catchment Flood Risk Council may be altered in light of
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future data and analysis. Therefore, all In general, undeveloped lands with an landowners and developers are identified flood risk were either not advised that Wexford County Council zoned or zoned for compatible uses accept no responsibility for losses or under the land use zoning objective damages arising due to assessments Open Space and Amenity or ‘Leisure of vulnerability to flooding of lands, and Amenity’. In the case of some uses and developments. Owners, developed lands the continuation of a users and developers are advised to zoning for vulnerable uses could not take all reasonable measures to be justified and as such these lands assess the vulnerability to flooding are also zoned Open Space or Leisure and Amenity.
10.2.1 Flood Risk in the Plan Area There are developed/brownfield lands The SFRA, which was informed by the that are at risk of flooding. However, emerging CFRAMS flood mapping, the continued use and/or identified that there are potential flood redevelopment of these lands is risk issues along the rivers and desirable in the interests of streams in the plan area (see Map 10 regeneration and maximising for identified flood risk areas). The investment in infrastructure and Banoge River is the principal river that resources. These lands are zoned for flows through the plan area and its town centre uses (which includes main tributaries are the Ballyowen residential) having passed the River and the Clonattin Upper River. Development Plan Justification Test. There is a history of flood events along Notwithstanding the zoning of these the Banoge River at Gorey Bridge, lands for these uses, it will be Esmonde Street and Garden City. The necessary for future planning Council has implemented measures applications on the lands to including the installation of piping demonstrate that the flood risk can be systems and improved drainage appropriately managed and mitigated systems which have assisted in in accordance with the Guidelines and alleviating the flooding issue. to pass the Development Management Justification Test which will be applied by the Planning Authority.
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10.2.2 Future Development in the the Guidelines in particular with regard Plan Area to a detailing the flood risk, proposing The Council will have regard to all suitable and effective mitigation available sources when screening for measures, both structural and non flood risk, in particular, the flood zone structural and addressing the residual maps and flood risk management plan risk. The management of surface for the town produced under the water and storm water will also be CFRAM programme. important so as to avoid increased flood or pollution risk in rivers, streams The CDP contains a suite of flood risk and the storm water network. The use management objectives in relation to of Sustainable Drainage Systems flooding and mitigation of flooding. (SuDS) will therefore be required in all These objectives are relevant to the new developments. This is further LAP and are set out in Table 20. discussed in the SFRA. Development proposals in areas The management of the river corridors where flood risk may be present will be and their associated riparian zones is assessed in accordance with the also important. Inappropriate provisions of the Guidelines. Planning development in these areas can lead applications for development to increased surface water runoff and proposals within Flood Zone A and B increased flood risk. Development will be required to be accompanied by proposals in these zones must a site specific flood risk assessment therefore be carefully considered. The appropriate to the nature and scale of Council will apply the principles for the development and will be required protecting watercourses set out in the to pass the Development Management document ‘Planning for Watercourses Justification Test, where relevant. The in the Urban Environment’ (Shannon flood risk assessment must be Regional Fisheries Board) when prepared by a suitably qualified considering such development professional, will be required to be proposals. undertaken.
This site specific flood risk assessment must comply with the requirements of
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Existing Developments in a Flood System and Flood Risk Management- Risk Area Guidelines for Planning Authorities Applications for minor development, (Department of Environment, Heritage such as small extensions to existing and Local Government and Office of houses and most change of use of Public Works, 2009), as amended by existing buildings and or extensions Circular PL2/2014’, and any and additions to existing commercial subsequent review or other future and industrial enterprises, are unlikely update to the Guidelines. to raise significant flooding issues, unless they obstruct important flow Objective FRM02 paths, introduce a significant additional To have regard to the flood maps and number of people into flood risk areas the Flood Risk Management Plan or entail the storage of hazardous prepared for Gorey Town and Environs substances. Since such applications as part of the South-East Catchment concern existing buildings, the Flood Risk Assessment and sequential approach cannot be used to Management Study (CFRAM) and to locate them in lower-risk areas and the ensure that development proposals Justification Test will not apply. comply with any relevant requirements However, a commensurate set out therein. assessment of the risks of flooding should accompany such applications Objective FRM03 to demonstrate that they would not To require planning applications for have adverse impacts or impede development proposals within, access to a watercourse, floodplain or incorporating or adjoining areas at flood protection and management moderate (Flood Zone B) to high facilities. These proposals should (Flood Zone A) risk of fluvial flooding follow best practice to carry out a site-specific and
appropriately detailed flood risk Flood Risk Management Objectives assessment. The site-specified flood Objective FRM01 risk assessment shall be carried out by To ensure that all development a suitably qualified and indemnified proposals in the plan area comply with professional and in accordance with the requirements of ‘The Planning the requirements of the Planning 117
System and Flood Risk Management The Council, in line with the Guidelines for Planning Authorities commitments and objectives in the (DEHLG, OPW 2009). CDP, will continue to contribute towards the protection of existing and Objective FRM04 potential water resources including To ensure riparian buffer zones are rivers, streams, groundwater and created between all watercourses and associated habitats and species in any development for a minimum of accordance with EU Water Framework 10m to mitigate against flood risk. The Directive and other relevant EU extent of these buffer zones shall be Directives and associated national determined in consultation with a legislation and policy guidelines. qualified ecologist and following a Flood Risk Assessment. Any hard 10.3.1 Water and Waste Water landscaping proposals shall be located Irish Water has been responsible for outside of these buffer zones. In the delivery of water and waste water considering the appropriate width, the infrastructure in Ireland since the 1st of Council will have regard to ‘Planning January 2014. for Watercourses in the Urban Environment Guidelines’ (Shannon Gorey Town and Environs is served by Regional Fisheries Board). the Gorey Town Water Supply System (WSS) which is supplied by Water 10.3 Services Treatment Plants at Creagh and The provision of high quality Barnadown and a smaller borehole at infrastructure and services will Ballykale. At present the Gorey Town enhance the town’s economic Water Supply System has limited competitiveness and will contribute to headroom to meet future needs. making Gorey Town an attractive The Gorey Regional Water Supply place to live, work and visit. While the Scheme is included in Irish Water’s Council has no statutory role in the Capital Investment Programme (2014- provision of much of this infrastructure, 2016). It is proposed that the Water it has a regulatory role and recognises Treatment Plant (WTP) at Barnadown its importance for the future will be replaced with a new WTP with a development of the town. design capacity of 8MLD. This will
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provide headroom in the Gorey Town required to be put in place prior to Water Supply System of 3.55 MLD significant development taking place. (approximately 28,400 Population Equivalent PE) based on an estimated The Council will encourage the owners 125 litres/person/day) for the whole of existing properties served by private WSS area. The existing Creagh WTP on-site waste water treatment facilities will reduce its production to operate to decommission these facilities and within its 2.5MLD design capacity. connect the property to the public waste water system in the interests of Gorey Town and Environs is currently environmental gain and to maximise served by the Gorey Wastewater the significant investment in this Treatment Plant (WWTP) and the infrastructure in the plan area. Courtown WWTP. The combined design capacity of both treatment plants is 16,500 PE with a current Water and Wastewater Objectives combined load of 17,708 PE and Objective WW01 therefore demand/load exceeds To promote and facilitate the provision current capacities. An upgrade of the by Irish Water of adequate water and Courtown Waste Water Treatment waste water treatment infrastructure to Plant to a design capacity of 35,000 serve the needs of the existing and PE commenced in December 2014 future population of the plan area and and is due for completion by the third ensure that such infrastructure is quarter of 2016. The existing WWTP provided prior to, or in tandem with, at Gorey will be decommissioned and new development. converted to Storm Water Holding only and the upgraded Courtown WWTP Objective WW02 will serve both Gorey and Courtown. To encourage the decommissioning of existing on-site private waste water The upgrades to the WTP and the treatment facilities and the connection WWTP will ensure a sufficient supply of the subject properties to the public of water and waste water infrastructure waste water treatment system subject to serve new development in the plan to the compliance with normal planning area. Such infrastructure will be and environmental criteria and the
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standards and requirements set out in flooding and contamination and protect EU and national legislation and environmental and water resources. guidance. 10.3.3 Telecommunications Objective WW03 The location of masts will be carefully To implement, in conjunction with Irish considered by the Planning Authority Water, the relevant recommendations in accordance the provisions of set out in the EPA (2015) publication Telecommunications Antennae and ‘Urban Waste Water Treatment in Support Structures – Guidelines for 2014’ (and any subsequent update). Planning Authorities (Department of the Environment and Local Objective WW04 Government, 1996), Circular Letter The Council, in conjunction with Irish 07/12 or any updated guidelines Water, shall have regard to the EPA published during the lifetime of the (2015) publication ‘Drinking Water Plan and in accordance with the Report 2014’ (and any subsequent relevant objectives in the County update) in the establishment and Development Plan. Care will be taken maintenance of water sources in the to ensure a balance between the County. provision of telecommunications infrastructure for social and economic 10.3.2 Sustainable Drainage progress and sustaining residential Systems amenity and environmental quality. The management of surface and storm water is important so as to avoid 10.3.4 Broadband increased flood or pollution risk in the The delivery of high speed broadband storm water network, rivers and in the town is a priority. Gorey Town is 24 streams. As previously outlined the included in Phase 1 of SIRO’s plans Council will require the application of to deliver a 100% fibre-to-the-building Sustainable (urban) Drainage Systems broadband network, with speeds of up (SuDS) in new developments, for to 1,000Mbps. This will play a crucial example through reducing the extent 24 SIRO is a joint venture company between of hard surfacing and using permeable ESB and Vodafone to deliver a 100% fibre-to- pavements to minimise the risk of the-building broadband network, with speeds of up to 1000Mbps, for the first time in Ireland. 120
role in attracting new businesses to the equipment in association with any town, especially those in the area of other underground works being carried ICT. out.
Under the Schools Broadband 10.4 Environmental Programme all second level schools Management had 100Mbps connectivity installed The sustainable and effective during 2014. This will facilitate an management of the environment is important change to the way teaching essential for good quality of life, and learning takes place in the human health, wildlife and supporting classroom and will equip students with ecological systems. It is also important the digital skills necessary to compete for economic development, in for jobs in the digital economy. particular, tourism. The Council will
continue to protect and enhance the Objective TC01 environment in the plan area through To facilitate the delivery of high- the protection of water quality and the capacity telecommunications and control of air quality, noise and light broadband infrastructure in the town. pollution
Objective TC02 The Council will continue to facilitate To facilitate the provision of an appropriate waste management accessible and free WiFi zone in the facilities in the plan area. town centre. It currently operates a Household
Recycling Facility in the Gorey Objective TC03 Business Park at Ramstown. There To require services, including are also a number of recycling banks electricity, telephone and TV cabling, provided within the plan area. The to be located underground unless it is provision of additional waste demonstrated to the satisfaction of the management facilities will be Planning Authority that this is not supported where there is an identified feasible and to encourage the need. progressive undergrounding of existing overhead cables and associated
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There are no operational landfills or Assessment for Unregulated Waste historic landfills within or adjoining the Disposal Sites (2007) shall be taken plan area. into account as relevant by proposals for development within or adjacent to Environmental Management old landfill sites. Objectives Objective EM01 Objective EM03 To promote the preservation of best To ensure the implementation of the ambient air quality compatible with specific guidance on radon prevention sustainable development in measures for new homes as contained accordance with the EU Ambient Air within the existing Building Regulations Quality and Cleaner Air for Europe (including any updated/superseding (CAFE) Directive (2008/50/EC) and regulations that may be published ensure that all air emissions within the lifetime of this Plan). associated with new developments are within Environmental Quality Standards as out in the Air Quality Standards Regulations 2011 (SI No. 180 of 2011) (or any updated/superseding documents).
Objective EM02 To ensure that adequate soil protection measures are undertaken where appropriate. Adequate and appropriate investigations shall be carried out into the nature and extent of any soil and groundwater contamination and the risks associated with site development work, where brownfield development is proposed. The EPA’s publication Code of Practice: Environmental Risk
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Table 21 Climate Change, Flood Risk Management and Services Objectives-Wexford County Development Plan 2013-2019
This table sets out some of the relevant sections and objectives in the Wexford County Development Plan 2013 -2019 that will relate specifically to Climate Change, Flood Risk Management and Services Sec tion Objective Heading Summary 5 CC07 Awareness Raise awareness of climate change and its potential impacts and encourage businesses, local communities and people to be as self-sustaining as possible.
CC08 Energy efficiency Encourage improved energy efficiency of existing building stock and promote energy EN21, EN22 efficiency and conservation in the design and development of all new buildings and in EN23 residential in particular.
CC09 New Development Location, layout and design of new development to militate against and adapt to the impacts of climate change.
EN24 Electric vehicles Promote the development and use of electric vehicles and facilitate the provision of appropriate infrastructure, such as electric charging points, at appropriate locations.
13 FRM04 Guidelines All development proposals to comply with the requirements of the Planning System and Flood Risk Management Guidelines for Planning Authorities (DEHLG and OPW, 2009).
FRM06 SuDS Require the use of Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS).
FRM07 Floodplains Protect flood plains as ‘green infrastructure’.
FRM08 Flood protection Facilitate the provision of necessary flood risk management infrastructure by the OPW, the FRM09 Local Authority or private developers and ensure that the rivers, streams and watercourses and natural and cultural heritage are protected and enhanced.
FRM11 Mitigation Require appropriate mitigation measures to be put in place and ensure residual risks can be FRM12 managed to acceptable levels. New development should not increase flood risk elsewhere. 9 WS01,WC02, Water Protect existing and potential water resources; ensure a safe, adequate and reliable drinking WS03,WS04, and public water supply; promote water conservation. WC02, WC03 123
WW01, WW02, Wastewater facilities Ensure all wastewater generated is collected, treated and discharged after treatment in a safe WW03 and sustainable manner. Facilitate the provision and improvement of adequate wastewater facilities in the town.
SWM01,SWM02 Storm water Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems, disposal to surface water systems. SWM03,SWM04 TC01, TC02, Telecommunications Facilitate the delivery of high-capacity of telecommunications at appropriate locations. Have TC04, TC05, regard to the Telecommunications Guidelines for Planning Authorities. Demonstration of need TC06, TC07 for the masts. Adoption of a presumption against the erection of antennae in close proximity to residential areas, schools and community facilities. Avoid, where possible, masts and antennae in specific locations. Location of structures to minimise and/or mitigate any adverse impacts on communities, the natural and built environment and public rights of way.
BB01, BB02, Broadband Encourage and facilitate the co-ordinated development and extension of broadband BB03 infrastructure in Larger Towns, support the roll out of the National Broadband Scheme. Ensure ducting for broadband fibre connections provided furring the installations of services in all new commercial and housing schemes and the during the carrying out any works to road or rail lines. 10 WQ01, WQ04, Water quality Protect water resources and water quality, ensure that developments comply with the Water WQ05 Framework Directive, AQ01, AQ02, Air Quality Maintain and improve air quality. AQ03, AQ04 N01, N02, N03, Noise Ensure that new development does not cause an unacceptable increase in noise levels. N04, N05 L01, L02 External Lighting Ensure that external lighting and lighting scheme are designed so that light spillage is minimised. WM02, WM05, Waste Increased public awareness WM07, WM08 management/facility Support the development of appropriately sited waste recycling and recovery facilities including bring centres, civic amenity centres, waste transfer stations. Encourage the development of new alternatives and technological advances. Support the provision of composting infrastructure and other forms of recycling for bio-waste
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accommodate the population Section 11 Land Use allocation and to facilitate economic and enterprise Zoning and Matrix development. • The protection of the environment and biodiversity 11.1 Background and flood risk management. The purpose of land use zoning is to • The location, accessibility and promote the orderly development of availability of land for the plan area, to establish an efficient development. basis for investment in public • The existing and future infrastructure and facilities and to provision of essential avoid potential conflict between infrastructure (water, sewerage opposing land uses. It also identifies and roads) and the need to for property owners, developers and ensure the efficient use of this the public the types of developments infrastructure. and uses that the Planning Authority • The location and adequacy of considers most appropriate on lands existing social infrastructure (for within the plan area. example schools, childcare
facilities and sport facilities) The land use zoning objectives, which • The character of the area with are identified on Map 11, have been regard to the scale and pattern formulated having regard to the of development. following: • The physical features and • The existing pattern of amenities of the area. development.
• The need to promote the proper planning and sustainable Where a discrepancy arises development of Gorey Town between proposals in the UDS and Environs in accordance and/or the NFPs and the overall with national, regional and local land use zoning identified on Map policies. 11, the land use zoning map will • The need to zone sufficient take precedence. lands at appropriate locations to
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11.2 Land Use Zoning subject to the preservation of Objectives neighbouring residential amenity. Limited convenience shopping facilities
may be considered to serve the needs Residential (R) of local residents in accordance with ‘To protect and enhance the Section 7 Retail and the Retail residential amenity of existing and Strategy in the CDP. developed communities and to provide for new residential development, Long Term Residential/Open Space associated residential services and (LR) community facilities’ ‘To provide lands for future residential The purpose of this zoning is two-fold. and open space and amenity Firstly, with regard to residential lands development and amenity over the that are fully or partially built on, the period of the next plan’ purpose of the zoning is to identify The purpose of this zoning is to uses that may be compatible while reserve land for residential and open maintaining a predominant residential space and amenity development for use and to provide for infill residential the next plan period. The inclusion of development at a density that it these lands will not in any way infer a considered suitable to the area. While prior commitment on the part of infill or redevelopment proposals would Wexford County Council regarding be acceptable in principle, careful their future zoning. Such a decision will consideration will be given to be considered within the framework of protecting residential amenity. national and regional population
targets applicable at the time and the Secondly, with regard to undeveloped proper planning and sustainable residential land, the purpose of this development of the area. No zoning is to provide for new residential development will be permitted on development and associated uses. these lands during this plan period. While housing is the primary use in
this zone, recreation, education, Community and Education (CE) childcare facilities, community ‘To protect and provide for community, buildings, sheltered housing and local educational and ecclesiastical services will also be considered facilities’ . 126
The purpose of this zoning is to protect Retail Core (RC) and improve existing community, ‘To provide for retail uses and to educational and institutional facilities protect and strengthen the vitality and and to ensure their future provision. viability of the area’. Residential uses will not normally be For the purposes of this LAP ‘retail permitted, however community or core’ has the same meaning as Town public nursing homes/sheltered Centre or Retail Area in the Retail accommodation is open for Planning Guidelines for Planning consideration. Authorities 2012. It is the part of the Town Centre or central business that Central Business Area (CBA) is primarily devoted to shopping. ‘To provide a mix of uses, primarily business, services, residential, civic A distinction is made between the and recreational’ . retail core and the central business The purpose of this zoning is to area. The retail core is the preferred continue to enhance the vitality and location for retail development. The viability of this area through the central business area land use zoning development of under-utilised land and covers a wider area and it is envisaged brownfield sites and by encouraging that the town centre will contain a the mix of uses which make a town more diverse range of uses including centre an attractive place to visit, shop retail, business, civic administration and live in. The character of the area and residential. Where reference is shall be protected and enhanced. It is made to the ‘centre’ or town centre in an objective to encourage the full use the RPGs or Retail Strategy of the of buildings and backlands; in CDP 2013-2019 it refers in the case of particular the full use of upper floors in Gorey to the Retail Core as defined on buildings, preferably for residential Map 6 . use. Retail uses will be subject to be subject to Section 7 of this LAP and Open Space and Amenity (OS) the Retail Strategy in the County ‘To protect and provide for recreation, Development Plan. open space and amenity areas’ . The objective of this zoning is to retain and protect all existing open spaces, both passive and active. Development 127
that would result in a loss of Business and Technology Park established open space or lands (BTP) zoned for open space and amenity will ‘To provide for a Business and not normally be permitted. An Technology Park’ exception may be made to this The purpose of this zoning is to restriction where compensatory provide for the development of provision is made elsewhere in the business and technology related town at an appropriate location. development in a high quality campus style environment. The layout and Leisure and Amenity (LA) design must deliver individual buildings ‘To provide for water compatible of a high quality modern design leisure and amenity uses’ surrounded by highly landscaped The purpose of this zoning is to areas, pedestrian ways, cycle ways, provide for amenity and open space, areas of passive open space and however as the areas may be subject landscaped buffer zones along public to flooding certain specific roads. Car parking shall be provided in developments are excluded. While screened areas to ensure minimum this area is generally intended to be visual impact. An integrated approach open in character some water- to signage will also be required. compatible developments as set out in Table 3.1 Classification of Vulnerability Industry (I ) of Different Types of Uses of The ‘To provide for industrial uses’ Planning System and Flood Risk The purpose of this zone is to provide Management Guidelines for Planning for the needs of industry and transport Authorities (DEHLG and OPW, 2009). uses. Industry includes all industrial Such uses include water-based manufacturing, processing and recreation and tourism (excluding storage.. It is envisaged that factories, sleeping accommodation), amenity manufacturing premises, ancillary open space, outdoor sports and warehouses, hauliers and logistics and recreation and essential facilities such ancillary services will be located in this as changing rooms. zone. Light industry will also be permitted in this zone. Where there are existing retail uses on site, proposals
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for extensions will be assessed on a The zoning relates to Gorey Business case by case basis. Park. The purpose of this zoning is allow to for a mix of business and Commercial (C) employment related uses including ‘To provide for a mix of commercial offices, light industry and warehousing. uses’ The purpose of this zoning is to Tourism and Leisure (TL) provide for a range of commercial and ‘To provide for the development of other uses. Such uses may include tourism and leisure facilities’ office developments, The purpose of this zoning is to allow technology/research facilities and light for the additional leisure developments industry (provided that it is compatible beside Gorey Cinema which will add to with the surrounding uses and is of a the tourism and leisure product for high quality design). both the town and the north Wexford area. Appropriate leisure/recreation A high quality design and layout will developments which would extend the be required for the undeveloped tourist season will be encouraged. commercial zoned lands on the Courtown Road and at Ballytegan on Transition Zone (TZ) the R772 so as to deliver individual ‘To provide a transition zone between buildings of modern design surrounded potentially conflicting land uses’ by landscaped areas, pedestrian ways, The purpose of this zoning is two-fold. cycle ways, areas of passive open Firstly, it will provide for a transition space and landscaped buffer zones zone between conflicting land uses, along public roads. Car parking shall assisting the integration of land uses be provided in screened areas or by diluting the negative effects that underground to ensure minimum visual one use may have over another use. impact. An integrated approach to Secondly, it is important to avoid signage will also be required. abrupt transitions in scale and use in the boundary areas of adjoining land General Business Use (GBU) uses, for example residential and ‘To provide for business and industry. Accordingly, particular employment uses’ attention should be paid to the uses, scale, density and appearance of 129
development proposals and to developments proposed in each zone. landscaping and screening proposals This matrix is a guideline and the listed in order to protect the amenities of uses are not exhaustive. The adjoining residential areas. The types indication that a use would be of developments that will be open for ‘permitted in principle’ or ‘open to consideration in transition zones will consideration’ relates to the include car parking, open space, light acceptability in principle of the use industry and office type development. only. Factors such as density, height, traffic generation, environmental Strategic Reserve factors and design criteria are also of ‘To provide lands for the future importance in establishing whether or development of the area over the not a development proposal conforms period of the next plan’ to the proper planning and sustainable The inclusion of these lands will not in development of an area (guidelines any way infer a prior commitment on and standards on these matters are the part of Wexford County Council set out elsewhere in the LAP or in the regarding the nature of zoning. Such a development management standards decision will be considered within the in the CDP. framework of national and regional population targets applicable at the P= Permitted in Principle time, the need for additional zoned A use which is ‘Permitted in Principle’ lands and the proper planning and is generally acceptable subject to sustainable development of the area. complying with the relevant policies, The development of these lands is objectives, standards and considered a key to the completion of requirements set out in the LAP and the Inner Relief Route which includes the CDP a section of the road and a bridge over the railway line and the R772. O=Open for Consideration An ‘Open for Consideration’ use is one which the Council may permit where it 11.3 Land Use Zoning Matrix is satisfied that the suggested form of The land use zoning matrix is intended development will be compatible with as a general guideline in assessing the the policies and objectives for the acceptability or otherwise of zone, will not conflict with the 130
permitted uses and conforms with the normally permissible in the zoning proper planning and sustainable matrix will be considered where: development of the area. Particular a) the Planning Authority is attention will be given to the nature satisfied that the use or and scale of the development when extension would not conflict with assessing compatibility. When the land use zoning considering whether any given b) the use or extension would not development is appropriate in any negatively impact on the zone, the Planning Authority will have amenity of the area regard to the objectives of the relevant c) the use or extension would not chapter/strategy (e.g. for proposed give rise to additional planning office development, regard will be had considerations above those for to the objectives in the economic the existing/previous use. chapter and the Retail Strategy). . N= Not Normally Acceptable Development that is classified as ‘Not Normally Acceptable’ in a particular zone is one that will not be permitted by the Council, except in exceptional circumstances. This may be due to its effect on existing and permitted uses, its incompatibility with the objectives contained within this Plan or the fact that it may be inconsistent with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.
Change of Use and Extensions of Existing Buildings Change of use and extensions to existing buildings will generally be required to be consistent with the zoning matrix. Exceptions to uses not 131
LAND USE ZONING MATRIX N not normally acceptable, O open for consideration, P permitted in principle
USES R LR CBA RC CE OS LA BTP I C GBU TL TZ PU SR
Agricultural Merchants N N O O N N N N N O O N N N N Allotments O N N N O O O N N N N N N N N Financial institutions/ facilities N N P O4 N N N O7 N O7 O7 N N N N Betting office N N O O4 N N N N N N N N N N N Car park O1 N P O4 O1 O1 O1 O O O O O1 O N N Childcare facilities crèche/nursery O O P O4 P N N O10 O O10 N O O N N Civic amenity/ recycling centre O N P N O O N N P O P N O N N Civic buildings O N P P P O2 N O10 O O10 O O O N N Culture, recreation & leisure O N P P P O2 O2 N N O10 N O O N N Education O O P O4 P N N O10 O O3 10 O3 O3 O N N Enterprise centre N N P O4 N N N P O P P N O N N Garden centre N N O O4 N N N N N O N O N N N Industry (general) N N N N N N N O P N N N N N N Industry (light) N N N N N N N P P O P N O N N Hotel O N P O4 N N N N N O N O N N N Hostel N N P O4 N N N N N N N O N N N Medical and related consultants O N P O4 O N N N N O N N N N N
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USES R LR CBA RC CE OS LA BTP I C GBU TL TZ PU SR
Motor sales showroom N N N N N N N N N O O N N N N Nightclub N N O O4 N N N N N N N N N N N Office O N P O4 N N N P O P O N O N N Park and ride facility O N O N O N N O O O O N O N N Petrol station N N O N N N N N N O O N N N N Place of worship O N P O4 P N N N N N N N N N N Public house N N P O4 N N N N N N N N N N N Public utilities O O O O4 O O2 N O O O O O O P O Residential P N P O4 O5 9 N N N N N N N N N N Restaurant N N P O4 O6 N N O6 N O O6 O N N N Retail (convenience) O4 N O4 P N N N N N N N N N N N Retail (comparison) N N O4 P N N N N N N N N N N N Retail warehousing bulky goods N N O4 P N N N N N N N N N N N Storage/transport depot N N N N N N N N P N O N N N N Service garage N N O N N N N N O O N N N N N Take-away N N O O4 N N N N N N N N N N N Warehousing N N N N N N N O P N O N O N N Waste management facilities 8 N N N N N N N N P N N N N N N
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Footnotes: O1 A car park will be considered where it is ancillary to the main use. O2 Where the subject lands have a possible flood risk the proposed use must be a water-compatible development in accordance with The Planning System and Flood Risk Management Guidelines for Planning Authorities (DEHLG and OPW, 2009). O3 A training centre will be considered but a purpose built school will not be considered on the Tourism and Leisure zoned lands at Raheenagureen East. O4 It is particularly important to consult with Section 8 Retail with regard to the uses that are ‘open for consideration’ and what it means in this case. O5 Only nursing home/sheltered housing type developments will be open for consideration. O6 To serve the needs of uses in the zone O7 These facilities must not be open to the public. 8 Waste management facilities include waste transfer stations, material recovery facilities, waste recovery facilities, waste to energy and authorised treatment facilities for end-of-life vehicles O9 Residential development will be open for consideration on the Community and Education zoned land at Knockmullen subject to the following proviso: (a) An appropriately located 0.8ha quantum of land is to be provided elsewhere within the same overall landholding at this location in Knockmullen and such land shall be located so as to provide optimal integration with, and utility for this land parcel (G8 in Gorey South Neighbourhood Framework Plan). Subject to this proviso a planning application for residential development on the Community and Education zoned lands will not constitute a material contravention of the local area plan. O10 Highly vulnerable uses will not be open for consideration within Flood Zone B on Business and Technology Park lands and Commercial lands in accordance with the Planning and Flood Risk Management Guidelines for Planning Authorities (OPW and DECLG, 2009).
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