LAOIS COUNTY COUNCIL Comhairle Chontae Laoise LAOIS COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2017‐2023 VOLUME 1: Written Statement Adopted on 26th June 2017 In effect from 24th July 2017 Forward Planning Department, Laois County Council Laois County Development Plan 2017‐2023 CONTENTS SECTION 6 : INFRASTRUCTURE SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION AND STRATEGIC CONTEXT 6.1 TRANSPORTATION 94 1.0 INTRODUCTION 5 6.2 WATER SUPPLY AND WASTEWATER SERVICES 111 1.1 REVIEW PROCESS AND STATUTORY CONTEXT 5 6.3 SURFACE WATER, DRAINAGE AND FLOODING 122 1.2 PLANNING CONTEXT 8 6.4 ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES 126 1.3 COUNTY PROFILE 13 6.5 CONTROL OF MAJOR ACCIDENT HAZARDS DIRECTIVE (SEVESO III DIRECTIVE) 129 SECTION 2: DEVELOPMENT PLAN STRATEGY (CORE STRATEGY) 6.6 ENERGY AND COMMUNICATIONS 130 2.1. CORE STRATEGY 21 SECTION 7: HERITAGE 2.2 POPULATION TARGETS 2017‐2023 28 2.3 HOUSING LAND REQUIREMENT 2017‐2023 28 7.1 INTRODUCTION 143 2.4 CORE STRATEGY TABLE 32 7.2 LAOIS HERITAGE PLAN 2014‐2017 143 2.5 SETTLEMENT STRATEGY 32 7.3 CONTEXT 143 2.6 RURAL HOUSING STRATEGY 40 7.4 BUILT HERITAGE 143 2.7 IMPLEMENTATION AND MONITORING 45 7.5 PROTECTED STRUCTURES 144 7.6. VERNACULAR BUILDINGS 146 7.7 ARCHITECTURAL CONSERVATION AREAS 147 SECTION 3 : HOUSING POLICY 7.8 HISTORIC GARDENS 148 7.9 ARCHAEOLOGICAL HERITAGE 148 3.1 HOUSING STRATEGY 47 7.10 NATURAL HERITAGE 153 7.11 BIODIVERSITY 154 7.12 GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE 155 SECTION 4: SOCIAL, COMMUNITY AND RECREATIONAL 7.13 TREES AND WOODLANDS 164 STRATEGY 7.14 HEDGEROWS 165 7.15 WATERWAYS AND WETLANDS 165 4.1 INTRODUCTION 53 7.16 RIPARIAN BUFFER ZONES 166 4.2 SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY 53 7.17 NORE FRESHWATER PEARL MUSSEL 167 4.3 NATURAL AND RECREATIONAL AMENITIES 60 7.18 INVASIVE SPECIES 167 4.4 SPECIFIC OBJEC TIVES FOR LEISURE FACIL ITIES 64 7.19 LANDSCAPE 168 7.20 AMENITY VIEWS AN D PROSPECTS 172 SECTION 5 : ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 7.21 PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY 173 7.22 GEOLOGY 173 5.1 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 65 5.2 INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL ZONING 66 5.3 ECONOMY OF COUNTY LAOIS 66 SECTION 8: GENERAL LOCATION AND PATTERN OF 5.4 SERVICES SECTOR 67 DEVELOPMENT 5.5 MANUFACTURING AND SERVICES ENTERPRISES (NATIONALLY/INTERNATIONALLY TRADED) 68 5.6 ENTREPENEURSHIP 69 8.1 INTRODUCTION 178 8.2 ZONING PRINCIPLES 178 5.7 HOME BASED ECONOMIC ACTIVITY 70 8.3 DESIGN 186 5.8 TOWN/VILLAGE CENTRE MANAGEMENT 71 5.9 RETAIL DEVELOPMENT 73 8.4 PRE‐PLANNING CONSULTATION 189 5.10 RURAL ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES 80 8.5 DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT STANDARDS 190 5.11 TOURISM 84 Page 2 of 216 Laois County Development Plan 2017‐2023 LIST OF TABLES Table 1: Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly SPA 13 Table 2: County Laois Population Change 2002‐2011 15 Table 3: Number of National and Secondary Level Schools 18 Table 4: Midland Region Population Projections to Target Year 2016, as set by MRPGs 27 2016‐2022 Table 5: Core Strategy Table 32 Table 6 Rural Area Types 42 Table 7: Specific Objectives for Leisure Facilities within County Laois 2017‐2023 64 Table 8: Quarterly National Household Survey 67 Table 9 Composition of the Workforce of County Laois 68 Table 10: % of Workforce involved in Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Construction 68 Table 11: Assessment of performance of Laois Towns 72 Table 12: Laois Retail Hierarchy 75 Table 13 : Additional Retail Floorspace Requirements for County Laois 2017‐2023 77 Table 14: % of the Labour Force engaged in the Rural E conomy 80 Table 15: Numbers involved in NACE Sectors 80 Table 16: Strategic Regional Roads in County Laois 99 Table 17 Priority roads projects in County Laois 2017‐2023 101 Table 18: Land Use Parking Space Requirements 105 Table 19: Public Water Supply Objectives 112 Table 20: Public Wastewater Objectives 113 Table 21: Planne d Upgrades to Fibre Exchange 140 Table 22 National Monuments in State Care in Laois 150 Table 23: Monuments protected by Preservation Orders in County Laois 150 Table 24 Special Areas of Conservation in County Laois 157 Table 25 Special Areas of Protection in County Laois 158 Table 26: Proposed Natural Heritage Areas 160 Table 27: Designated Amenity Views and Prospects in County Laois 172 Table28: County Ge olog ical Sites 175 Table 29 Land Use Zoning Acceptability 179 Table 30: Zoning Objectives and Purposes 180 Table 31: Land use Zoning Matrix 184 Table 32 Development Management Standards 190 Page 3 of 216 Laois County Development Plan 2017‐2023 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Configuration of the Regional Assemblies in Ireland 14 Figure 2 Laois in the nationa l Context 14 Figure 3: Population change 2006‐2011 16 Figure 4: Laois in a regional context 23 Figure 5: Core Strategy Map 27 Figure 6: Settleme nt Hierarchy 33 Figure 7: Rural Area Designations 43 Figure 8: Employment by Indus trial Sector in Laois 2011 67 Figure 9 Productivity by Sector in the Midlands (Gross Value Adde d) 67 Figure 10: Portlaoise and its connectivity in the national and European Context 69 Figure 11: Rural Economic Development Zones 71 Figure 12: Order of Priority–Sequential Approa ch 76 Figure 13: Quarrying Sites in County Laois 82 Figure 14: Tourist A ttractions in County Laois 85 Figure 15: County Laois Location and Transport Connectivity 97 Figure 16: Walking Trails 107 Figure 17: Cycling Routes 107 Figure 18: River Basin Distr icts in Laois 118 Figure 19: Laois’s Groundwater Protection Scheme 120 Figure 20: Flood Map 124 Figure 21: Wind Energy Map 134 Figure 22: Areas Covered by National Braodband Scheme (NBS) 138 Figure 23: Rural Broadband Area 139 Figure 24: MAN Network Portaloise 139 Figure 25: Special Areas of Conservation 157 Figure 26: Special Protection Areas 158 Figure 27: Natural Heritage Areas 161 Figure 28: Nature Reserves 162 Figure 29: Trees, Views and Prospects 164 Figure 30: Landscape Character Assessment 168 Figure 31: Geological Sites 174 Figure 32: Good Des ign Criteria 187 Page 4 of 216 Laois County Development Plan 2017‐2023 SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION AND STRATEGIC CONTEXT 1.0 Introduction This section sets out the background to the Laois County Development Plan 2017‐2023 review with regard to the legal requirements as set out in the Planning and Development Act 2000 as amended and how the plan can be used. This Plan was prepared in accordance with the Planning and Development Act 2000 as amended and replaces the Laois County Development Plan 2011‐2017. The main purpose of the plan is to set out a framework for the sustainable spatial and physical development of the County Laois while cons idering the conservation and protection of the built and na tural environment. It also aims to carefully cons ider all the needs of society, its individuals and groups. Key to this is ensuring tha t equal opportunities are promoted under all the various themes of the plan. The Laois County Development Plan 2017‐2023 sets out a clea r vision for County Laois which is as follows: “County Laois will be a cohesive and sustainable community of people enjoying dis tinct but interrelated urban and rural environments, where the natural environment is protected, cultural and built heritage is s afeguarded, where opportunities for existing residents and future generations to live, work, visit and enjoy safely and as equals, without compromising the environmental integrity of our county”. In order to achieve this, the County Development Plan has three main objectives: To provide a framework for acceptable uses within the county, defining acceptable forms of development and where they should be directed; To provide a detailed basis for the promotion and management of development; To implement Na tiona l and Regional development policy provisions at a county level. 1.1 Review Process and Statutory Context Under the Planning and Development Act 2000 as amended each planning authority is obliged to prepare a development plan for its functiona l area every six years, the review of this should commence four years after its adoption. Accordingly, the review process of the 2011‐2017 Laois County Development Plan began in October 2015 when extensive notification of the review process was given and notice was published and forwarded to the relevant bodies. 1.1.1 Strategic Environmental Assessment [SEA] A Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is a formal systematic evaluation of the likely significant effects of a proposed plan or programme on the environment. It is carried out in paralle l to the preparation of the County Development Plan in accordance with the Planning and Development (Strategic Environmental Assessment) Regulations 2004 (SI No. 436 of 2004). The main environmental issues which are considered during this process are as follows: Biodiversity (flora and fauna); Landscape (geology); Agriculture f orestry and soils; Population; Water quality; Air quality; Waste management; Page 5 of 216 Laois County Development Plan 2017‐2023 Material and cultural assets; and Climate. The evaluation of the likely environmental consequences of alternative strategies for the accommodation of the future development of County Laois is also part of the SEA Process. 1.1.2. Appropriate Assessment (AA) An Appropria te Assessment is an assessment of the potential effects of a proposed plan on its own or in combination with other plans or projects on one or more Natura 2000 sites (these are Special Protection Areas (SPAs) for birds, Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) for habitats and species. The findings of the assessment must be taken into account by the competent authority namely Laois County Council, in reaching its decis ion to adopt the County Development Plan 2017‐ 2023. 1.1.3 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) In accordance with the Planning System and Flood Risk Management: Guidelines for Planning Authorities (DEHLG, 2009), the purpose of the Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) is “to provide a broad (area wide) assessment of all types of flood risk to inform strategic land use planning decisions.