PLANNING SUBMISSION RE LOUTH COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2021-2027 In respect of LANDS AT KNOCKNAGORAN, OMEATH, CO. LOUTH Prepared by GENESIS PLANNING CONSULTANTS On behalf of REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ESTATE OF PATRICK MCCLUSKEY OCTOBER 2020 Planning statement re lands at Patrick Street & Church Street, Dundalk Document Control Sheet Job Title: Lands at Knocknagoran, Omeath, Co. Louth Job Number: 2020-37 Report Ref: Planning Submission Author: Ronan Woods Date: October 2020 Distribution: Client & Planning Authority Document Status Rev Purpose of Document Authored by Approved by Review Date 1 Draft G Mackin R Woods 09/10/2020 2 Final R Woods R Woods 23/10/2020 Approval for Issue Ronan Woods - The report has been prepared for the exclusive use of our client unless otherwise agreed in writing. The report has been compiled using the resources agreed with the client and in accordance with the scope of work agreed with the client. No liability is accepted by Genesis planning consultants for any use of this report, other than the purpose for which it was prepared. Genesis planning consultants has used reasonable skill, care and diligence in compiling this report. Genesis planning consultants disclaims any responsibility to the client and others in respect of any matters outside the scope of this report. This report has been prepared with reasonable skill, care and diligence within the terms and agreement with the client. Genesis planning consultants accepts no responsibility of whatsoever nature to third parties to whom this report or any part thereof is made known. Any such party relies upon the report at their own risk. Planning Submission: Lands at Essmore Caravan Park Omeath, Co. Louth 2 | P a g e TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE 1 INTRODUCTION 5 1.1 Purpose of Report 5 1.2 Background to Submission 5 2 SUBJECT LANDS IN CONTEXT 6 2.1 Overview 6 2.2 Subject Lands 6 2.3 Current Planning Context 8 2.4 Previous Planning Context 9 3 REVIEW OF CURRENT PLANNING POLICY CONTEXT 10 3.1 National Planning Framework 10 3.2 Regional Spatial Economic Strategy – Eastern & Midland Region 11 3.3 Louth County Development Plan 2014-2020 13 3.4 Omeath Demographic Overview and Population Change 15 3.5 Housing Type and Vacancy Rate 17 4 HOUSING MARKET 19 5 SEQUENTIAL DEVELOPMENT OF LAND, SERVICES & CONNECTIVITY 21 6 RECOMMENDED LAND USE ZONING IN THE 2021-2027 COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 23 7 SUMMARY & CONCLUSION 25-28 Planning Submission: Lands at Essmore Caravan Park Omeath, Co. Louth 3 | P a g e Page intentionally blank for printing Planning Submission: Lands at Essmore Caravan Park Omeath, Co. Louth 4 | P a g e 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Purpose of Report 1.1.1 The Planning Authority is commencing the preparation of the County Development Plan (CDP) for the county to cover the period 2021 to 2027. The purpose of the CDP is to set out an overall strategy for the proper planning and sustainable development of the county. 1.1.2 Genesis Planning have been engaged by the client to examine and assess the existing policy context, zoning designations in Omeath and to prepare this submission to the Planning Authority on their behalf. 1.1.3 In terms of background our client is in ownership of the landholding currently in use for a caravan park in the Knocknagoran area of Omeath, and is currently examining options for moving the lands forward for development. 1.1.4 In preparing this submission we have undertaken an analysis of our client’s lands in the context of the National Planning Framework, the 2015-2021 CDP and the Regional Spatial Economic Strategy for the Eastern and Midland Region (RSES). 1.1.5 The analysis undertaken by Genesis Planning identified a number of areas of interest which demonstrate that the subject lands are appropriate for rezoning from their current designation as ‘Tourism and Leisure’ to ‘Residential’ in the forthcoming County Development Plan for 2021-2027. These are set out in this report. 1.2 Background to Submission 1.2.1 Our client has engaged Genesis Planning to make a submission on their behalf to the Planning Authority on the draft County Development Plan 2021 – 2027, specifically in relation to their lands at Knocknagoran, Omeath, Co. Louth. 1.2.2 In totality the subject lands occupy approximately 3.76ha at Knocknagoran with direct access onto the R173 regional corridor which runs through the centre of Omeath Town. 1.2.3 This submission to the Planning Authority outlines proposals for the subject lands to be rezoned for residential use in the forthcoming CDP. Planning Submission: Lands at Essmore Caravan Park Omeath, Co. Louth 5 | P a g e 2 SUBJECT LANDS IN CONTEXT 2.1 Overview 2.1.1 A description of the landholding in Omeath is provided in this section. 2.1.2 In addition the planning background of the lands are outlined below. 2.2 Subject Lands 2.2.1 The subject lands occupy approximately 3.76ha in the Knocknoagoran area of Omeath. As per the Louth County Development Plan 2015-2021, Omeath is designated as a Level 3 Settlement: Small Town, with a population of 603 (2016, CSO data). 2.2.2 In terms of location the subject lands are located along the R173 regional transport corridor which connects Omeath Town with the adjacent urban areas of Carlingford to the south (7.7km), and Newry City to the north (11.3km). 2.2.3 At a regional context, Carlingford Lough has been idenfied as a ‘Strategic Natural, Cultural and Green Infrastructure Asset’ in the region, with the Carlingford to Newry estuary (which includes Omeath) recognised as an important corridor both environmentally and economically with its proximity to the Northern Ireland (and UK) economy. 2.2.4 At a local context the subject lands lie immediately adjacent to the town centre, identified in Figure 1 below. Also for reference figure 2 overleaf identifes the lands currently within and adjacent to the settlement envelope of Omeath Town. Figure 1: Subject lands location in Omeath Planning Submission: Lands at Essmore Caravan Park Omeath, Co. Louth 6 | P a g e Figure 2: Location of subject lands within Omeath Planning Submission: Lands at Essmore Caravan Park Omeath, Co. Louth 7 | P a g e 2.3 Current Planning Context 2.3.1 Under the current Louth CDP 2015-2021 the subject lands are not currently zoned or included in the settlement boundary of Omeath as indicated below (lands outlined in purple). Figure 3: Omeath Zoning Map & subject site (Source: Louth County Development Plan 2016-2021) Planning Submission: Lands at Essmore Caravan Park Omeath, Co. Louth 8 | P a g e 2.4 Previous Planning Context 2.4.1 A review of the planning register identified a number of applications previously submitted in respect of the subject lands. File Number 83390 Applicant Name Patrick McCluskey Application Date 01/01/1983 Development Description Caravan Park Decision (Date) Not available File Number 071860 Applicant Name Patrick& Violet McCluskey Application Date 15/11/2007 Retention (R) for modifications to the layout of static and touring caravan pitches and to retain 21 pitches in addition Development Description to the 36 granted under planning ref. 93/ 418 with ancillary modification to the existing site services and sewage treatment works Decision (Date) Conditional Approval (05/08/2008) Table 1: Previous planning applications for subject lands 2.4.2 In summary, previous applications are in relation to the subject lands partial use as a static and touring caravan site. Figure 4 below illustrates the layout submitted to Louth County Council as part of application 071860 which was conditionally approved. Figure 4: Static Caravan layout for application 071860 Planning Submission: Lands at Essmore Caravan Park Omeath, Co. Louth 9 | P a g e 3 REVIEW OF CURRENT PLANNING POLICY CONTEXT 3.1 NPF 3.1.1 The National Planning Framework sets out strategic objectives which Planning Authorities are to have regard to. Specifically we highlight: • Objective 3a ‘To deliver at least 40% of all homes Nationally within the built-up footprint of existing urban settlements.’ • Objective 3b ‘Deliver at least 30% of all new homes that are targeted in settlements other than the five Cities and their suburbs, within their existing built-up footprints’. • Objective 5 ‘To develop cities and towns of sufficient scale and quality to compete internationally and be drivers of national and regional growth, investment and prosperity.’ • Objective 6 ‘Regenerate and rejuvenate cities, towns and villages of all types and scale as environmental assets, that can accommodate changing roles and functions, increased residential population and employment activity and enhanced levels of amenity and design quality, in order to sustainably influence and support their surrounding area.’ • Objective 7 ‘Reversing the stagnation or decline of many smaller urban centres, by identifying and establishing new roles and functions and enhancement of local infrastructure and amenities’; and ‘Encouraging population growth in strong employment and service centres of all sizes, supported by employment growth.’ ‘In more self-contained settlements of all sizes, supporting a continuation of balanced population and employment growth.’ • Objective 11 ‘In meeting urban development requirements, there will be a presumption in favour of development that can encourage more people and generate more jobs and activity within existing cities, towns and villages, subject to development meeting appropriate planning standards and achieving targeted growth.’ • Objective 15 ‘Support the sustainable development of rural areas by encouraging growth and arresting decline in areas that have