Section 11(4) Chief Executive’s Report Volume 1 Written Statement Draft Galway County Development Plan 2022~2028 May 2021 Table of Contents Chapter 1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 13 1.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 13 1.2 Legislative Context ................................................................................................................ 15 1.2.1 Mandatory Objectives ....................................................................................................... 15 1.2.2 National Planning Framework ........................................................................................... 16 1.2.3 Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES) ................................................................ 17 1.2.4 Ministerial Guidelines ....................................................................................................... 17 1.2.5 Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) ...................................................................... 18 1.2.6 Appropriate Assessment (AA) ........................................................................................... 18 1.2.7 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) ........................................................................... 18 1.2.8 Office of Planning Regulator (OPR) ................................................................................... 18 1.3 Structure of the Plan ............................................................................................................. 18 1.4 Climate Action ....................................................................................................................... 21 1.5 UN Sustainable Goals ............................................................................................................ 21 1.6 Ministerial Statement ........................................................................................................... 22 1.7 Implementation and Monitoring .......................................................................................... 25 Chapter 2 Core Strategy, Settlement Strategy and Housing Strategy .................................................. 27 2.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 27 2.2 Purpose of Core Strategy ...................................................................................................... 27 2.2.1 Statutory Requirements for the Core Strategy ................................................................. 27 2.3 Devising the Core Strategy .................................................................................................... 28 2.3.1 Project Ireland 2040: National Planning Framework (NPF) .............................................. 28 2.3.2 Population Trends ............................................................................................................. 29 2.3.3 Population Distribution ..................................................................................................... 29 2.3.4 Implementation Roadmap for the National Planning Framework ................................... 30 2.3.5 Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES) ................................................................ 30 2.3.6 Population Scenarios at Settlement/County Level ........................................................... 32 2.3.7 Average Household Size .................................................................................................... 34 2.3.8 Household Size Cohort ...................................................................................................... 34 2.3.9 Galway’s Core Strategy ..................................................................................................... 34 2.3.10 Overview of Approach to Core Strategy ........................................................................... 35 2.3.11 Key Principles .................................................................................................................... 36 2.3.12 Core Strategy Map & Core Strategy Table ........................................................................ 37 2.3.14 Core Strategy Policy Objectives ........................................................................................ 40 1 2.3.15 Monitoring and Management ........................................................................................... 40 2.4 Settlement Hierarchy ............................................................................................................ 41 2.4.1 Purpose ............................................................................................................................. 41 2.4.2 Settlement Hierarchy Context .......................................................................................... 41 2.4.3 Settlement Hierarchy ........................................................................................................ 41 2.4.4 Future Settlement Growth ................................................................................................ 44 2.4.5 MASP ................................................................................................................................. 45 2.4.6 Key Towns ......................................................................................................................... 45 2.4.7 Area of Strategic Potential ................................................................................................ 46 2.4.8 Self Sustaining Towns ........................................................................................................ 46 2.4.9 Small Growth Towns ......................................................................................................... 46 2.4.10 Small Growth Villages ....................................................................................................... 46 2.4.11 Rural .................................................................................................................................. 46 2.4.12 Rural Typologies ................................................................................................................ 47 2.4.13 Settlement Typology ......................................................................................................... 47 2.5 Housing Strategy ................................................................................................................... 50 2.5.1 Context .............................................................................................................................. 50 2.5.2 National Planning Framework ........................................................................................... 50 2.6. Specific Housing Needs ......................................................................................................... 51 2.6.1 Affordable Homes ............................................................................................................. 51 2.6.2 Homelessness .................................................................................................................... 51 2.6.3 Traveller Accommodation ................................................................................................. 51 2.6.4 Housing for Older People, People with Disabilities and/or Learning Disabilities ............. 51 2.7 Part V Provision ..................................................................................................................... 52 Chapter 3 Placemaking, Regeneration & Urban Living ......................................................................... 53 3.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 53 3.2 Strategic Aims ....................................................................................................................... 53 3.3 Strategic Context ................................................................................................................... 54 3.3.1 National Planning Framework ........................................................................................... 54 3.3.2 Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy ........................................................................... 54 3.4 Climate Change ..................................................................................................................... 55 3.5 What is Placemaking? ........................................................................................................... 55 3.5.1 Benefits of Placemaking for County Galway Towns and Villages ..................................... 55 3.5.2 Context Understanding The Place ..................................................................................... 56 3.5.3 Access and Movement ...................................................................................................... 56 3.5.4 Inclusivity .......................................................................................................................... 57 2 3.5.5 Health and Wellbeing ........................................................................................................ 57 3.5.6 Character and Identity .....................................................................................................