MONKSLAND/BELLANAMULLIA (ATHLONE WEST) LOCAL AREA PLAN 2016 - 2022 TH EFFECTIVE DATE 25 JULY 2016 Roscommon County Council Comhairle Chontae Ros Comáin Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS PART I: INTRODUCTION AND CONTEXT 1 INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 STATUTORY CONTEXT 1 1.2 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS 1 1.2.1 Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) 1 1.2.2 Appropriate Assessment (AA) 1 1.2.3 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) 1 1.3 PUBLIC CONSULTATION 2 2 POLICY CONTEXT 3 2.1 NATIONAL AND REGIONAL CONTEXT 3 2.2 COUNTY CONTEXT 3 2.3 POPULATION CONTEXT 3 2.3.1 Core Strategy, Settlement Hierarchy and Population Calculations 3 2.4 SETTLEMENT POLICY 3 MAPS: Map 1: National Spatial Strategy (West Region) Map 2: County Roscommon Settlement Hierarchy 3 PROFILE OF MONKSLAND / BELLANAMULLIA 5 3.1 EXISTING CONTEXT 5 3.1.1 General 5 3.1.2 Population and Demographic Profile 5 3.1.3 Infrastructure and Services 6 3.1.3.1 Roads and Transportation 6 3.1.3.2 Water Services 6 3.1.3.3 Flood Risk and Protection 7 3.1.3.4 Wastewater Services 7 3.1.3.5 Waste Management 7 3.1.3.6 Energy 7 3.1.3.7 Telecommunications 8 3.1.4 Social and Community Facilities 8 3.1.4.1 Community Facilities 8 3.1.4.2 Schools and Educational Facilities 8 3.1.4.3 Health 9 3.1.4.4 Burial Grounds 9 3.1.5 Recreation, Leisure and Tourism 9 3.1.5.1 Open Space and Sporting Provision 9 3.1.5.2 Tourism Resources, Facilities and Infrastructure 9 Monksland Bellanamullia (Athlone West) Local Area Plan 2016-2022 Page i Table of Contents 3.1.6 Built and Natural Heritage 9 3.1.6.1 Architectural and Archaeological Heritage 9 3.1.6.2 Natural Heritage 10 3.1.7 Economic Development and Employment 10 3.1.7.1 Economic Profile 10 3.1.8 Urban Development 11 3.1.8.1 Residential Development 11 MAPS: Map 3: Location Map Map 4: DED & Townland Boundaries Map4a: LAP & CSO boundary Map 5: Roads & Transportation Map 6: Water Supply & Wastewater Treatment Network Map 7: Energy Network (Gas & Electricity) Map 8: Flood Risk Map 9: Built Heritage & Archaeology (Buildings of Interest and RMPs) Map 10: Natural Heritage Map 11: Social and Community Facilities Map 12: Places of Interest 4 CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES 13 4.1 CHALLENGES 13 4.1.1 Infrastructure and Services 13 4.1.2 Community Facilities 13 4.1.3 Tourism Resources, Facilities and Infrastructure 14 4.1.4 Built and Natural Heritage 14 4.1.5 Economic Development and Employment 14 4.1.6 Retail and Commercial Development 14 4.1.7 Residential Development 14 4.2 OPPORTUNITIES 15 4.2.1 Infrastructure and Services 15 4.2.2 Community Facilities 15 4.2.3 Tourism Resources, Facilities and Infrastructure 15 4.2.4 Built and Natural Heritage 16 4.2.5 Economic Development and Employment 16 4.2.6 Retail and Commercial Development 16 4.2.7 Home-based Economic Activity 16 4.2.8 Residential Development 16 Monksland Bellanamullia (Athlone West) Local Area Plan 2016-2022 Page ii Table of Contents PART II: DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR 2014-2020 AND BEYOND 5 VISION AND DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 17 5.1 DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY OPTIONS 18 5.2 HOUSING STRATEGY AND RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT 27 5.2.1 Development Strategy for Residential Development 28 6 LAND USE ZONING FIGURES AND MATRIX 31 6.1 LAND USE ZONING FIGURES 31 6.1.1 Land use zoning objectives and matrix 31 MAPS: Map 13: Land Use Zoning (Draft Monksland/Bellanamullia (Athlone West) LAP 2016-2022) Map 13a: Constrained Land Use Zoning 7 POLICIES AND OBJECTIVES 43 7.1 ROLE OF MONKSLAND/BELLANAMULLIA 43 7.2 INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES 43 7.2.1 New Proposals 43 7.2.2 Roads and Transportation Strategy 43 7.3 WATER SERVICES 46 7.3.1 Water Services Strategy 46 7.4 FLOOD RISK AND PROTECTION 47 7.4.1 Flood Risk and Protection Strategy 47 7.4.2 Constrained Land Use Zoning Strategy 47 7.5 WASTEWATER SERVICES 50 7.5.1 Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) 50 7.5.2 Wastewater Services Strategy 50 7.6 WASTE MANAGEMENT 51 7.6.1 Waste Management Strategy 51 7.7 ENERGY 53 7.7.1 New Proposals 53 7.7.2 Energy Strategy 54 7.8 TELECOMMUNICATIONS 55 7.8.1 Telecommunications Strategy 55 7.9 SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES 55 7.9.1 Social and Community Facilities Strategy 55 7.9.2 Provision of Schools 56 7.9.3 Early Childhood Care and Education Provision 56 7.9.4 Health 56 7.10 RECREATION, LEISURE AND TOURISM 58 7.10.1 Recreation, Leisure and Tourism Strategy 58 Monksland Bellanamullia (Athlone West) Local Area Plan 2016-2022 Page iii Table of Contents 7.11 BUILT AND NATURAL HERITAGE 60 7.11.1 Built Heritage Strategy 60 7.11.2 Natural Heritage Strategy 62 7.12 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND EMPLOYMENT 68 7.12.1 Economic Development and Employment Strategy 68 7.13 URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND DESIGN 67 7.13.1 Residential Development 67 7.13.2 Urban Development Strategy 70 8 DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT AND THE BUILT FORM 75 8.1 ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN DESIGN 75 8.1.1 Building Height 75 8.1.2 Urban Design 76 8.1.3 Architecture and Building Design 76 8.1.4 Design Statement 76 8.1.5 Landscaping Plan 77 8.1.6 Urban Design and Residential Density 77 8.1.7 Traffic Management in Urban Areas 78 8.1.8 Design Guidelines for Residential Estates 78 8.1.9 Sustainable Energy and Design 79 8.2 DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS 79 8.2.1 Wastewater Treatment 80 8.2.2 Flood Risk and Protection 80 8.2.3 Drainage 81 8.2.4 Residential Site Maintenance and Management 81 8.2.5 Derelict Sites 81 8.2.6 Infill developments 81 8.2.7 Access for All 81 8.2.8 Lighting, Signage and Advertising 82 8.2.9 Car Parking 82 8.2.10 Transport 84 8.2.11 New Residential Development 84 TABLES: Table 1: Proposed zoning areas for the Monksland/Bellanamullia (Athlone West) LAP 31 Table 2: Proposed Educational Provision within the Monksland/Bellanamullia (Athlone West) LAP 56 Table 3: Recommended Residential Zoning within the Monksland/Bellanamullia (Athlone West) LAP 69 Table 4: Car parking Standards 83 FIGURES: Figure 5.1: Development Strategy 1: Continue as per 2010 – 2016 LAP Figure 5.2: Consolidate Future Development and prioritise vacant and infill Figure 5.3: Prioritise consolidating development with phased outward expansion Figure 7.1: Existing and Proposed Electricity Networks serving Monksland/Bellanamullia Monksland Bellanamullia (Athlone West) Local Area Plan 2016-2022 Page iv PART I: INTRODUCTION AND CONTEXT Chapter 1: Introduction 1 INTRODUCTION The main aim of this Local Area Plan is to set out a framework for the physical development of the Monksland/Bellanamullia (Athlone West) area so that growth may take place in a coordinated, sensitive and orderly manner, while at the same time being sensitive to the environment. Policies and objectives outlined in this LAP are in addition to the policies and objectives contained in the Roscommon County Development Plan (RCDP) 2014-2020. It is acknowledged that not all strategic objectives will be achieved during the six year LAP timeframe; however it is important to identify these objectives to ensure commitment to achieving them in the longer term. In the interests of clarity, any reference to a goal, aim, policy and objective in the text of this Local Area Plan, shall be construed as an ‘objective’ of this Plan for the purposes of the Planning and Development Acts 2000-2014 and the Planning and Development Regulations 2001-2015. 1.1 STATUTORY CONTEXT This LAP has been prepared in accordance with Sections 18 to 20 of the Planning and Development Acts 2000-2014, and replaces the Monskland/Bellanamullia (Athlone West) Local Area Plan 2010 - 2016. It is required to be consistent with the regional planning guidelines for the area as well as the policies and objectives of the RCDP and its Core Strategy, which set out the overarching development strategy for the County. The LAP should be read in conjunction with the RCDP 2014 - 2020. Where any provisions of the LAP conflict with the provisions of the RCDP, the RCDP will take precedence. 1.2 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS 1.2.1 Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is the formal systematic evaluation of the likely significant environmental effects of implementing the LAP and must be carried out prior to the adoption of any plan or programme. SEA is undertaken in accordance with the EU SEA Directive 2001/42/EC. The findings of the SEA are outlined in the Environmental Report published alongside the LAP. 1.2.2 Appropriate Assessment (AA) An Appropriate Assessment is an assessment, based on best scientific knowledge, by a person with ecological expertise, of the potential impacts of any plan or project on the conservation objectives of any Natura 2000 site i.e. Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) or Special Protection Areas (SPAs). All land use plans proposed under the Planning and Development Acts 2000 -2015, including Local Area Plans, must be screened for any potential impact on areas designated as Natura 2000 sites. Appropriate Assessment is carried out under Article 6(3) and 6(4) of the Habitats Directive. A Stage 2 Appropriate Assessment report has been prepared for the Monksland/Bellanamullia LAP 2016 – 2022 and is published alongside the LAP.