Table of Contents VOLUME 1 WRITTEN STATEMENT Manager’s Forward Chapter 1 Introduction Pg. 1 Chapter 2 Core Strategy Pg. 6 Chapter 3 Settlement Strategy & Housing Pg. 39 Chapter 4 Economic Development Strategy Pg. 56 Chapter 5 Social Strategy Pg. 86 Chapter 6 Transport Pg. 107 Chapter 7 Water, Drainage and Environmental Services Pg. 128 Chapter 8 Energy and Communications Pg. 150 Chapter 9 Cultural and Natural Assets Pg. 161 Chapter 10 Rural Development Pg. 189 Chapter 11 Development Management Guidelines and Standards Pg. 213 Chapter 12 Implementation and Monitoring Pg. 245 Draft Meath County Development Plan 2013-2019 i Table of Contents VOLUME 2 LIST OF DEVELOPMENT PLAN APPENDICES 1. Development Plan Mandatory Objectives 2. Strategic Policy Guidance and Legislation 3. Zoning matrix associated with the Meath County Development Plan 2007–2013 4. Housing Strategy 5. Retail Strategy 6. Strategic Flood Risk Assessment for County Meath 7. Landscape Character Assessment 8. Record of Protected Structures 9. Architectural Conservation Areas 10. UNESCO World Heritage Site and Bru na Boinne Management Plan 11. National Monuments in State Care & Register of Historic Monuments 12. Protected Views & Prospects 13. Sites Designated for Nature Conservation in Meath and County Geological Sites 14. Public Rights of Way 15. Rural Design Guide 16. List of Graigs 17. Mobility Management Plans 18. Statement outlining Compliance with Ministerial Guidelines Draft Meath County Development Plan 2013-2019 ii Table of Contents VOLUME 3 BOOK OF MAPS Name of Map Map Number Settlement Hierarchy 3.1 Seveso Map 4.1 Key Transportation Corridors, Nodes & Network 6.1 Rail Reservation Maps 6.2 Road Upgrades National & Regional 6.3 Access to National Roads – Exceptional Circumstances 6.4 Electricity Transmission Infrastructure 8.1 Gas Transmission Infrastructure 8.2 Bru Na Boinne World Heritage Site 9.1 Architectural Conservation Areas 9.2 Natural Heritage Designations (Natura 2000) 9.3 Public Rights of Way 9.4 Views and Prospects Maps 9.5 Rural Area Types Development Pressure 10.1 Tree Preservation Order's (TPO) 10.2 GSI Aggregates Potential Map 10.3 GSI Granular Aggregates Potential Map 10.4 Gaeltacht Areas Rathcairn & Gibbstown 10.5 Management of Future Access to Strategic Corridors 10.6 Dublin Airport Safety Zones 11.1 Draft Meath County Development Plan 2013-2019 iii Table of Contents VOLUME 4 STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT & APPROPRIATE ASSESSMENT 1. Strategic Environmental Assessment 2. Appropriate Assessment Draft Meath County Development Plan 2013-2019 iv Foreword A Note from the County Manager The Development Plan is the key corporate policy document which will guide the future development of our county and will influence the lives and prospects of our citizens and their families in a very real and tangible fashion in the years ahead. This Plan is being brought forward at a time of great economic challenge following the greatest years of economic growth and prosperity in the modern history of County Meath. The phenomenal rate of population increase resulting from the rapid expansion of the Celtic Tiger years has been maintained. With this expansion comes the need for a new economic configuration of the county to create the necessary conditions for significant generation of high quality employment to sustain our existing and new communities. Therefore the challenge being posed for this Plan, and indeed for the county and its citizens, is thus all the greater and the hills we must climb all the higher. The Elected Members and Executive of Meath County Council are resolutely determined to give the leadership and commitment necessary to enable us to meet the challenge together. We believe that the citizens of Meath possess the capacity and strength of character to build a new vision of what our county can and will become through the creative engagement involved in this Development Plan process. This vision will build on the enduring attributes, capacities and unparalleled natural resources of County Meath. These include our dynamic economy, our unique cultural and natural heritage and our vibrant communities. The promotion of economic growth and the economic rebalancing of Meath is a priority of the Plan and this can be positively promoted by leveraging its abundant natural and human resources, location and connectivity to build strong national and international strategic competiveness in the years ahead. Meath occupies a highly strategic location in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) and this locational advantage has a major part to play in the future development of the National Gateway, the most economically dynamic and progressive area in the country. As a key constituent part of Ireland’s capital city region, Meath benefits from being at the centre of Ireland’s primary economic hub and the largest market in the State. The first rate multi-modal transport infrastructure which provides easy access to Dublin Airport and Dublin Port also delivers strong connectivity throughout the county with no less than five national primary routes and developing rail services giving easy access to all areas. Meath also benefits strongly from its strategic location on the E1 Dublin-Belfast international corridor linking both capital cities and international airports. As a bridge between the past and the present, the rich array of cultural and natural heritage assets branding Meath as the ‘The Heritage Capital’ of Ireland represents a most unique selling point. In providing the opportunity to develop cultural tourism as a significant driver of the county’s developing modern economy, it offers truly unique opportunities for national and international tourism and marketing. In this regard Meath is proud to possess the internationally renowned World Heritage Site of Bru Na Boinne, and also Tara, the Ancient Capital of Ireland and seat of the High Kings. Allied to the foregoing are the important modern leisure pursuits of golfing and equine activity Draft Meath County Development Plan 2013-2019 Manager’s Forward which the county possesses in abundance, easily accessible to both national and international markets. The sustainable development of green infrastructure, our natural heritage and the maintenance and improvement of our unique rural and urban built heritage present both strong attractions and a focus for community identity and pride. The historic landscapes of Meath also make the connection between our past, our present and our future and their fertile soils provide the pastoral backdrop for a thriving and resilient new agricultural economy and food sector which provides the potential for significant diversification and added value. The location of this rich resource base at the gateway of the metropolitan area proximate to third level institutions of education creates the potential for the knowledge economy and new directions, synergy and re-imagining of our economic future, based on the traditional strengths of the past and the science based opportunities to come. It is broadly acknowledged that Meath had managed the Celtic Tiger years well. The rapid acceleration of economic activity was not allowed to damage the central core of our large towns by the proliferation of out of town shopping. Our smaller market towns and unique villages have been largely spared the excesses of sub-urbanisation. The high vacancy rates and ghost estates evident elsewhere have not been visited on Meath. On the plus side the quantum leaps achieved in the delivery and advancement of physical and social infrastructure during these years of unprecedented growth has the county well prepared for rapid and sustained recovery when it comes. The people and communities of Meath are its richest resource and this Development Plan sets out a new approach to meet their legitimate needs and aspirations not only for the six year life of the plan but also for the decades ahead. To this end, and for the first time, the Meath County Development Plan must contain as a central building block and foundation stone an evidence-based and robustly tested ‘Core Strategy’. This Core Strategy is the fundamental pivot which will guide the Plan’s goals, policies and objectives to provide the blue-print for the sustainable future we wish to create for all our citizens. The Plan provides innovative and creative solutions to build resilient new urban and rural communities and the critical economic reconfiguration of the county which they and their families deserve while protecting the unique heritage we all cherish. Essential elements of this strategy will also involve policies on climate change, green infrastructure, and sustainable transport to reflect the modern planning policy requirements for global sustainability. The successful development and ultimate realisation of these policies present both challenges and opportunities for our county now and into the future. They will only be truly embedded if supported by the requisite goodwill and active participation from all sectors of our culturally diverse modern society. To this end, Meath County Council will proactively drive and share in this leadership role through positive engagement in the plan-making and implementation process with all our citizens. Tré Neart le Chéile Tomas O’Dulaing Bainisteoir an Chontae Draft Meath County Development Plan 2013-2019 1 - INTRODUCTION 1.1 Introduction County Meath is situated in north Leinster, along the east coast of Ireland. The county occupies a land area of over 230,000 hectares and is the second largest county in Leinster. It adjoins Dublin to the south and this geographical proximity and the strong functional relationship between the two counties results in Meath being a vital component of the Greater Dublin Area. Meath has a population of over 184,000 people accommodated in a network of attractive towns, villages and the countryside. It possesses a diverse range of landscapes, including 10 kilometres of coastline, the drumlin hills in North Meath, rich pastures, tracts of peatland and raised bog in the southwest and the central upland area that includes Tara - the ancient capital of Ireland.