RATHCABBIN SETTLEMENT PLAN • To facilitate low density, high 1.0 General Introduction and quality housing appropriate to Development Context the village location. • Location • To maintain and enhance Rathcabbin village is located 2km off the social, community and amenity R489 regional road which runs between facilities within the village. Portumna, County Galway and Birr, County Offaly. It is 5km east of Lough • To support opportunities for Derg. commercial and employment facilities. • Population • To focus development around The population according to the 2002 the core of the village. Census was 222. This had increased to 243 by the 2006 Census. (CSO, 2006). 3.0 Services and Social • Settlement Form Infrastructure The village is dispersed in nature with • Water Supply some residential development taking The village is serviced by a group place to the north while the core of the water supply. village lies along the roadway to the south. There are a number of • Waste Water agricultural fields lying between the The village is serviced by a sewage two pockets of development treatment plant which offers potential for further development to take place within the village. • Roads and Transport Infrastructure Rathcabbin is served by a local road network and is located at the junction of the L5046 and the L5048. There is a limited network of public footpaths in the area. Public lighting is 2.0 Key aim and objectives provided throughout the settlement. The key aim of the settlement plan is to • provide a framework for the Social and Community development for appropriate residential Infrastructure and commercial development and to enhance the visual character and The village centre provides a selection of amenities of the village. services such as shop, public house, school, community hall and church. Key Objectives 4.0 Architectural and Council will seek to implement the Archaeological Heritage following objectives: There are a number of important sites • The Council will seek to make within the village. These include; provision and/or facilitate the provision of footpaths and Gurteen House public lighting to enhance the Our Lady Queen of Ireland local infrastructure. Church • The Council will seek to foster a village identity and definition of the village by facilitating the provision of hard and soft landscaping and signage. • The Council will seek to ensure the protection of Protected Structures and archaeological monument (i.e by preservation in situ or at a minimum protection by record). • The Council will seek to control ribbon development on 5.0 Key Messages for Rathcabbin the approach roads to preserve and consolidate the built • The settlement should be environment of the village. developed in a properly planned • The Council will seek to ensure and co-ordinated manner in hedgerows, trees and any accordance with the zoning natural stone walls are objectives of the settlement plan. • preserved and maintained in Development should contribute any new development towards the creation of a village proposals. centre around the existing junction • at the church. The Council will seek to • Low density rural clustered style continue to improve the development is promoted on approach roads to the village residential zoned sites. and improve traffic calming. • The provision of additional • The Council will seek to ensure passive amenity spaces that development is focused including playground facilities within the village around the should be provided. core area so as to consolidate the centre of the village. 6.0 General Development Objectives Proposals for development will be assessed in accordance with the policies and objectives of the County Development Plan, 2010-2016 as set out in the main text in Volume 1. In addition to general policy requirements for development, the .