The Environment
- Introduction
- Landscape
- the Water Environment
- Agriculture
- Forestry
- Extractive Industry
- Waste Management
- Built Environment
- Open Space & Recreation
- Conservation, Heritage & Culture
4.7 Policy on the Built Environment
The Settlement Strategy for the County was set out in Chapter 3. This identified the central role that villages and towns will play in the future development of the County. It is therefore important that the environment within and around towns and villages is enhanced to a standard that makes them attractive to both residents and visitors.
4.7.1 Local Area Plans
The Council plans to prepare a number of Local Area Plans (LAPs) for specific areas throughout the County. It is intended that these plans will be prepared and adopted in accordance with the requirements of Sections 18 - 20 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000. Considerable consultation and local discussion was carried out as part of the preparation of community plans for Ballina and Newport. These community plans will be given full consideration as part of the preparation of LAPs for both Newport and Ballina.
Policy ENV 22: Western Area Local Area Plan
It is the policy of the council to prepare a LAP for the western side of the county that will provide for the following:
- the appropriate improvement and expansion of tourism, leisure and amenity facilities attached to the lake;
- the designation of areas suitable for integrated leisure activities;
- the controlled expansion of villages to accommodate new housing areas that are distinctive and appropriate in scale;
- the identification of the community facilities necessary to accommodate village growth;
- the control of isolated and sporadic development that detracts for the shoreline and the hinterland of the lake.
Specific Local Area Plan Objectives:
Prepare a LAP for the following areas:
- Roscrea - to review the Town Development Plan 1996;
- Newport - to provide for the controlled expansion of the town to 2010;
- Western AreaLocal Area Plan - to include Ballina.
- Holycross - joint LAP between North and South Tipperary County Council's.
- Ballycarrane and the Commons as part of the Thurles and its Environs Development Plan 2003.
4.7.2 Settlement Fringe
As the towns and villages of the County develop, the urban fringe moves outwards, thus increasing pressure for development in peripheral areas. To prevent haphazard development the Council will ensure that adequate lands are zoned for all types of development within the development boundaries of towns and villages. These are set out in this Plan. Development will generally not be allowed in unzoned lands outside the fringe of urban areas as this will lead to a weakening of centres, unnecessary urban sprawl and poor utilisation of limited resources.
Policy ENV 23: Settlement Fringe
It is the policy of the Council to maintain definable development boundaries for towns and villages, to prohibit ribbon development and other urban related development, to maintain a clear distinction between urban areas and the countryside.
4.7.3 Gateways to Settlements
Policy ENV 24: Approach Roads
It is the policy of the Council to seek infrastructure and visual improvements as part of new developments within settlement boundaries and adjacent to approach roads to settlements.
The Council will encourage stonewalls, tree planting and improved signage along all such routes. Development will be restricted to that which enhances the visual approach to the town or village.
Policy ENV 25: Towns/village Improvements
It is the policy of the Council to seek improvements to the quality of town and village centres as part of new development. Existing tree cover and important areas of vegetation and wildlife habitat will be conserved, and additions to them required.
Appendix 1 contains detailed guidelines for the improvement and future development of villages.
4.7.4 Town Renewal
Integrated Area Plans were prepared for Thurles and Roscrea under the Urban Renewal Programme and an extended terminated date for the scheme was 31st December 2003 with 15% of the work required to be completed by June 2003. Town Renewal Plans were prepared for the towns of Nenagh, Templemore, Borrisokane and Littleton under the Town Renewal Scheme (1999) and the Programme, which was launched in July 2000 is extended to 31st July 2006.
These Plans were drawn up with local involvement and were designed to address the problems of dereliction and vacancy, and secure improved built-environment and visual amenity in the four towns. It is hoped that this scheme will encourage investment, and also help to improve the vitality and viability of the settlement centres.
Policy ENV 26: Town Renewal
It is the policy of the Council to implement the objectives of the Roscrea and Templemore Town Renewal Plans 1999
4.7.5 Urban and Village Renewal
Policy ENV 27: Village Renewal
It is the policy of the Council to seek an improvement in visual character and opportunities for social interaction within settlements, by enhancing the overall attractiveness of settlements as places to live, work and visit, in a manner that encourages and reinforces community pride.
An Urban and Village Renewal Strategy was prepared in 2001 by Ann Ryan Landscape Architect for the County to comply with the implementation guidelines for the Urban and Village Renewal Measure of the Regional Operation Programmes 2000-2006 as issued by the Department of the Environment and Local Government.
It can be acknowledged that previous schemes tended to concentrate on pavement and floorscape improvements. It is intended that projects under the 2000-2006 programme will have a greater emphasis on landscape, wildlife habitat and social improvements.
A total of 25 settlements will benefit under the 2000-2006 programme (See Table 4.1). In 2003 three schemes are being designed for Ardcroney, Moyne and Upperchurch. A significant amount of consultation has taken place in the preparation of these plans and it is intended that further public consultation will take place as part of the detailed design of all projects under the new programme.
Table 4.3: Settlements included in the 2000-2006 Urban and Village programme
Towns |
Villages |
|---|---|
Borrisokane, Newport,
|
Ardcroney, Ballina, Ballinderry, |
In addition to the above programme, the Council seeks improvements in all settlement centres as part of new development and as finances allow.
The Council will seek to remove derelict and obsolete buildings and sites. To this end, the Council will examine joint public/private commercial ventures that facilitate the development or refurbishment of derelict or obsolete sites, including use of the Derelict Sites Act, 1990.
Policy ENV 28: Derelict Sites
It is the policy of the Council to implement the provisions of the Derelict Sites Act, 1990 to prevent or remove injury to amenity arising from dereliction.
Policy ENV 29: Obsolete Areas
It is the policy of the Council to identify and secure the redevelopment of obsolete areas. Included are areas of backland, derelict sites and incidental open spaces, which are or will be identified as opportunity sites for development.
4.7.6 Brown Field Sites
There are many sites and buildings throughout the County where the former use has ceased and which are now subject to dereliction and contamination, spoil deposits and negative impact on visual amenities. These include:
- Former Sugar Factory Site, Thurles;
- Tubex, Portroe, recently closed down factory;
The Council will prepare a more detailed list of brown field sites and prepare development briefs where necessary.
Policy ENV 30: Brown Field Sites
It is the policy of the Council to seek the appropriate re-use/redevelopment of these sites. Development will be facilitated in accordance with the zoning and/or the guidelines set out in Chapter 8.
The Council will use the enforcement powers at its disposal, where appropriate, to ensure that these sites do not cause human or environmental harm.
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