04. Core Strategy & Zoning Graiguenamanagh-Tinnahinch

Dúnta20 Sam, 2020, 9:00am - 25 Ean, 2021, 5:00pm

 

4.0 Core Strategy & Zoning Graiguenamanagh-Tinnahinch

SO1: To provide for the proportionate growth of Graiguenamanagh to maintain its 1.5% of the County Kilkenny’s population over the lifetime of the Plan and Tinnahinch to maintain at a minimum 0.80% of County Carlow’s population allocation in accordance with the respective County Development Plan Settlement Strategies and any reviews thereto.

4.1 CURRENT POPULATION
4.1.1 Graiguenamanagh

Table 4.1 Census of Population 1996 - 2016

 

1996

2002

2006

2011

2016

Graiguenamanagh

1,113

1,166

1,097

1,476

1,389

 4.1.2 Tinnahinch

Table 4.2 Census of Population 1996 - 2016

 

1996

2002

2006

2011

2016

Tinnahinch

261

269

326

315

306

The population of Tinnahinch was 306 persons in the 2016 census. For the settlement of Tinnahinch, the 2016 census recorded a decrease of 2.85% on the 2011 Census, from 315 to a population of 306 persons. It is noted Tinnahinch also experienced a similar decrease in population (3.37%) during the intercensal period of 2006-2011, experiencing a loss of 11 persons during this period.  

4.2 POPULATION PROJECTIONS
4.2.1 Graiguenamanagh

The population targets for County Kilkenny are set by the National Planning Framework (NPF) and the Implementation Roadmap for the National Planning Framework (July 2018). The transitional Regional and County Population Projections for County Kilkenny are set out in Table 4.3 below up until 2027. Graiguenamanagh will account for 1.5% of County Kilkenny’s population to 2027 which will result in a population of 1,666 to 2027 in Graiguenamanagh.

Table 4.3 Transitional Population Projections for Kilkenny County & Graiguenamanagh

Population

1996

2002

2006

2011

2016

2027

Graiguenamanagh

1,113

1,166

1,097

1,476

1,389

1,666

Kilkenny County

75,336

80,399

87,558

95,419

 99,232

110,000

4.2.2 Tinnahinch

The population targets for County Carlow are set by the National Planning Framework (NPF) and the Implementation Roadmap for the National Planning Framework (July 2018). The transitional Regional and County Population Projections for County Carlow are set out in Table 4.4 below up until 2027. In line with the existing Core Strategy Tinnahinch will account for 0.80% of the population growth of County Carlow with a projected population of 355 by 2027.

Table 4.4 Transitional Population Projections for County & Tinnahinch

Population

1996

2002

2006

2011

2016

2027

Tinnahinch

261

269

326

315

306

355

Carlow County

41,616

46,014

50,349

54,612

56,932

63,00

4.3 PROPOSED CORE STRATEGY
4.3.1 Housing Requirement Graiguenamanagh

During the preparation of development plans and local area plans planning authorities are required to ensure that sufficient land is zoned for residential use to cater for the projected population for the settlement over the lifetime of the plan. The population of Graiguenamanagh in the 2016 Census was 1,389 persons. The population of Graiguenamanagh for this plan period will account for 1.5% of the total population for Kilkenny County, such growth equates to an additional population of 277 persons over the Plan period. At an average occupancy rate of 2.7 persons per household, the housing requirement for this plan is therefore to provide for ca. 103 additional housing units over the lifetime of the plan[1] to accommodate the projected population growth.

Table 4.5: Housing Requirement Graiguenamanagh

Location (Refer to Map 1)

Quantum of land for Housing (ha)

Estimated Residential Capacity

Density

NR1

0.77

15

20/ha

NR2

0.23

5

20/ha

NR3

0.18

4

20/ha

NR4

0.50

10

20/ha

NR5*

1.71

34

20/ha

NR6

1.09

22

20/ha

NR7

2.4

48

20/ha

LD1**

2

20

10/ha

 

8.88

158 Units

 

*Reflects housing to be provided for persons already resident in Graiguenamanagh

**To address NPO 18b

The density of development and number of units permissible will be determined at detailed design stage based on a full assessment of site characteristics and local sensitivities.

 4.3.2 Housing Requirement Tinnahinch

The population of Tinnahinch for this plan period will account for 0.8% of the total population growth for Carlow County to 2027. This equates to an additional population of 49 persons over the Plan period. At an average of 2.7 persons per unit, the housing requirement for this plan is therefore to provide for ca. 18 additional housing units over the lifetime of the plan to accommodate the projected population growth.

4.3.3 Provision of Part V

It is important to note the Draft Joint LAP will also make provision for social housing within the town through Part V, Local Authority and Voluntary Housing developments. Following consultation with the Housing Section of Kilkenny County Council, it is estimated that ca. 34 units are required for people who are currently residing in Graiguenamanagh and therefore do not represent population growth in the context of the Core Strategy. Units contributing towards meeting the social housing for such persons already living in Graiguenamanagh will therefore not be included as part of the proposed ca. 103 units but will be added to same. Therefore, this LAP will provide for a total housing unit requirement of ca. 137 units on zoned residential land. (See Table 4.5) in Graiguenamanagh. 

4.3.4 New Homes Small Towns and Villages

Following consultation with the Housing Section of Carlow County Council, it is estimated that ca. 7 units are required for people who are currently residing in Tinnahinch and therefore do not represent population growth in the context of the Core Strategy. Units contributing towards meeting the social housing for such persons already living in Tinnahinch will therefore not be included as part of the proposed ca. 18 units but will be added to same. This LAP provides for a minimum requirement of 25 residential units on zoned residential land (See Table 4.6 below NR8) with an additional low density residential zoning (LD2) provided to accommodate low density residential/serviced sites in Tinnahinch in compliance with NPO 18(b).

It is envisaged that a percentage of the social housing units will be provided by means of Part VIII Council development and through the delivery of Part 5 housing across the plan area (ca. 10 units[2]).

It is important to note the LAP will also make provision for social housing within the town through Part V, Local Authority and Voluntary Housing developments.

Table 4.6: Housing Requirement Tinnahinch

Location (Refer to Map 1)

Quantum of land for Housing (ha)

Estimated Residential Capacity

Density

LD2**

1.52

15

10/ha

NR8*

1.93

25

13/ha[3]

 

3.45

40 Units

 

*Reflects housing to be provided for persons already resident in Tinnahinch

**To address NPO 18b

Table 4.7: Combined Housing Requirement for Graiguenamanagh and Tinnahinch

Location (Refer to Map 1)

Quantum of land for Housing (ha)

Estimated Residential Capacity

Density

New Residential

6.88

138

20/ha

Low Density Residential

3.52**

35

10/ha

New Residential

1.93

25

13/ha

Total

12.33

198 Units

 

**To address NPO 18b

 4.3.5 New Residential Zoning Graiguenamanagh

In accordance with the Core Strategy it is anticipated that ca. 137 housing units will be required up to 2027. To facilitate such growth, this LAP proposes to zone 8.88ha of lands for ‘New Residential’, with an additional ‘New Residential – Low Density’ (LD1) provided to accommodate low density residential/serviced sites in Graiguenamanagh in compliance with NPO 18(b). It should also be noted that there will be opportunities to provide infill developments comprising of small residential or mixed-use schemes on existing residential or mixed-use zoned lands across the plan area.

The plan allows for housing within the existing footprint of the town and the Council will seek to deliver housing in a compact form through well designed schemes and through measures such as Vacant Site Levy and Derelict Sites Act. The Council has taken a sequential approach to the zoning of land. 

It should also be noted that National Planning Framework; National Policy Objective (NPO) 18b sets out a requirement to ‘develop a programme for ‘new homes in small towns and villages’ with local authorities, public infrastructure agencies such as Irish Water and local communities to provide serviced sites with appropriate infrastructure to attract people to build their own homes and live in small towns and villages.” In this regard, ca. 3.52ha of land has been identified in this Draft Joint LAP. A total of 2ha has been identified in Graiguenamanagh to facilitate ca. 20 units and 1.52ha has been identified in Tinnahinch to facilitate ca. 15 units. It is anticipated each site would be developed at a minimum of 10 units to the hectare.  These sites will seek to reduce the demand for one-off housing in the rural countryside, address population decline through the provision of a mix of dwelling units, support the provision of community infrastructure, sustainable services and commercial enterprise throughout Graiguenamanagh-Tinnahinch.

4.3.6 New Residential Zoning Tinnahinch

In accordance with the Core Strategy it is anticipated that ca. 25 housing units will be required up to 2027. It is anticipated such growth can be largely facilitated on lands zoned ‘New Residential’ based on a general minimum density of 13 units/ha. It should also be noted that there will be limited opportunities to provide infill developments within existing residential zoned lands. A limited proportion of residential development including tourist accommodation maybe considered acceptable within the mixed-use zone which complies with the overall objective to facilitate tourism development opportunities on this site. 

The plan allows for housing within the existing footprint of the town and the Council will seek to deliver housing in a compact form through well designed schemes and measures such as Vacant Site Levy and Derelict Sites Act. The Council has taken a sequential approach to the zoning of land.​​​​​​​

4.3.7 Infrastructural Assessment

In accordance with the requirement of the National Planning Framework (NPF) an Infrastructure Assessment (IA) has been completed for the plan area. This Infrastructural Assessment is based on the potential for delivery of the required services and/or capacity to support new development and is also aligned with the approved infrastructural investment programme of the relevant delivery agency(ies) or be based on a written commitment by the relevant agency(ies) to provide the required infrastructure within a specified timescale.

The NPF requires a two-tier approach to the Infrastructure Assessment which is set out as follows:

Tier 1: Serviced Zoned Land; comprising lands that are able to connect to existing development services i.e. road and footpath access including public lighting, foul sewer drainage, surface water drainage and water supply, for which there is service capacity available and, can therefore accommodate new development.

Tier 2: Serviceable Zoned Land; comprises lands that are not currently sufficiently serviced to support new development but have potential to become fully serviced within the life of the Plan.

Further statutory guidance is awaited under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act on the IA methodology. Notwithstanding this absence of statutory guidance, following consultation with Irish Water in particular, land proposed for residential zoning within this LAP was considered against Tier 1 and Tier 2 Infrastructure Assessment criteria set out in the NPF. The plan relied on traffic light system (red, amber and green) to identify lands that are most suitable according to the tiered approach and in that way aims to align the zoning with the investment priorities of the agency. The assessment was completed as a desk-based study and currently excludes an estimate in relation to the full cost of delivery of the required infrastructure.

The Infrastructure Assessment however only addresses a single site suitability criterion, which has to be considered in combination with further criteria to determine suitability when prioritising land for zoning. The Infrastructure Assessment was therefore included in a higher order Housing Lands Assessment Matrix, which includes further high-level criteria such as “Compact Growth” and “Physical Suitability”. The assessment matrix is again based on a traffic light system, which, when considering the various elements of each criterion, is considered the most suitable methodology. 

​​​​​​​4.4 ZONING

The “Graiguenamanagh-Tinnahinch Land Use Zoning” map (Map 1) demonstrates the zoning of particular lands. For accepted uses within each zoning category, Appendix A should be consulted. The list outlines appropriate uses which may be permissible or open for consideration in each zoning category and is not intended to be exhaustive. Other uses may be acceptable provided that the Planning Authority consider that they do not contravene the zoning objective.   ​​​​​​​

4.5 CORE STRATEGY POLICY & OBJECTIVES

Core Strategy

CS1: It is the policy of Kilkenny and Carlow County Councils to support the sustainable long-term growth of Graiguenamanagh-Tinnahinch and continued consolidation of development within the town boundary.

Objectives

It is an objective of the Councils

CSO1.1: To support and facilitate development on zoned lands at appropriate locations and deliver at least 30% of all new homes within the existing built-up footprints in Graiguenamanagh and Tinnahinch to satisfy the housing needs of the settlement over the period of the Plan.

CSO1.2: To provide for serviced sites with appropriate infrastructure in accordance with Objective 18(b) of the National Planning Framework (ca.3.52ha of land has been identified in the settlement to facilitate such a proposal).

CSO1.3: To implement the zoning objectives set out in Appendix A of this Draft Joint LAP

CSO1.4: To manage the provision of one-off housing on lands zoned as ’Agriculture’. Limited one-off housing will be permitted in accordance with the policy set out under Section 6.4 of Kilkenny County Development Plan 2014-2020 and Section 2.7 of Carlow County Development Plan 2015-2021 or as maybe amended in any subsequent reviews.

CSO1.5: It is an objective of this plan to review the housing allocation / requirement as provided in this Joint LAP to the settlement of Graiguenamanagh-Tinnahinch following the adoption of the Housing Demand Need Assessment and Core Strategies of the Kilkenny County Development Plan 2021-2027 and Carlow County Development Plan 2022-2026. Where deemed necessary an amendment to the Joint LAP will be commenced within one year following the adoption of the Carlow County Development Plan 2022-2028 and Kilkenny County Development Plan 2021-2027. 

[1] Applying an average occupancy of 2.7 persons which is average for Graiguenamanagh

[2] 10% of all housing proposals subject to Part 5

[3] Density provision has due regard to the pattern of residential density in the vicinity of the site and the Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Residential Development in Urban Areas 2009.