River Nore Facilities Kilkenny

NOTICE PURSUANT TO: SECTION 177AE OF THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT ACT 2000 (AS AMENDED) AND THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS 2001 (AS AMENDED).

PROPOSED FÁILTE IRELAND PLATFORMS FOR GROWTH SHARED COMMUNITY FACILITIES at JOHNS STREET LOWER, COLLEGEPARK, KILKENNY CITY, CO. KILKENNY.

NOTICE OF PLANNING APPLICATION TO AN COIMISIÚN PLEANÁLA FOR APPROVAL

Notice is hereby given that Kilkenny County Council intends to seek the approval of An Coimisiún Pleanála under Section 177AE of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) for the proposed development which involves the construction of the ‘Nore River Facilities Kilkenny’ at a site of approximately 0.24 HA, located within the grounds of County Hall at Johns Street Lower, Collegepark, Kilkenny City, Co. Kilkenny.

The proposed development will consist of: Construction of a riverside facilities centre comprising the following;

1. Demolition of an existing single-storey maintenance store,
2. Removal of selected on-site vegetation to facilitate the works,
3. Single-storey facilities block with a flat, intensive green roof build-up, containing toilets, universally accessible bathroom, changing places facility, showering / changing cubicles, cleaner’s store, outdoor showers, an external plant area, storage lockers, wash trough, and a drying room,
4. Single-storey adjoining community block with an asymmetrical pitched roof containing a community room, associated kitchenette, and a plant room / central information point,
5. Adjoining external covered terrace area with a flat intensive green roof build-up,
6. A single-storey storage block with an asymmetrical pitched roof containing equipment storage, a dragon-boat / rowing boat storage, and a maintenance store,
7. A single-storey adjoining block with a mono-pitched roof containing a boat / general storage area,
8. A hard-landscaped pedestrian central space with raised central planter / seating, planted areas, boat wash-down area and associated surface water UV filtration system,
9. Proposed shared surface including a central set-down / vehicular turning area for boat loading / unloading and pedestrian use generally,
10. Access route to river over berm comprising a sloped access path with associated retaining wall, steps, landings, balustrading, and associated handrails,
11. Raised walkway from top of berm to pontoon with associated balustrading / handrails,
12. Part fixed / part floating access pontoon within the river,
13. Site services connections and drainage works, including connection to existing public foul and stormwater system,
14. Universally accessible parking bay and covered bicycle parking area,
15. Public lighting to all pedestrian / vehicular / parking areas,
16. Associated archaeological investigations, including test excavations and underwater surveys
17. All necessary landscaping, site boundary and site development works.

A Natura Impact Statement (NIS) has been prepared in respect of the proposed development and accompanies the application to An Coimisiún Pleanála for approval.

An EcIA (Ecological Impact Assessment), an EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) Screening Report, VMP (Visitor Management Plan) and a CEMP (Construction Environmental Management Plan) have also been completed in support of this application and are included as part of the plans and particulars forming this submission.

An Coimisiún Pleanála may, in relation to an application for approval under section 177AE of the Planning and Development Act 2000 as amended, approve with or without modifications, approve in part only with or without modifications, or refuse to approve.

The Natura Impact Statement, together with Plans and Particulars of the proposed development will be available for inspection free of charge or may be purchased on payment of a small fee (which fee shall not exceed the reasonable cost of making such a copy) during public opening hours 9.00am - 1.00pm & 2.00pm - 4.00pm Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) within the period from Wednesday 1^st July – Wednesday 12^th August 2026, inclusive, at the following locations:

• The offices of An Coimisiún Pleanála, 64 Marlborough Street, Dublin 1, D01 V902
• By appointment at Kilkenny County Council, County Hall, Johns Street Lower, Collegepark, Kilkenny, R95A39T. Appointments must be arranged in advance by emailing https://consult.kilkenny.ie or by contacting (056) 7794010.
• On Kilkenny County Council's online consultation portal at: https://consult.kilkenny.ie/en

Submissions and observations are invited relating to –

1. The implications of the proposed development for the proper planning and sustainable development in the area in which it is proposed to situate the proposed development,
2. The likely effects on the environment of the proposed development and
3. The likely significant effects of the proposed development on a European site, if carried out.

Submissions or observations should only be made in writing to An Coimisiún Pleanála, 64 Marlborough Street, Dublin 1, D01 V902, not later than 5.00pm on Wednesday 12^th August 2026.

A person may question the validity of a decision by An Coimisiún Pleanála by way of an application for judicial review, under Order 84 of the rules of the Superior Courts (S.I. No.15 of 1986) in accordance with Section 50 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended).

Practical information in respect of the judicial review process can be accessed on the Board’s website www.pleanala.ie or on the Citizens Information’s website www.citizensinformation.ie.

Tim Butler,

Director of Services,

Kilkenny County Council, County Hall, John Street, Kilkenny, R95 A39T