Submission from the Southern Regional Assembly
A Chara,
PROPOSED VARIATION NO. 3 TO THE KILKENNY COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2014 – 2020
Further to your correspondence of 15th January, 2017, the Southern Regional Assembly sets out below its observations on Proposed Variation No.3 to the Kilkenny County Development Plan 2014– 2020 with regard to (a) incorporating expired Local Area Plan areas with settlement boundaries in accordance with the County Development Plan and (b) extend the settlement boundary of the Ballyragget area in order to facilitate housing development, in accordance with Section 27(c) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended).
Policy and legislative context for Observations of the Southern Regional Assembly
The proposed variation has been reviewed in conjunction with the South-East Regional Planning Guidelines 2010 – 2022 and relevant national policy.
The observations of the Regional Assembly are issued in accordance with the provisions of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended):
27C. (1) Where a regional assembly receives a notice from a planning authority under Section 13(1) it shall prepare submissions and observations for the purposes of Section 13(2).
(2) Submissions or observations made by the regional assembly under subsection (1) shall contain a report which shall state whether, in the opinion of that assembly, the draft variation of the development plan, and, in particular, its core strategy, are consistent with the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy in force for the area of the development plan.
(3) Where the opinion of the regional assembly stated in the submissions or observations made and the report issued is that the proposed variation of the development plan and its core strategy are not consistent with the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy, the submissions and observations and report shall include recommendations as to what amendments, in the opinion of the Regional Assembly, are required in order to ensure that the proposed variation to the development plan and its core strategy are so consistent.
It should be noted that the Regional Planning Guidelines for the South-East remain in force until such time as a Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy has been adopted by the Regional Assembly.
Proposed Variation No. 3 the Kilkenny County Development Plan 2014 – 2020.
The proposed Variation consists of the following:-
- A report containing an overview of the variation and proposed changes to the Development Plan
- A Strategic Environmental Assessment Screening Report
- An Appropriate Assessment Screening Report
- A Strategic Flood Risk Assessment
Purpose of Proposed Variation No. 3.
It is noted that the stated purpose for Proposed Variation No. 3 is for ‘incorporating expired Local Area Plan areas of Piltown, Fiddown and Gowran with settlement boundaries into the County Development Plan and (b) extend the settlement boundary of the Ballyragget area in order to facilitate housing development. The proposed variations are consistent with the approach adopted by Kilkenny County Council of providing guidance on the development of smaller towns and villages including a settlement boundary for settlements through the County Development Plan.
Proposed Additional Sections to be inserted into the Development Plan written statement:-
The proposed variation involves the inclusion of additional maps in relation to Piltown, Fiddown and Gowran with an amended map for the settlement of Ballyragget.
There is no additional text to be inserted by this Variation as the maps for these settlements and other smaller settlements are covered by guidance on how land in these settlements may be developed set out at Section 3.3.5
Evaluation of Proposed Variation 3
The Regional Planning Guidelines(RPG) for the South-East 2010 – 2022 sets out the following requirements in relation to smaller towns and villages:-
Section 3.2 Strategic Goals
Strategic Goal B6 Ensuring the availability and affordability of housing in cities, towns and villages, supported by clear rural settlement strategies, to achieve critical mass and a strong, competitive urban network.
Section 3.8 Other Towns and Villages
Local authorities should encourage development of towns and villages through setting out clear policies in their development plans and in other local plans where appropriate. These plans should be supported where possible by measures such as the provision of appropriate services and sites. This would help to reduce the pressure for urban related development in the open countryside and will ensure that existing towns and villages become attractive settlement centres and assist in the long-term vitality and viability of the rural parts of the South-East.
3.1.2.2 Rural Settlement Policy
(2) To strengthen the established structure of villages and smaller settlements both to support local economies and to accommodate additional population in a way that supports the viability of public transport and local infrastructure and services such as schools and water services. of under-utilised land and buildings as a priority, rather than extending green field development.
Proposed variation No.3 provides for the inclusion of Piltown, Fiddown and Gowran within settlements covered by Section 3.3.5 of the Core Strategy and an extension to the settlement boundary of Ballyragget, already included under this section. It is considered that Section 3.3.5 provides for an appropriate level of guidance for the development of such settlements and includes Objective 3G: ‘To facilitate development of housing, economic development, services and infrastructure in the smaller towns and villages of the county at a scale and character which is appropriate in order to sustain and renew population and services in these areas’.
Objective 3G also includes the following provisions to ensure the sustainable development of rural settlements:-
- For smaller towns and villages, no one proposal for residential development should
increase the existing housing stock by more than 12.5% within the lifetime of the plan.
- The Planning Authority may limit the extent of development on any one site within the
smaller towns and villages having regard to the overall water services capacity and the
availability of land for development within the village.
Given the policy statements as set out above within the County Development Plan Core Strategy, it is considered that the proposed would be consistent, as far as is practicable, with the objectives for smaller towns and villages set out in Regional Planning Guidelines (RPG) for the South-East 2010 – 2022.
Strategic Environmental Assessment
An SEA Screening carried out concluded that ‘Proposed Variation 3 to the Kilkenny County Development Plan 2014 ‐ 2020 has been examined against Schedule 2A ‘Criteria for determining whether a plan is likely to have significant effects on the environment’ of the SEA Regulations, as amended, and it has been determined that the Proposed Variation would not be likely to result in significant environmental effects’ and it was determined that ‘a Strategic Environmental Assessment is not required’ for Proposed Variation 3 to the Kilkenny County Development Plan 2014 ‐ 2020’. It is noted that a Strategic Flood Risk Assessment was also prepared and this states on page 15 that ‘the SFRA has fully informed Proposed Variation 3’
Appropriate Assessment
An Appropriate Assessment Screening was undertaken for the proposed variation No. 3. The Regional Assembly notes the conclusion of the Appropriate Assessment Screening that ‘the Variation to the KCDP has been formulated to ensure that uses, developments and effects arising from permissions based upon the Variation (either individually or in combination with other plans or projects) shall not give rise to effects on the integrity of any Natura 2000 sites’ and that ‘it is concluded that the Variation does not require any further assessment to demonstrate compliance with the Directive.’
Conclusion
The Regional Assembly considers that Proposed Variation No.3 to the Kilkenny County Development Plan 2014– 2020 would be would be consistent, as far as is practicable, with the South-East Regional Planning Guidelines 2010 – 2022.
Mise le meas,
Stephen Blair
Director