Chapter 1: Introduction Aim 1 Sustainable Development To guide e development of e Borough and its environs in such a way at a careful balance is maintained between economic, social and environmental aspirations in order at e quality of life of present and future generations is protected and enhanced. 1.1 The Clonmel and Environs Development Plan 2008 1.2 The Development Plan Process 1.3 Relationship wi Oer Plans and Strategies
Chapter 1: Introduction Sou Tipperary County Council 1.1 The Clonmel and Environs Development Plan 2008 1.1.1 The Council has a statutory duty to prepare, monitor and review a Development Plan. The purpose of a Development Plan is to assess future land use needs (such as for housing, business, shopping and recreation) and make provision for em by e designation of land; and, secondly, to contain policies wi which planning applications for development will have to accord, unless e importance of oer material considerations prevails. 1.1.2 This Plan is known as e Clonmel and Environs Development Plan 2008. It sets out e objectives and policies of and Sou Tipperary County Council (hereafter referred to as e Council ) to guide development and use of land wiin Clonmel and its environs up to e year 2014. The Plan is e product of a review of e Clonmel Town Development Plan 2002 and e Clonmel Environs Local Area Plan (LAP) 2006, which are now replaced. 1.1.3 The Plan consists of: Volume 1 Volume 2 Volume 3 Written Statement, and including e Environs Zoning Map 1A and e Borough Zoning Map 1B; Appendices; and Strategic Environmental Assessment. The Zoning Maps identify e proposals contained in e Written Statement, including ose sites which are identified for development and designated areas to which specific policies will be applied. 1.1.4 An early consideration in making, reviewing or varying a Development Plan is e need to comply wi e requirements of e Planning and Development (Strategic Environmental Assessment) Regulations 2004. The Strategic Environmental Assessment undertaken for is Plan is presented in Volume 3. 1.1.5 The Written Statement is divided into nine Chapters, which contain policies and proposals to guide and regulate development management decisions. It also sets out e reasoned justification and advice on how each of ese policies and proposals will be implemented. Policies and proposals are distinguished by unique references and are shown in bold text wiin blue-shaded boxes. 1.1.6 All development proposals will be assessed against e policies in e Plan. It is important at individual policies are not considered in isolation, but will be seen as part of e whole Plan. It will not be assumed at because a proposal satisfies one particular policy, it satisfies all e policies of e Plan. 1.1.7 The policies and proposals set out in e Plan remain in effect for a six year period, but can be subject to amendment or review during is period where e Council considers prudent in e interests of proper planning and sustainable development of Clonmel and its environs. 1.1.8 Sustainability is a fundamental principle at runs rough e policies and proposals of e Plan. The aim is to work towards a sustainable future where e needs of today are met wiout compromising e ability of future generations to meet eir own needs. This means inking carefully about e activities at we undertake in our daily lives and e way at we use e planet s scarce resources, in particular, land. 2 Clonmel and Environs Development Plan 2008
Sou Tipperary County Council Chapter 1: Introduction 1.1.9 The Plan has been prepared for all ose who live, work and visit Clonmel and its environs. It recognises and builds into its policies e needs of e community for housing, employment, shopping, entertainment, recreation, green space, leisure and oer social and community facilities. It also recognises e high quality of e natural and built environment of Clonmel and e need to protect, and where necessary improve, ese important assets. 1.1.10 The Plan area includes lands previously defined in e Environs LAP (2006), and to e west extends to e boundary of e Ballingarrane LAP (2003). The norern extent and sections of e western and eastern boundaries of e new Plan are formed by e Preferred Route of e N24 Western Corridor Improvement Clonmel By-pass, extending to e boundary of Kilsheelan LAP (2006) in e east. The souern extent is formed by e boundary wi Waterford County. (Refer Figure 1). 1.1.11 This Plan replaces e Clonmel Town Development Plan (2002) and e Clonmel Environs LAP (2006). It also supersedes e provisions of e County Development Plan (2003) for e environs area as set out in Map 1A, e East Clonmel LAP (2004), and e Davis Road LAP (2003). The Ballingarrane LAP (2003) continues to remain in place until 2009. 1.1.12 The total area of land wiin e Clonmel Borough boundary is approximately 1,200 hectares, and e total area of land wiin e environs boundary is approximately 4,200 hectares. The combined Development Plan area erefore extends to approximately 5,400 hectares. Clonmel Borough Figure 1: Development Plan Area Clonmel Environs Proposed Bypass Clonm el and Envir ons Developm ent Plan 2008 3
Chapter 1: Introduction Sou Tipperary County Council Clonmel and environs from e east 1.2 The Development Plan Process 1.2.1 The new Plan has been prepared in accordance wi e requirements of e Planning and Development Acts (2000-2006). A Draft Clonmel and Environs Development Plan was published for a 10-week period of public consultation from January 29 to April 12 2007. A Manager s Report to Elected Members (29 June 2007) was prepared in response to e submissions and observations received during is period, and submitted to e Elected Members of and Sou Tipperary County Council for eir respective consideration. 1.2.2 Having considered e Draft Plan, and e recommendations of e Manager s Report, e Members of e Councils resolved to make various amendments. Furer written submissions or observations on e proposed amendments at constituted material alterations of e Draft Plan were invited during October 2007. These submissions and observations were summarised in a second Manager s Report to Elected Members (November 2007), togeer wi e Manager s recommendations on ose issues to be adopted in e Final Development Plan. The non-material alterations proposed by e planning auority and incorporated in e Manager s Report were adopted accordingly. 1.2.3 The Plan was formally adopted by on 8 January 2008 and by Sou Tipperary County Council on 14 January 2008 and came into effect on 11 February 2008. 1.3 Relationship wi Oer Plans and Strategies 1.3.1 The Plan does not exist in isolation; it is part of a wider planning framework, which includes bo national and regional planning policy and guidance. These various levels of planning policy and guidance provide e strategic context at e Plan must take into account and respond to at e local level. Sustainable Development: A Strategy for Ireland (1997) 1.3.2 4 This Government Strategy provides e framework for e achievement of sustainability at e local level. It calls on planning auorities to incorporate e principles of sustainable development into eir Development Plans and to ensure at planning policies support its achievement. In particular, e strategy stresses e need for planning auorities to take a strategic view of settlement patterns, avoiding development at results in e inefficient use of land. Clonm el and Envir ons Developm ent Plan 2008
Sou Tipperary County Council Chapter 1: Introduction The National Development Plan (2007-2013) 1.3.3 The National Development Plan (NDP), launched in 2007 and entitled Transforming Ireland A Better Quality of Life for All, is a new seven year plan aimed at building a prosperous Ireland for all its people, characterised by sustainable economic grow, greater social inclusion and balanced regional development. The NDP integrates strategic development frameworks for regional development, for rural communities, for all-island co-operation, and for protection of e environment wi common economic and social goals. National Spatial Strategy (2002) 1.3.4 The National Spatial Strategy (NSS) presents a coherent national planning framework for Ireland over a 20-year period. It aims to achieve a better balance of social, economic and physical development across Ireland, supported by more effective planning. 1.3.5 Clonmel, while not identified as a Gateway or Hub in e NSS, was recognised as e principal County town wi a good population base and a centre for attracting investment and employment activities. Sou-East Regional Planning Guidelines (2004) 1.3.6 The Regional Planning Guidelines (RPG) were adopted by e Sou East Regional Auority in May 2004. In February 2005 e Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government (DoEHLG) published Best Practice Guidelines Implementing Regional Planning Guidelines. Section 2.1 of ese Best Practice Guidelines recommends at a statement at positively affirms e RPG be inserted into Development Plans. 1.3.7 It is considered at e development policies of is Plan will ensure e sustainable use of land and provision of services and infrastructure and e economic, social and cultural grow of e town. Such policies are erefore considered to be consistent wi e provisions of e RPG. 1.3.8 Section 1.2.3 of e RPG outlines e position of e county towns in e Sou-East Region in terms of e NSS: Clonmel is identified as one of e centres at will drive regional grow by providing a large and skilled population base, substantial capacity for additional residential and employment-related functions and an improved transport network. These centres will be complemented by development in surrounding and adjacent towns, which, combined wi e gateway and hub approach of e NSS, provide a strong platform for balanced regional development. 1.3.9 This Plan reinforces e approach of Clonmel as e county town, and accompanying policy statements (such as e Integrated Urban Strategy for Clonmel) and National Development Plan infrastructure initiatives (such as e planned N24 Clonmel Bypass or outer relief road ) also support e objectives of e RPG. Clonmel and Environs Development Plan 2008 5
Chapter 1: Introduction Sou Tipperary County Council Sou Tipperary County Development Plan (2003) 1.3.10 Each County or City planning auority must prepare a Development Plan at reflects e provisions of e RPG. The Sou Tipperary County Development Plan (2003) identifies Clonmel as e County town e top tier of e County settlement strategy. In addition, each Town Council wiin each County must prepare a Development Plan at reflects e provisions of e County Development Plan. In is way, a consistent planning approach on broader issues is achieved at regional and local levels. Oer Plans and Strategies 1.3.11 Oer strategies and policy documents at have been considered prior to e making of is Plan include: Clonmel Integrated Urban Strategy (2003); Waterford County Development Plan (2005); Sou Tipperary County Council Housing Strategy Review (2004-2009); Sou Tipperary Retail Strategy (2003); Joint Waste Management Plan for e Sou-East Region (2006); Sou Tipperary County Strategy (2002), County Development Board; Sou Tipperary Traveller Accommodation Programme (2005-2008); and Sou Tipperary Heritage Plan (2004-2008). 6 Clonmel and Environs Development Plan 2008