2.0 CORE STRATEGY AND SPATIAL PLANNING

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1 2.0 CORE STRATEGY AND SPATIAL PLANNING 2.1 INTRODUCTION The Development Plan Core Strategy sets out how the development objectives in the development plan are consistent with the National Spatial Strategy and the West Regional Planning Guidelines adopted in October The Core Strategy establishes an evidence based strategy for the spatial development of County Galway In preparing the strategy, the Planning Authority has taken into account: The strategic aims of the National Spatial Strategy ; The strategic aims and strategies of the West Regional Planning Guidelines 2010; The regional population targets set out by the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government in the Regional Planning Guidelines Review, Gateway and Hub Population targets, August The goals, policies and objectives set out in the Regional Planning Guidelines for the West Region. The Core Strategy, which is required by legislation to be consistent with both the National Spatial Strategy and the West Regional Planning Guidelines, seeks to realise the broad development principles as set out in these documents as they relate to County Galway. The Core Strategy of the Development Plan also sets out Core Aims that will define and shape population distribution, preferred growth locations and consequent land use zonings to be implemented through Local Area Plans. 2.2 NATIONAL AND REGIONAL POPULATION TARGETS The Regional Planning Guidelines Review, Gateway and Hub Population Targets, issued by the DoEHLG in October 2009, sets out population targets for the State and each of the regions up to In accordance with the guidance in the document, the West Regional Authority Guidelines allocated the Regional population with a maximum target at County level and minimum targets at Gateway and Hub level. These targets for the county and for Tuam Hub are set out in Table A. The Core Strategy is supported by strategic economic development policies, including Retail policies, in Chapter 4, the Settlement Strategy in Chapter 3, rural housing policies and the Housing Strategy (Chapter 5) and the strategic policies relating to infrastructure, energy, transport and mobility (Chapter 6 and 7) and Gaeltacht issues. The strategy and the development objectives as set out in this Plan are consistent, as far as is practicable, with the conservation and protection of the environment. 2.3 CORE AIMS To provide for the growth of County Galway towards a long term target population of up to 198,500 by 2022 and to distribute that part of the population growth anticipated up to 2016 in line with the settlement strategy as indicated in the West Regional planning guidelines, focusing a greater rate of growth in the Galway Gateway and the Hub town of Tuam. The continuing support for appropriately Page 1

2 scaled development in key service towns, lower tier towns and villages in a sequential manner will remain a priority while recognising the role that new infrastructure and public transportation links will play in their future and in maintaining the viability of rural communities in the hinterlands of these towns and villages. To build on the regional-level linkages between County Galway, the Galway Gateway and other parts of the West Region by supporting the implementation of regional spatial strategies as set out in the West Regional Planning Guidelines 2010 and cooperating on areas of mutual planning interest; To ensure a high level of environmental protection in the implementation of the strategic aims and objectives of the plan through the observance of all legal requirements with regard to Strategic Environmental Assessment, Habitats Directive Assessment, Water Framework Directive and Floods Directive, as appropriate. 2.4 STRATEGY The Core Strategy builds on the Spatial Strategy outlined in Chapter 3 and proposes a structured approach to spatial planning and the settlement strategy founded on the principles set out at Regional level and the aim of achieving a well-developed urban structure supporting diverse rural areas. The Strategy has been influenced by national legislation and other EU Directives including the SEA Directive, Habitats Directive, Floods Directive and Water Framework Directive and incorporates wider planning, economic and social objectives. The strategy follows a structured yet flexible approach to development, and focuses on building strong urban centres and generating critical mass in the Galway Gateway, the Tuam Hub and a restricted number of towns. Economic, technical, social and environmental considerations have been explored with particular regard to the capacity of settlements to contribute to the objectives of the Core Strategy and which are consistent with the Spatial Planning Strategy, having regard to opportunities for public or sustainable travel and the availability of existing and planned critical water and waste water infrastructure. The population projections for the West Region, the Hub town of Tuam and for the remainder of the County as set out in the Regional Guidelines are the starting point of the Core Strategy population. The strategy then focuses on distributing the projected population growth for the plan period to those settlements where such growth can help achieve the strategic targets of balanced sustainable development and strengthen their role as key service towns and lower tier towns for a sustainable hinterland population. The strategy should also help inform future infrastructural investment decisions so that strategic development and investment become more aligned. The existing settlement strategy has been rationalised to reflect these principles and is based on capitalising on existing and future service infrastructure whilst providing a focus for the continued support of the rural areas. Rural populations will continue to be supported through the settlement centres and through a sustainable, flexible approach to maintaining rural economy and population, balanced against responsible environmental protection. Page 2

3 The SEA Environmental Report identifies the water and wastewater capacity and shortfalls in the various schemes within the county and this is highlighted in Table B. The Water Services Investment Programme aims to remedy capacity issues in the areas with a shortfall, with indicative timeframes for various projects set out. Settlements with planned infrastructural upgrades/schemes are also included in Table B. The Strategy, together with any new ministerial guidelines that may issue, will influence the development of any new retail development policies or strategy that will be prepared by the Council in conjunction with Galway City Council during the lifetime of the Plan. The variations in growth rates combine to direct almost 65% of all new population growth as projected in the Regional planning Guidelines for Galway County, including Tuam Hub, over the plan period to these settlements. The distribution of this additional population as shown in Table A is based on the projected overall growth rate for County Galway as set out in the Regional Planning Guidelines but with a varied growth rate for the settlements to reflect the strategic nature of certain settlements based on factors such as opportunities for public or sustainable travel, potential employment opportunities, proximity of major transportation links and the availability of existing and planned critical water and waste water infrastructure. See Table A The Core Strategy Map provides an illustrative depiction of the Core Strategy and spatial planning strategy for the County. The main strategic elements of the strategy are described and illustrated below followed by more detailed maps depicting the spatial planning and settlement strategy. Mitigation of potential negative impacts on the Natura 2000 network of implementation of the Variation is ameliorated through existing Development Plan policies HL4, HL31-35, HL46-50 for impacts on ecology, HL88-91 for impacts on water protection and IS15-18 for potential impacts on waste water. As previously highlighted, the Core Strategy has been subjected to and informed by SEA, which examines the likely significant effects on the environment of implementing the Development Plan and by Habitats Directive Assessment which examines the likely impact on the Natura 2000 network in accordance with the Habitats Directive. 2.5 STRATEGIC SPATIAL PLANNING POLICIES The Spatial Planning objectives and the settlement strategy as shown on Maps SP1 SP5 inclusive were derived from a simple assessment of the likely impact of each of the alternatives considered in the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). The alternative chosen and then expanded upon in the Spatial Strategy and Settlement Strategy policies and objectives is Alternative 2 Structured Development Strategy Well Developed Urban Page 3

4 Structure supporting Diverse Rural Areas. This is reflected in the policies and objectives to build a strong urban gateway and hub with a network of smaller service centres throughout the county, directing growth to the emerging public transportation corridors but balanced against the strong culture of sustainable rural living the county. The major strategic elements of the spatial planning and settlement strategy for the County are set out below: Policy SP1: Policy SP2: The promotion and development of the Galway Gateway and Tuam as a Hub Town a nationally significant urban centre, whose location and scale support the desired critical mass necessary to sustain strong levels of economic growth and prosperity in the West and a strong, independent hub to support the spatial strategy at national, regional and local level, together with improved connectivity between the gateway and hub to enhance their complementary status and development. Support the role of Ardaun, Garraun and the Galway Metropolitan Area as key elements in the future strategic growth of the Galway Gateway and Galway County in a plan led, sustainable manner focussed on integrated land uses and transportation opportunities. Policy SP3 The careful management of growth in the Galway Transportation and Land Use Study Area, in particular, the commuter zone of the greater Galway City area needs strong policies to shape and direct growth. This area corresponds with what the NSS describes as rural areas under strong urban influences. Page 4

5 Policy SP4 The co-ordination of new growth within the emerging new transportation and economic corridors in the key towns identified in the Core Strategy throughout the County in order to create more sustainable development patterns and to optimise public and private investment. The development of the Western Rail Corridor and new commuter services, together with significant road network improvement during the plan period will have a major impact on development and settlement patterns. Policy SP5 The development of Key Support Towns to serve rural areas. Throughout much of County Galway, there is a need to address the imbalance at County level and build on the strengths and scale of existing settlements and to assist in promoting, sustaining and diversifying the rural economy. Page 5

6 Policy SP6 The protection and strengthening of vulnerable rural communities and the promotion of diverse and sustainable rural areas and villages. Significant residential growth has taken place in the form of ribbonised development on rural roads, in the hinterland of the City. The more peripheral areas of the County have continued to experience depopulation and economic decline, which has resulted in continuing rural decline and the loss of community services in small towns and villages. Further residential growth must be deployed in a manner consistent with sustainable principles and the balanced development of the County. Policy SP7: The protection and management of the areas and assets of the County that contribute to the unique visual and environmental character and sense of identity of the County and which underpin tourism, heritage and quality of life. Page 6

7 Policy SP8: While it is accepted that gateway boundaries have been formally established, it is considered by Galway County Council, based on emerging patterns of development, settlement and economic and social ties, that the Galway Metropolitan Area associated with the Galway gateway is an important, spatially definable area which is supported by ongoing investment in critical infrastructure, e.g., road, rail, water, waste water, electricity and gas investment which has and is taking place and which has provided the economic infrastructure to support the gateway. A key element in the development of the Galway gateway and associated Galway Metropolitan Area will be the preparation of an overarching framework plan which will be integrated into the County and City settlement strategies and should incorporate plans for emerging development such as Ardaun, Briarhill and Garraun and the implementation of an integrated land use and transportation strategy (based on the Galway Transportation and Planning Study) and to incorporate balanced County development. 2.6 STRATEGIC SPATIAL PLANNING OBJECTIVES Objective SP1: Objective SP2: The Council will seek to direct development in such a manner as is appropriate to achieve the overall aims of the Core Strategy in line with the social, economic and environmental characteristics of the County and building on the strengths and attributes of the existing settlements, emerging transport patterns and communications and the distinctive characteristics of the identified rural areas of the County. The Council will support and seek to secure investment in the necessary infrastructure to pursue the spatial and settlement strategies as set out herewith in this Plan. Objective SP3: The Council will support and seek to secure investment for the advancement of the East Galway Waste Water Treatment Plant and the completion of the Western Rail Corridor and other critical enabling infrastructure identified as necessary to achieve the objectives of the Core Strategy during the plan period Page 7

8 Objective SP4: Objective SP5 Objective SP6: The Council will investigate the potential for development of integrated transportation hubs at Tuam, Garraun and at Athenry to maximise the strategic integration of transport and rational land uses. The Council will seek to manage development and interact with the relevant state bodies and private investors, in order to achieve key strategic objectives, particularly those that relate to the development of the strategic economic corridor. The Council will seek to control inappropriate development or development which may be incompatible with the achievement of key strategic objectives, particularly in relation to the implementation of the Core Strategy and development in the strategic economic corridor. The Council will have regard at all times to the environmental and ecological designations, characteristics and sensitivities in the pursuit of the proposed strategy. Objective SP7: Consider the preparation of sub-county local area plans for geographically cohesive areas such as the coastal belt, the City/County interface areas, south-eastern uplands, etc to bring about greater social, economic and environmental connectivity between settlements and their rural hinterlands. Objective SP8: The Council shall seek to review the Galway Transportation and Land Use Study within the lifetime of the County Development Plan subject to funding and in cooperation with Galway City Council. Objective SP9 The council shall establish a monitoring and review mechanism to track the implementation of the Core Strategy through the various Local Area Plans and through key indicators for transportation, environmental monitoring and other factors relevant to the wider County Area. Objective SP10 The Council shall undertake a review of all statutorily required Local Area Plans within a year from the date of adoption of the Variation of the County Development Plan to ratify the Core Strategy and ensure that such Local Area Plans are adopted in line with the broad principles of the Core Strategy and the County Development Plan. Other Local Area Plans shall be reviewed in keeping with legislative requirements. Eastern Strategic Corridor and the Atlantic Corridor The policies of the National Development Plan, the National Spatial Strategy and the West Regional Planning Guidelines promote balanced regional development based on specific growth targets for the Region, the counties of the region, the Galway Gateway and Tuam Hub. In order to implement these policies, Galway County Council in consultation with other relevant organisations, has identified a strategic corridor to the east of Galway City which is endowed with a high concentration of valuable infrastructure. The lands concerned are located approximately two kilometres to the north and the south of the Dublin Galway rail line between Attymon station and the N18 level crossing at Oranmore (see Map SP4). The area as shown on the map is indicative only. The designation of the Strategic\Economic Corridor was based on a framework plan which was commissioned to address the need to accommodate Regionally Strategic Industrial sites. This Framework Plan is indicative only and should not be relied upon as an indicator of land uses within the defined corridor. The Atlantic Corridor is promoted nationally, as a second strategic economic and transportation corridor to channel development to provide a counterbalance at national level to the Eastern corridor Page 8

9 (Belfast Dublin) and is a strong element of the National Spatial Strategy and National Development Plan ( ). The Council is committed to enhancing, promoting and protecting the potential of both of these Strategic Corridors. The objectives for the Eastern Strategic corridor include: 1. To upgrade, improve and maximise the infrastructural facilities available within the corridor. 2. To seek to reserve lands to support nationally and regionally significant activities and to attract specialist enterprise development that is large scale or high value. 3. To facilitate opportunities for science and technology based employment. 4. To ensure development is compatible with the enhancement, preservation and protection of the environment and cultural resources recognised within the corridor. 5. To identify sites of adequate size and location to accommodate necessary infrastructure or support activities which would not be appropriate in proximity to centres of population or sensitive environments or environmentally sensitive economic activities. 6. To inform and to aid the preparation of Local Area Plans for strategic areas and those surrounding immediate environs within the corridor. Within the strategic corridor between the City and Athenry, it is proposed that uses such as electronic, biotechnological and pharmaceutical industries, power plants, integrated chemical installations, railway lines with associated services, waste treatment facilities, pipelines for the transport of steam, hot water or chemicals, over-head power lines, water storage and distribution works including reservoirs, forestry, peat extraction, wind farms, knowledge based economic activity including laboratories, research and development facilities, appropriate, compatible and serviced recreational and amenity facilities, outreach industry based higher educational facilities and car parking will be considered. 1. Each individual development may be sited within the corridor in isolation from other proposed or potential developments if it is considered expedient to do so. 2. Other uses which are considered ancillary to these primary uses will be open for consideration within the corridor and will include groundwater abstraction and recharge projects. 3. Consideration will be given to other compatible or ancillary land uses providing that their location, layout and use are not likely to significantly compromise the optimum utilisation of this area. 4. Development adjacent to and surrounding the strategic corridor will be assessed in the context of the permitted uses suggested above and the potential growth of the core strategic corridor. 5. The Planning Authority will endeavour to secure the infrastructure necessary to advance the development of the strategic corridor within the lifetime of the Plan. 6. The Planning Authority will actively encourage and facilitate development of the type identified as desirable in the Strategic Corridor within the lifetime of the Plan, having regard to but not restricted by the findings and recommendations of the Framework Plan on which the designation of Strategic Economic Corridor within the County Development Plan is based. Page 9