Chapter 6 Housing
P. 134 ,Key Housing Principles:- In accordance with the NPF, RSES and the Core / Settlement strategies set out in Chapters 3 and 4 of this plan, new housing development shall be generally required to locate on suitably zoned / designated land in towns and villages
The zoning / designation of greenfield land for new housing shall adhere to the following principles:
- Application of the ‘sequential approach’ whereby zoning extends outwards from centres, contiguous to the existing built up part of the settlement;
- Application of compact growth targets;
- Creation of ‘walkable’ neighbourhoods, whereby undeveloped lands within 10 minutes walking distance of the settlement centre and 5 minutes walking distance of any neighbourhood / village centres are prioritised.
6.3 – Key Housing principles and 6.3.1 Sustainable Communities. The CDP states that it is essential to provide high quality places to live and that includes:
- Promote the efficient use of land and of energy, and minimise greenhouse gas emissions;
- Enhance and protect the green infrastructure and biodiversity;
- To support sustainable communities as a principle, the development of walking trails should be integrated into future housing developments that are built on a greenfield site (only where Greenfield is allowed for zoning). In essence this means making it mandatory as part of planning permission that a walking pathway or trail no more than 2 meters wide be allowed along the perimeter of the greenfield site. This will ensure an alternative way to travel and take walkers of the road enhance safety. It will also support future walking routes that can be joined with existing or new walking routes. (tracks and trails), joining other villages or towns. (This will encourage people to walk rather than drive). This small amendment to planning will support all parts of our communities to ensure walking on the road is not required, delivering better safety and enhance our tourism experience.can be linked to future and other walking routes.
Comment:-
The two key principles documented in the CDP are not currently supported in the design and plans submitted by Developers for large scale (SHD) initiatives. In particular trees and hedgerows are not adequately protected and are always compromised to fit in more units. The destruction of our hedgerows in particular is materially damaging biodiversity in the county and both the felling of trees and destruction of our hedgerows are in contravention across multiple chapters in the CDP and in particular CPO 17.14 and CPO 17.16 in Chapter 17 (Natural Heritage and Biodiversity), relating to Sites & Corridors of Ecological & Biodiversity Value.
To support this, it is strongly recommended a Environment / Bio-diversity offer is appointed to ensure full compliance with EU and Irish environmental laws are adhered to before planning permissions are granted.
In relation to permissible design of the landscape on zonzed lands requesting planning permission. A green verge or nature strip should always be included in front of houses and also the perimeter of the site. Current designs passed at planning stage allow house walls to be built up to the edge of the open road. It is poor design and both visually and environmentally.