Adopting Core Strategies: Emerging Good Practice

1. Angela McEvoy A/Senior Planner Laois County Council Wednesday 9th March 2011 Adopting Core Strategies:Emerging Good Practice

2. Adopting Core Strategies:Emerging Good Practice FORMAT • Before Core Strategies – • Where we were February 2010! • Before Core Strategy Guidelines – • Pre November 2010 • After Core Strategy Guidelines – • Post November 2010

3. Adopting Core Strategies:Emerging Good Practice Before Core Strategies – February 2010!

4. Adopting Core Strategies:Emerging Good Practice Within the National Context – we are within Midland Region Within Regional Context we are within the CDA (90%) and the EDA (10%)

5. Adopting Core Strategies:Emerging Good Practice • LAOIS CDP 2006-2012 • DEVELOPMENT STRATGEY was by and large residential development led • DEVELOPMENT OCCURRED in Portlaoise , Portarlington , Mountmellick and Graiguecullen and in a few villages in central locations – Ballylinan, Borris in Ossory, Killenard • Medium Sized towns were sterilized by the fact that WWTP are overloaded , awaiting Departmental approval • Retail development was occurring in Portlaoise mostly with brief interluding pressures in some of the smaller towns • Industrial development not happening, however infrastructure and momentum there at all agency level ! • Accessibility across the county vastly improved with completion of the M7 Dublin – Limerick and M8 Dublin - Cork traversing the county • Internal accessibiility within the region still poor – Little investment in N80 connector between Portlaoise and Gateway • Public Transport improvements – investment at Portlaoise and Portarlington Train Stations • Large Scale investment in Social Infrastructure • New Schools – Portlaoise , Portarlington, Graiguecullen, Mountrath, Emo • Library development – Abbeyleix, Mountellick, Stradbally, Balylinan • Playrounds – numerous locations • Leisure Centres – Portlaoise, Portarlington

6. Adopting Core Strategies:Emerging Good Practice Before Core Strategy Guidance – Pre November 2010

7. Adopting Core Strategies:Emerging Good Practice Draft County Development Plan 2012-2018 to be set within context of impending :- • National Population Targets - October 2009 • Planning and Development Act 2010 • Midland Regional Planning Guidelines – July 2010 • Regional Population Targets • Regional Housing Land Requirements

8. Adopting Core Strategies:Emerging Good Practice JUNE 2010 - Directions from Elected Members before Draft CDP • Should we / how can we comply with National and Regional population figures – Housing Land Requirements • Develop Economic Development opportunities • Address Tourism Potential • Address Energy efficiency • Don’t forget the “one off houses” • Cant build on floodplains • Advice from Executive about P&D Act and Core Strategy Requirement and consideration of policy implications on NATURA 2000 Sites / habitats

9. Adopting Core Strategies:Emerging Good Practice Developing our Core Strategy for County Laois • A number of Givens • Settlement Hierarchy as indicated in the Midland RPGS • Growth is to be focused in Portlaoise • Key service Town of Portarlington required Consolidation to allow economic prospects to catch up with residential development • Network of medium and small towns and villages to support the towns as above • 5 electoral areas – all have their own strengths and opportunities • Economic potential of Portlaoise identified in NSS / MRPGS • Retail occurring in Town Centre/ Edge of centre locations • Well executed transport possibilities – M7/M8/Rail/ Bus

10. Adopting Core Strategies:Emerging Good Practice ALSO GIVEN - • In 2010, the National Building Agency Ltd. carried out a survey of all incomplete developments in the County. • 789 incomplete units in the County (at varying stages of incompletion), with a further 2,625 which had been granted at these sites but to date had not commenced construction. • Between 01/01/2004 and 11/08/2009, there were approximately 2,284 one-off houses granted planning permission in County Laois. • It is therefore possible that between the existing surplus on the market, the incomplete units (which could be finished off) and one-off housing, the future housing demand could be provided for, with no requirement for additional zoned land. • Land zoned “Residential 2” within the zoning maps is made up of land that has permissions established currently on them and is the Housing Land Requirement for the period 2012-2018

11. Adopting Core Strategies:Emerging Good Practice • The Core Strategy is set out in Chapter 3 and further developed / supported by • strategic economic development policies • (included in Chapter 7), • the Retail Strategy • (Appendix 4), • the Housing Strategy • (Chapter 4and Appendix 3), • Rural Housing policies • (Chapter 3) and • the strategic policies relating to transport and mobility • (Chapter 10). • Settlement Strategy • Volume 2

12. Adopting Core Strategies:Emerging Good Practice CORE AIM NO 1 • Provide for the growth of County Laois towards a target population of up to 77,059 by 2018, this to be structured in a balanced manner between the Principal Town of Portlaoise (up to 18,106) and the County Balance (up to 58,963), encompassing the measured growth of: • The consolidation of the one Key Service Town of Portarlington; • The 5 Service Towns [Abbeyleix, Graiguecullen, Mountrath, Mountmellick, Stradbally], 2 Local Service Towns [Durrow, Rathdowney], and villages of population not exceeding 800 and , • The maintenance of viable rural communities in the hinterlands of these towns and villages;

13. A further break down of these two development areas into the electoral areas of County Laois (See Map 1.3.5) produces a strategy that allows for areas to develop on the back of their strengths and opportunities within the County whilst contributing to the overall sustainable development of the County.

15. Adopting Core Strategies:Emerging Good Practice This Draft Development Plan identifies • a strategic housing land requirement for the Plan period 2012-2018 of 273 hectares in order to meet the RPG targets for future population growth for the County as a whole including the principal town of Portlaoise. • 67 ha for the principal town of Portlaoise (based on density of 35 per ha) • 206 ha for the rest for the County (based on density of 12 per ha) an allowance of headroom to ensure choice in the market for development land equating to a 50% increase on actual housing land requirement, in line with the Development Plan Guidelines for Planning Authorities (DoEHLG 2007) is provided .

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18. 2012-2018 BORRIS IN OSSORY 2006-2012

19. Adopting Core Strategies:Emerging Good Practice LANDS AVAILABLE WITHIN TOWN / VILLAGE CENTRES / other uses for residential development • In accordance with the principles of the Core Strategy, the town centre/ village centre zoning is the preferred choice for residential development. • Restricted by flood zones identified

20. Adopting Core Strategies:Emerging Good Practice After Core Strategy Guidelines Post November 2010

21. Adopting Core Strategies:Emerging Good Practice SUBMISSIONS ON DRAFT PLAN – what they say about our Core Strategy • A re-assessment of the level of development lands envisaged for Mountmellick and Portarlington to favour the latter rail served settlement would seem appropriate in this regard. • Redraft policy to highlight the policy considerations for new housing development within town and village centres must address. • What’s the quantum residential potential for existing residential and town / village centre ?

22. Adopting Core Strategies:Emerging Good Practice THE CHALLENGES ……..

23. Adopting Core Strategies:Emerging Good Practice APPLYING DENSITIES AS SET OUT IN THE MRPG’s MRPG’s Indicate • 35 per ha in Principal town – Portlaoise • 12 per ha (average) for remaining towns from Portarllington - Ballacolla Issue with Councillors • Portlaoise will be full of “chicken coops” and Portarlington on “half acre sites “ Solution • Agreed with Council to produce guidance on density for LAP ‘s and develop it through SPC

24. Adopting Core Strategies:Emerging Good Practice PLACING LAND IN STRATEGIC RESERVE Core Strategy Guidance indicates that • where any surplus capacity of land and/or housing will be regarded as a strategic reserve and that proposals for the development of such lands or housing will not be considered for development purposes during the plan period; Issue with Councillors • Can’t be developed over plan period – effectively sterilizing it Solution • Dezoned by Councillor’s so that landowners can look at single sites subject to rural housing policy

25. Adopting Core Strategies:Emerging Good Practice ALIGNING THE OBJECTIVES OF THE RPGS, SMARTER TRAVEL, ETC Midland RPG’s indicate objective for • Key service town within Eastern Development Area (EDA)–yet consolidation of residential base Issue • Portarlington – best public transport opportunities within county – rail service going east/west and north/south – its where we want people to live as per guidance from National level. • limited housing land requirement , limited town centre development due to flood risk Solution • Shift the focus from residential to economic opportunity delivery • Work with the Community to stimulate employment opportunities – Community producing a VISION 2020 developed with range of stakeholders • Develop and apply policies to improve job creation to match historical residential development .

26. Adopting Core Strategies:Emerging Good Practice ACCEPTING FLOOD RISK WHERE IT WAS NEVER PERCIEVED BEFORE The “Flood System and Flood risk Management Guidelines 2009” indicate • City and county development plans will establish the overall flood risk Issue • Removing lands with /without planning permissions that were in potential flood zones in towns and villages that would not have been perceived as being under threat from flooding Solution • Ensure you have the expertise to provide the modelling and justification • Public consultation within the Development Plan Process allows for landowners to challenge it and seek their own advice

27. Adopting Core Strategies:Emerging Good Practice WHAT HELPED US DELIVER CORE STRATEGY ? • The Legal requirement as set out in Planning & Development Act 2010 which copperfastens core strategy approach • Economic reality • Lessons of the past – unfinished housing estates, etc • Flood instances / strategic flood risk assessment • Good working relationship with DOEHLG / MRA • Frequent interaction with the elected members over and above what was required

28. Adopting Core Strategies:Emerging Good Practice The “Road to Damascus Moment” The focus of major population growth within the region will be prioritised in settlements where the appropriate treatment of wastewater is feasible – to meet AA / RBMP’s objectives Therefore, policies for the development of housing in such areas must be contingent on the provision of waste-water treatment systems that ensure no negative impact on receiving waters. This also applies to all infrastructure – social , water supply, transport, etc .