2020 Vision for Athy - Entire Document - Kildare.ie

• More sustainable commuting patterns.
Local Authorities are requested to promote higher residential densities, but they are not to be achieved on an
unacceptable amenity cost. A high quality of design and layout and high quality open space as well as adequate
shopping, social, transport and leisure facilities are therefore essential. Also, a more varied range of dwelling types
and styles to correspond to apparent demographic changes are encouraged with increased residential densities.
Densities lower than 20 units per ha should be generally discouraged. On “Greenfield” sites the greatest efficiency
in land usage is achieved at 35 – 50 units per ha. “Brownfield” sites in particular in proximity to the town centre
and existing transport corridors can be redeveloped at higher densities. For town centre sites there should be in
principle no upper limit on the number of dwellings, but certain policies have to ensure quality and type of design,
compliance with standards etc.
The Residential Density Guidelines provide recommendations concerning development plans and action area
plans, public and private open space, car parking and internal space standards as well as concerning ecology and
bio-diversity.
Dublin Transportation Office - Platform for Change
The Dublin Transportation Office’s (DTO) strategy for transportation in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) is
outlined in ‘Platform for Change’ (PFC), which in turn is fully co-ordinated with the objectives of the Strategic
Planning Guidelines (SPG’s, see below). The DTO’s overriding strategy consists of two interdependent elements:
on the one hand to implement transport infrastructure and service improvements whilst on the other hand
managing demand to reduce the overall growth in travel. In particular demand management is targeted at
encouraging a transfer of trips, where appropriate, from private car to walking, cycling and public transport.
Clearly the implications for Athy vary from other population centres in the GDA and in particular the emphasis on
public transport must be tailored to suit a town of the size of Athy in terms of its projected population and land
area. However in terms of the overarching traffic management, demand management and complementary land use
policies contained in PFC these are, by and large, as applicable in Athy as they are in any other settlement centre in
the GDA.
In particular, PFC explicitly states that policies to be adopted in development centres such as Athy should be
consistent with the objective of achieving self-sufficiency.
Regional Planning Guidelines for Greater Dublin Area
The Regional Planning Guidelines (RPGs) provide a
sustainable planning framework for the GDA within the
context of the Planning and Development Act 2000 and the
NSS. They provide a long-term strategic planning
framework for the development of the Greater Dublin Area
up to 2016 in line with the recommendations as set out in
the NSS for 2020. The RPGs for the GDA build on the
Strategic Planning Guidelines for the GDA (SPGGDA) and
the NSS as foundation. The vision for the GDA described
in the SPGGDA is taken as primary starting point. A key
element of the RPGs is an increased emphasis on the
concentration of future development into the Metropolitan
Area and into the designated development centres in the
Hinterland Area. The Guidelines also build upon the
SPGGDA by identifying two inter urban relationships
namely Primary Dynamic Clusters and Secondary
Development Clusters.
Athy IFPLUT Study 15 Final Report December 2004