2020 Vision for Athy - Entire Document - Kildare.ie

preference of private car transport on grounds of sustainability and proper planning and development. In particular
rail transportation is to be enhanced. The Council seeks for extension of a commuter service to Athy. The County
Development Plan 2005-2011 is currently being drafted.
Kildare County Housing Strategy 2001-2005
The Housing Strategy sets out a strategy for the development of housing in County Kildare. It assesses the need
for housing and puts forwards measures for meeting this need.
The Strategy gives evidence that the land zoned in County Kildare will be not sufficient to meet the housing needs
until 2005. It has to be noted though that the capacity of the zoned land is calculated on a basis of 20 units per
hectare, which is considered as not desirable under the Residential Density Guidelines (see above). The Strategy
also states that there are no major obstacles to housing development in County Kildare, but that continued
investment in infrastructures and support services are necessary. The Housing Strategy predicts an average
household size in the county of 2.97 for 2006.
Furthermore the Strategy identifies a backlog of affordable housing in the County in general and for Athy and
other towns in particular. It is expected that also in the future the demand for social and affordable housing will
exceed the anticipated supply.
Concerning the spatial distribution of housing the Strategy confirms the relevant policies set out in the Kildare
Development Plan and the SPGGDA. It reinstates that major transport corridors and designated primary and
secondary growth centres will be the preferred locations for attracting the greater part of the anticipated housing
growth.
An increasingly pressing need is also identified to deal with the traffic congestion in Athy and to develop traffic
management schemes, relief roads and other improvements.
Kildare 2012: An Economic, Social and Cultural Strategy
Kildare 2012 provides a framework for County Kildare as a whole for the next 10 years, jointly signed by the
major stakeholders and agencies and drawn up and managed by the Kildare County Development Board (KCDB).
It is the goal of the Strategy to achieve a better quality of life, better quality services, a better quality environment
as well as equality, inclusion and co-operation.
With help of a SWOT analysis the Strategy identifies key challenges Kildare is faced with:
• Location close to Dublin,
• Population growth and pressure,
• Economic change, and
• Slow pace of social and cultural development.
In order to respond to these challenges, objectives have been developed, which deal with the following issues:
• Transport and Communications
• Housing and Physical Infrastructure
• Community Needs
• Economic Progress, Skills and Regional Development
• Agriculture, Farming and Rural Development
• Environmental Issues
• Education, Training and Capacity Building
• A Sense of Place
In transport terms it is a goal to decrease the use of the private
car and to encourage alternative modes of transport. Also, an integrated, comprehensive, reliable and accessible
public and private transport system is to be achieved, as well as improved road safety in urban and rural areas.
Athy IFPLUT Study 18 Final Report December 2004