2020 Vision for Athy - Entire Document - Kildare.ie

Objective 5 Consolidate commercial and retail
development in the existing town centre.
Scenario B complies with Objective 5. Redevelopment sites
will become available for retail and commercial development
as well as for high-density employment close to the town
centre. The lands of Tegral and Minch Norton will be
redeveloped for a mix of offices, retail and some
industry/warehousing. They constitute major sites close to
the town centre, which will contribute to the consolidation
and reinforcement of the core. Immediately within the town
centre three other sites will be developed with a strong focus
on retailing: the cinema site at the train station, the Convent
site in Stanhope Place and the Triangle. Future residential
areas are in easy reach of future and existing commercial
areas, which will further contribute to the consolidation of
the town centre.
Objective 6 Strategic location of high-density
employment opportunities with respect to residential
areas and public transport nodes.
Within Scenario B, a provision for high-density employment
has been made on the existing Tegral and Minch Norton site.
This commercial zone will facilitate a significant number of
walking trips from adjacent residential areas such as Ardrew
is also in close proximity to the town centre bus stops and
will attract walking trips from the railway station.
Objective 7 Strategic location of schools and slow mode
routes to promote sustainable travel.
Primary Schools
Scenario B complies fully with this objective, with the entire
town falling within the acceptable walking distance of a
primary school. Similarly to Scenario A, the provision of
new primary schools in the residential centres of Ardrew and
Conneyburrow will attract a large volume of sustainable
trips, whilst the existing primary schools to the north of the
town centre will continue to draw children from the
residential estates in the north of the town.
Unlike Scenario A, the limited residential expansion to the
east of the town reduces the isolation of this region and
hence reduces the dependency of car travel. Furthermore, the
potential to create a slow mode route linking residential areas
to the northeast of the town with the existing town centre
school, via a new pedestrian bridge crossing of the rail line
will further enhance the likelihood of slow mode travel. The
creation of such a route will be of benefit to residents and
children alike, regardless of the scenario that is developed.
Secondary Schools
Again it is clear from the assessment that Scenario B meets
this objective with 89% of the town’s population living
within a desirable distance of a secondary school and the
remainder of the town residing within an acceptable distance
of a secondary school.
Figure 8.7 Walking Assessment from
Residential Areas to Secondary School
Figure 8.8 Walking Assessment from
Residential Areas to Primary Schools
Athy IFPLUT Study 72 Final Report December 2004