2020 Vision for Athy - Entire Document - Kildare.ie

9 DEVELOPMENT OF PREFERRED SCENARIO
9.1 Introduction
This chapter describes in detail the Preferred Development Scenario for Athy under each of the studies objectives
as identified in Section 5 of this Study.
9.2 Summary of Preferred Development Scenario
Figure 9.1 illustrates the overall strategy for the town at macro level with the development pattern for the town
focussed on the reinvigoration of town centre and waterways with limited development to the east of the railway
line. Such a focus will maximise the potential to incorporate the existing built heritage and waterways into the
future development of the town.
The focus of development will be on key town centre sites as illustrated on Figure 9.2 with access to and within
these areas maximised through the provision of sustainable transport links, including bus, pedestrian and cyclists as
illustrated on Figures 9.3 and 9.4. Sites identified include the Inner Relief Street and existing Main Street,
Triangle site, sites west of Grand Canal and Shaw’s Square. Figures 9.4 and 9.5 also refer to the transport
management objectives for the town which are listed in Appendix A. These objectives are derived from the
description of the development of the town in relation to the study objectives in section 9.3.
As outlined numerically in Figure 9.1 and further expanded under Objective 3 of the Study, the focus for future
residential development will be to the northwest and southwest of town centre, east of the railway line, north of
Leinster Street and within infill sites in the town centre and Coneyburrow. Varying residential densities and types
are advocated throughout, with higher densities accommodated within the town centre.
Various options for high-density employment sites are proposed in the town centre and on the edge of town centre
on high quality sites. Low-density employment sites are to be located on the existing site to the west of the Canal
and on a new site in the south east of the town adjacent the N9 road link.
Amenity and open space will be a mixture of waterfront walks, river and canal marinas, public parks, urban
squares, playing pitches together with open spaces in lower density residential areas. New community facilities
such as a cinema, theatre and landmark civic buildings should be located in the town centre. All of these features
will provide a base for increased tourist activity in the town, which will be based on its existing heritage status and
this focus on tourism should be underpinned by hotel developments incorporating banqueting and conference
facilities.
Primary schools will be dispersed throughout the residential clusters in the town. A new primary facility will be
located at Ardrew. The secondary schools north of the town centre on the Monasterevin Road will remain at their
current location, whilst the existing secondary school on the Carlow Road south of the town is planning to relocate
to a new facility in Rathstewart. An additional secondary facility will be required within the timeframe of this
Study. The schools will be accessible through the network of walking and cycling links and it is envisaged that the
secondary schools would utilise proposed playing fields on the west bank of the river on the Monasterevin Road.
The roads hierarchy for the town is shown on Figure 9.5 with associated car park locations. In facilitating the
various land uses a southern bypass is proposed, to facilitate more efficient movement of traffic travelling in an
east-west direction through the town. The option of developing this bypass on the route designated in the current
Town Development Plan or on a route to the south of the anticipated built environment is reviewed in this section.
The development of the outer bypass could allow the current bypass alignment to function as a local distributor
road in the southwest area, not necessarily providing a link across the river and railway to the east of the town. The
town would also be connected to the N9 by the proposed link road providing a direct connection to the N9 on
National Primary Network.
Transport management measures are specified in Appendix A that complement the land use patterns and that were
incorporated into the MEPLAN and SATURN modelling. The measures are set out in terms of their anticipated
phasing. Details of the transport modelling are discussed in section 9.4 and further details are contained in
Appendix B.
Athy IFPLUT Study 85 Final Report December 2004