Chapter 7 - The Built & Natural Heritage - Waterford County Council

45 

Waterford City Environs Local Area Plan 2008-2014 

Chapter 5 Economy & Employment 

Chapter 7 

The Built & Natural 

Environment 

Figure 21: Woodstown Viking site 

This Chapter addresses both the built 

and natural environment of the study 

area. The built heritage represents a 

tangible representation of the 

County’s past and its conservation and 

enhancement can contribute 

significantly to the local economy. 

The natural environment should be 

safeguarded and preserved, especially 

those elements that are non-renewable 

Figure 22: Mount Congreve House

46 Waterford City Environs Local Area Plan 2008-2014 

Chapter 7 The Built & Natural Environment 

7.1 Introduction 

The Plan Area includes landscapes of very high quality, notably the Mount Congreve 

Estate, Whitfield Estate and the River Suir environs. These amenities are of essential 

value being located so close to the built up area of Waterford City. 

7.2 Landscape types 

7.2.1 Agricultural Hinterland 

Most of this area comprises agriculture pasture farmland which has been subject to 

pressure for one-off housing. Farm dwellings, holdings and agricultural buildings form 

an integral part of this area. Included in this area are historic buildings set in estate 

demesne and some non conforming existing uses. 

7.2.2 Scenic Landscape Evaluation 

A Scenic Landscape Evaluation, which identifies areas of sensitivity, visual 

vulnerability and classifies the capacity of an area to absorb development, is contained 

in the County Development Plan. Scenic routes within the plan area include the R675 

and the R684 at Coolgower and Ballygunner. The policy with regard to scenic routes 

as set out in County Development Plan which is to ensure that there will be no 

obstruction or degradation of the views towards visually vulnerable features or 

significant alterations to the appearance or character of sensitive areas shall be 

implemented in the plan area. Visually vulnerable areas within the plan area are 

located at Ballycashin, Ballycanvan, and the River Suir while areas described as 

sensitive occur at Mount Congreve, Ballyhoo, Duagh, Ballinamona, Moanmintra, and 

Kilcaragh 5 . 

7.2.3 Protected Structures 

A full list of protected structure in the County is included in the appendix to the 

Waterford County Development Plan 2005-2011 and can be viewed on the Council’s 

website www.waterfordcoco.ie. Such structures within the study area include the 

following: 

RPS No. Protected Structure Details 

15 Thatched Cottage, Matthews Cross Vernacular architecture 

328 Foxmount Country House 

291 Carriganore Country House 

316 Fairbrook Factory Mill Building 

35 Mount Congreve Country house rated as nationally important in NIAH 

128 The Sweep Pub, Adamstown Thatched Cottage 

318 Cosy Thatch Pub, Old Kilmeaden Thatched building 

129 Whitfield Court Rated as Nationally important by the NIAH 

34 Butlerstown Castle Late Medieval Tower House with C18th dwelling 

5 Scenic Landscape Evaluation, Appendix 4, Waterford County Development Plan 2005-2011.



house 

313 Ballygunnercastle Castle 

279 Ballinamona House Country House 

276 Ballycanvan Little Bridge 

278 Woodland House Country House 

Table 9: List of Protected Structures within the Study Area 

7.2.4 Demesne Landscapes 

The study area includes two demesne landscapes, Whitfield Court and Mount 

Congreve. These lands are of high amenity value comprising built and natural heritage 

qualities. Both buildings are listed as Protected Structures in the County Development 

Plan and are rated by the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH) as 

being of national importance. Mount Congreve Estate is situated at a sheltered bend 

along the River Suir 2km north east of Kilmeaden Village and a 10 minute drive from 

Waterford City. The Estate comprises over 600 acres, 100 of which form the gardens 

of international importance. A wholesale nursery business is also located within the 

estate. The gardens are now held in Trust and will be transferred to the Office of Public 

Works for the enjoyment by the State in the future. The gardens are currently open to 

the public on a limited basis and attract visitor numbers around 3,000 per annum. 

Whitfield Court is a 200 acre estate situated within an impressive landscape at 

Dooneen and Powersknock that boasts a wide selection of mature deciduous trees in an 

attractive landscape valley. Permission has been granted on the site for an 18 hole golf 

course, 20 two-storey chalets and a clubhouse/hotel conversion of Whitfield Court 

House, a separate 86 bedroom 4/5 star hotel, leisure centre and 27 lakeside hotel 

lodges, construction of a stocked lake, a new sewage treatment plant and reinstatement 

of an existing canal and ditches. 

Any development within these estates shall have regard to the landscape character of 

the demesne and shall not detract from the quality of the environment. Development 

shall be of a scale and density appropriate the setting having regard to the topography 

of the land, natural screening and visual vulnerability of the area. 

Local Area Plan Objective 

BHER1 

To protect all built heritage within the Plan area through 

appropriate designation and inclusion on the Record of 

Protected Structures 

BHER2 

To seek the retention, conservation and appropriate repair of 

buildings and traditional features such as traditional pub/shop 

fronts within the study area and to assess their appropriateness 

for inclusion in the Record of Protected Structures.



BHER 3 

To protect the character and quality of demesne landscapes. 

The setting of a proposed development within a demesne 

landscape is a significant consideration and will be addressed 

in any planning application. No development shall be 

permitted which would result in adverse visual impact or loss 

of landscape character. 

BHER 4 

To protect semi mature and mature trees, groups of trees and 

tree shelter belts within the demesnes of Whitfield Court and 

Mount Congreve. 

7.2.5 Valleys and River Environs 

Other distinctive landscapes within the study area include watercourses which flow 

into the River Suir- the Dawn River, Whelan Bridge River, Ballymoat Stream and 

Ballycanvan Stream. The landscapes in these areas are of value because of their low 

lying nature and the enclosure created by valley sides and adjacent woodland. The 

River Suir and sections of the inflowing Whelanbridge River and Ballycanvan Stream 

are also designated Special Areas of Conservation on account of their important habitat 

value. 

7.2.6 River Suir Special Area of Conservation 

Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) are areas of prime wildlife conservation in the 

country, considered to be important on a European as well as Irish level. The Lower 

River Suir is designated SAC for its importance for Annex 1 habitats including 

Alluvial Woodland and floating river vegetation. The site is also designated for its 

importance for Annex II species such as Lamprey, Otter, Salmon, Pearl Mussel, 

Crayfish and Twaite Shad. Within the study area the Lower River Suir SAC includes 

parts of Whelanbridge River near Mount Congreve and the Ballycanvan Stream. 

In order to protect internationally important habitats, the Habitats Directive places 

restrictions on the management of land that has been designated as an SAC. Works that 

are not defined as “Development” under the Planning and Development Acts (2000- 

2006) may be considered as “Notifiable Actions” i.e. actions that may damage the 

wildlife interest of the site. These actions can only be carried out with consent from the 

Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Examples include 

the alteration of a watercourse, reclamation, burning or infilling. 

In addition to the designated sites biodiversity also includes species, habitats and 

ecosystems, which are not statutorily designated but may be of regional or local 

importance. Details of Waterford’s natural heritage in terms of biodiversity, flora and 

fauna are set out in Section 4.2.6 of the Environmental Report.



7.3 Water Resources 

The Study area contains several river catchments namely Dawn River, Whelan Bridge 

River, John’s River, Ballycanvan Stream/Halfway House Stream, Ballymoat Stream 

and Keilogue River. All of these are tributaries of the River Suir which is designated a 

Special Area of Conservation. 

The principal legislation governing water quality in Ireland is the European 

Communities (Water Policy) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 722 of 2003) which transposed 

Directive 2000/60/EC (the Water Framework Directive-WFD) into Irish Law. The 

WFD sets out that Member States shall implement the necessary measures to prevent 

deterioration of the status of all bodies of surface water, and shall protect, enhance and 

restore all bodies of surface water with the aim of achieving good status by 2015. 

Good status as defined by the WFD equates approximately to Q4 in the national 

scheme of biological classification. Waterford is divided between two regions for the 

purposes of implementation of the Water Framework Directive. The plan area is within 

the South Eastern River Basin District Area (SERBD). 

7.3.1 Flood Risk and Drainage 

The effect of climate change is increasing the incidence and severity of flooding and it 

is therefore increasingly important to take account of flood risk in landuse planning 

and development. Any development that reduces the rate of absorption or increases the 

rate of runoff increases the risk of flooding of lands and properties downstream. 

A number of flooding related projects have been undertaken by the Office of Public 

Works (OPW) including the facilitation of a governmental review into flooding issues 

and management and the preparation of national flood risk maps. Guidance on the 

Consideration of Flood Risk in Planning and Development Management is currently 

being prepared by the OPW. Flood Points and Benefiting lands in the study area are 

identified in Map 10 of the Environmental Report accompanying this plan. These 

occur along the valley of Whelan’s Bridge River and the Ballymoat Stream through 

Mount Congreve Estate, Dooneen, Powersknock and Whitfield Court. The 

Environmental Impact Statement for the N25 Waterford bypass states this area is 

subject to periodic winter flooding. 

The OPW has recognized the high levels of existing flood risk around the River Suir 

and its tributaries and that there is a potential for significant increases in this risk due to 

climate change, ongoing development and other pressures that may arise in the future. 

A catchment based flood risk assessment and management study in the Suir catchment 

as a means of addressing this problem was undertaken. The study was launched in mid 

2007 and expected to be completed in 2009.




WAT1 

It is an objective of this Plan to conserve and enhance 

the diversity of habitats and species. 

7.4 Archaeological Protection 

The Woodstown Viking site is located on the southern bank of the River Suir in 

County Waterford, close to Waterford City (See Natural Heritage Map, Map 3). 

Considerable items of archaeological artefacts were discovered, and this site appears to 

represent a defended, riverside settlement, with associated industrial activity. There 

was abundant evidence for craft-workings in fine metals (e.g. silver), as well as iron 

working, stone, glass, bone, antler and amber. 

7.4.1 Woodstown ‘Viking Site’ 

The artefacts and the radiocarbon dates taken together confirm the site most likely 

dates to the early medieval period c. 6 th century to early 12 th century AD. Indications 

are that the Norse possibly used an existing settlement of native Irish origin. The site 

was discovered during the course of pre-contract archaeological testing undertaken on 

the City By Pass scheme 

The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government issued 

archaeological directions for the Woodstown site on the 11 th May 2005. The Minister’s 

directions provide that the archaeological site is to be preserved and this necessitated a 

revised alignment for a section of the route. 

The Final Report of the Woodstown Working Group to the Minister for the 

Environment, Heritage and Local Government on the future preservation and 

archaeological investigation of the national monument site at Woodstown was 

completed in January 2008. the report states that the Woodstown site is of fundamental 

importance not simply on a regional or national level but internationally. It is thought 

to be one of the most productive dry sites of Early Medieval date ever discovered in 

Ireland. 


ARCH1 

It is an objective of this Plan to protect and preserve the 

Woodstown Archaeological Excavation Site.



ARCH2 

ARCH3 

It is an objective of the plan to support the placement of 

the site on the Register of Historic Monuments to afford 

it protection under the National Monuments Acts. 

Proposed developments that may have implications for 

the archaeological heritage may be subject to 

archaeological assessment. Such developments include 

those that are located at or close to archaeological 

monuments or sites.

Chapter 7 - The Built & Natural Heritage - Waterford County Council

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