Bracknagh.pdf - Offaly County Council

OFFALY COUNTYDEVELOPMENT PLAN2009 - 2015• BRACKNAGH •VILLAGE PLAN2009 - 2015

OFFALY COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2009 - 2015Volume 2 - Settlement PlansBRACKNAGH VILLAGE PLAN1.0 GENERAL INTRODUCTION ANDDEVELOPMENT CONTEXTThe settlement plans stem directly from the policiesand objectives contained in the County DevelopmentPlan with particular reference to Chapter 4, “SettlementStrategy” and Chapter 18, “Land Use and Zoning”. This isto facilitate the growth of a hierarchy of well-planned,sustainable and complementary settlementsthroughout the county presented in a consistentmanner to allow ease of interpretation andimplementation.Bracknagh has been designated as a village withinOffaly’s settlement hierarchy, as set out in Chapter 4 ofthe County Development Plan 2009-2015. Thissettlement plan along with the zoning map is seen as aspecific view of the village so that developmentpressures can be focused and properly managed inorder that the settlement can fulfil this role effectively.1.1 LocationBracknagh is a clustered settlement located on andaround the T-junction of the R442 and R419 roads andnorth of the Figile River. It is located approximately15km south of Edenderry, 6km south of Clonbullogue,8km northeast of Portarlington, and 7km west ofRathangan, Co. Kildare.In 2006, the population for the entire district electoraldivision of Bracknagh was 942 people. The area withinthe village boundary contains a population ofapproximately 300 people.Bracknagh is the local service centre for the residentialcommunity of the village itself and its surrounding ruralhinterland. Recent pressures from the Greater DublinArea and overspill from Edenderry have seen anincrease in development pressure within this area.1.2 Settlement FormThis settlement is likely to have originated as a smallcluster of dwellings located around the road junction.Subsequent expansion has in the main, taken the formof linear development along the constituent roads, andtwo housing developments by Offaly County Counciland Bord na Mona. The existing settlement is low riseand low density, with a number of different buildingstyles in evidence.2.0 SERVICES AND SOCIALINFRASTRUCTURE2.1 Water SupplyBracknagh is serviced by a Group Water Supply Scheme.Consent to connection for the provision of a watersupply will be required as part of planning permissionsgranted.2.2 Waste waterThe waste water treatment plant in Bracknaghdischarges to the nearby Figile River, and upgrading willbe required as the village expands.2.3 Other Services(a) Social and Community InfrastructureBracknagh contains a Roman Catholic Church (St.Broghans’), a community centre, two shops, a petrolpump, post office and licensed premises within the corearea of the village. A graveyard is situated to the northof the core and this is accessed via a narrow lane off themain Clonbullogue-Bracknagh Road. A national schooland associated playing fields is situated in the extremeeast of the village.A GAA pitch and ancillary facilities are situated withinclose proximity of the village.(b) RoadsAs development occurs, access routes to backlands willbe required to allow for comprehensive, orderlydevelopment within the village boundary. New roads,which are necessary to serve in-depth development inBracknagh will be required to be designed andconstructed to a high standard, in order to provide anattractive and safe environment.February 2009 | Bracknagh Village Plan | page 62

OFFALY COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2009 - 2015Volume 2 - Settlement Plans3.0 KEY MESSAGES FOR BRACKNAGHa) Bracknagh shall be developed in a properlyplanned and coherent manner, centred on thenodal point of the main road junction. Policiesand objectives with regard to villagedevelopment are contained in the CountyDevelopment Plan, Volume 1, Chapter 4.b) The promotion of low-density linear or clusteredstyle development within the village, with theexception of slightly tighter knit development inthe core area.c) The conservation and integration into newdevelopment of existing stone walls, trees andnative hedgerows, and promotion of similarmaterials for new boundaries.d) High quality designs which are reflective of theexisting rural character of the village, withoutprecluding high quality innovativecontemporary designs.e) Promotion of natural building and boundarymaterials.f) Promotion of the area along the River Figile foramenity purposes.g) Create critical mass to attract investment forservices.4.0 GENERAL DEVELOPMENTOBJECTIVES4.1 The Main Objectives Driving VillageDevelopment are:• Facilitate people who seek to live in high quality,primarily low density housing in a rural villagelocation.• Maintain services at a local level.• Reinforce the attractive rural village which existsat present by permitting appropriate andsensitively designed new development.• Create commercial and employmentopportunities.4.2 Growth RateThe rate of growth must be in accordance with theCouncil’s policy on villages (Refer Volume 1, Chapter 4)and the availability of services (including physical andsocial provisions).4.3 Prioritiesa) Promotion and consolidation of developmentwithin the village as shown on theaccompanying plan.b) Improvement of the existing road network andprovision of footpaths in conjunction withon-going development.c) Create/reinforce ‘gateway’ features to engender asense of place and delineate the village.d) Encourage and facilitate co-operationbetween/amongst the different developmentinterests in order to maximise community gain,for the greater good of the settlement.e) If development is only forthcoming in apiecemeal fashion, (i.e. along existing roadfrontages rather than lands identified to the ‘rear’of road frontages) special developmentcontributions may be applied and pooled so asto facilitate the Council in providing linkinginfrastructure/environmental management etc.,at some time in the future.4.4 Shape and FormBracknagh village is a relatively compact settlement. Itsfocal point is within the eastern part of the village,which will be promoted as the core and mayaccommodate a mix of uses, including commercial andresidential development etc.All new development will be expected:• To comply with the land use zoning objectivescontained in the County Development Plan,2009 – 2015, Volume 1.• To have and illustrate an understanding of thelocal style and character.• To be designed and laid out in a coherent andsympathetically integrated manner which iscommensurate with the size and scale of thisvillage.• To respect the mainly rural nature of thesettlement with sensitive landscaping.4.5 DesignAll proposals shall be consistent with the Council’spolicy on design as contained in the CountyDevelopment Plan 2009-2015, Chapters 4 & 19.Of particular note: -Development shall be well designed with a view toFebruary 2009 | Bracknagh Village Plan | page 63

OFFALY COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2009 - 2015Volume 2 - Settlement Plansmaintaining and enhancing the attractive ruralcharacter of the village. The Council will resistinappropriate suburban styles.5.0 SPECIFIC DEVELOPMENTOBJECTIVES5.1 ArchaeologyIt is an objective of the Council to secure the protection(i.e. preservation in situ or at a minimum protection byrecord) of all Recorded Monuments included in theRecord of Monuments and Places as established underSection 12 of the National Monuments (Amendment)Act 1994, and their setting. There are 4 RecordedMonuments situated within the village boundary.5.2 Protected StructuresA complete list is contained within the Record ofProtected Structures for the County. Policies containedwithin Volume 1 of the plan will apply.5.3 Amenities (Open Space)All new in-depth residential development schemesshould incorporate sufficient good quality open spacein accordance with the County Development Planstandards. In particular, areas of substantial highquality public open space are considered necessary aspart of the overall development of the areas north andsouth of the R419. In this regard, the Council willendeavour to ensure that different developmentinterests consider the above when designing any newresidential developments, for example by requiring theformulation of a master plan or plans.5.4 Trees and BoundariesNew development should ensure the protection ofmature trees hedgerows and the conservation ofexisting stone walls, and their integration into newdevelopment. Where the provision of new boundariesare required, these should comprise native hedgerowplanting, or stone walls which use stone found in thelocality. Where comprehensive new developmentoccurs, it should take into account the pattern ofexisting hedgerows and incorporate same into layoutsor plant connecting hedgerows where hedgerowremoval to facilitate development works is necessary.The Council will require that all new development willrespect the predominantly rural nature of thesettlement, in particular through the provision ofsensitive landscaping schemes. In the event that theremoval of tree(s) is deemed to be necessary, it will beconditional on replacement with appropriate species.5.5 Local issuesa) The incremental provision of footpaths on bothsides of roads, through requirements for works aspart of planning permissions granted, or by wayof development contributions/ specialdevelopment contributions is envisaged, toimprove the amenities of the area.b) Adequate lighting to be provided along all routeswithin the village boundary, over time.c) Progressively underground overhead cables. Inthe case of new development, ducting will berequired under new roads or new/upgradedfootpaths.d) Access points to be provided where necessary,within the village.e) Examination of the possibilities for the provisionof more structured off-road car parking/set-down areas for the school, particularly as thevillage expands.5.6 Zoning ObjectivesLands within the village boundary are formally zonedunder this plan. The zoning objectives are thosecontained within the County Development Plan,Volume 1, Chapter 18.5.7 Map Annotation - Guidance &Requirements for Development1. Possible expansion area for school site.Northwestern boundary treatment may allow atangible link or ‘tie in’ between this possibleexpansion area and any development permittedon lands zoned as ‘other settlement lands’adjacent to it.2. An open space area, developed as a village greenis considered appropriate to the front (west) ofthis area, as part of its development. Therecycling area could be integrated into such agreen, by design, unless a suitable alternativelocation is decided upon.February 2009 | Bracknagh Village Plan | page 64

OFFALY COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2009 - 2015Volume 2 - Settlement Plans3. Development of this area zoned as ‘othersettlement lands’ will require provision for anextension to the cemetery.4. Development of these areas must incorporateappropriately sized and scaled housingdevelopments and include large, usable and welldesigned areas of public open space. Amasterplan showing roads/pedestrian/openspace/services linkages between these andadjacent lands should precede any in-depthdevelopment.5. This area comprises a substantial amount of land,to be reserved as public open space, along thebanks of the River Figile. Any development of theadjacent lands which are zoned as ‘othersettlement lands’ must be orientated towardsthis open space area and provide good linkagesto, and, if possible, through and along this area.Proposals for same should be contained in amaster plan to precede any developmentproposals.February 2009 | Bracknagh Village Plan | page 65

OFFALY COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2009 - 2015Volume 2 - Settlement PlansNOTESFebruary 2009 | Bracknagh Village Plan | page 66

Volume 2 - Settlement Plans | Bracknagh Village Plan | February 2009