Rural Design Advice for Individual Houses in the Countryside

3.SELECTING THE SITEIf a proper fit in thelandscape is notachieved, then even awell-designed buildingcan failLandscape CharacterCareful siting and location of new housing in thecountryside are essential to achieve sensitivedevelopment.Much of the character and quality of the countryside inCounty Limerick stems from the presence of a range oftraditional buildings, local styles and local materials.Rural buildings are an important part of the culture,contributing to regional identity, and have developed inresponse to their setting and their function on the land.New buildings need to respect that long-established linkand not attempt to dominate the landscape.County Limerick has a very varied landscape. Much islow and undulating, particularly in the east (GoldenVale), but with considerable elevations to the fringes –including the Galtee mountains to the south-east.Ten landscape character areas are identified in theCounty Development Plan where it is necessary topromote distinctiveness and to ensure appropriate formsof development. These landscapes have differentcapacities to accommodate development. It is thereforecrucial that the proposed location and siting of newhousing fully considers the impact on the landscape, interms of both the immediate and wider surroundings.Particular care needs to be taken to protect thosefeatures that contribute to local distinctiveness, including:The pattern of landscape features (land-cover,habitats, trees, hedgerows);Historic and archaeological areas and features;Water bodies (including rivers, lakes, streams andditches); andRidges, skylines, topographical features, geologicalfeatures, and important views and prospects.14.County Limerick: Rural Design Advice for Individual Houses in the Countryside