Lough Gur Environmental Management Study February 2009

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The Planning Authority will exercise a high level of control (layout design, siting, materials used,
landscaping) on developments in these areas. In such areas site specific designs are required. It
should be noted that in areas outside these delineated areas, high standards will also be required.
The Development Plan further recognises the amenity and archaeological importance of Lough Gur
by including specific policy objectives for its protection and, in particular, by defining an area of
Special Development Control. Policy ENV 13: Lough Gur Landscape Character Area of the
Environment and Heritage Chapter of the Development Plan states that:
(a) It is the policy of the Council to safeguard the visual amenity of the area and to have regard
to the views and prospects in and out of Lough Gur.
(b) To have regard to the archaeological importance and richness of the area indicated in Map 7.5
as a zone of archaeological amenity. Any developments within the zone will be required to
provide for an archaeological examination during the course of excavations or other ground
disturbance.
(c) To safeguard the existence of Natural Heritage Areas and the Wildfowl sanctuary when
assessing applications for development in the area.
(d) There will be a presumption against development, including residential development, in the
area of Special Development Control, shown on Map 7.5, except in exceptional circumstances.
Appropriate tourism development and extensions to existing properties, which respect the special
character of Lough Gur, will be considered.
In consideration of Archaeological Heritage Policies generally, the Development Plan indicates that
developers should take into account the archaeological provisions of Table 12.1 and the following
Section 12.5.2 of the Development Control Guidelines:
In cases where it is deemed that the Archaeological Heritage would be affected by a proposed
development (due to their location, size or nature), the Planning Authority will require an
archaeological assessment. The applicant will be formally requested, as part of the planning
process to have a report prepared by an archaeologist on the archaeological implications, if any,
of the proposed development either prior to a decision on a planning application or prior to
commencement of development on site. In relation to development proposals the planning
authority will adopt a policy of archaeological monitoring which will be required on developments
where the scale and nature of such developments may, in the opinion of the planning authority,
have a negative impact on previously unknown archaeological features/artefacts. In areas of
residential zoning, consideration will be given to applicant monitoring the entire area rather than
considering individual applications within this zoned area on its merits.
In relation to archaeological assessment of sites, applicants will also be required to define the
buffer area or area contiguous with any monument which will preserve the setting and visual
amenity of the site. The area of the monument and buffer should not be included as part of the
open space requirement demanded of specific developments but should be additional to the
required open spaces. Developers are also advised of additional requirements under the National
Monuments (Amendment) Act, 1994.
Lough Gur Environmental Management Study