Draft Portlaoise Local Area Plan 2024 – 2030

I attach herewith my submission in respect of the Draft Portlaoise Local Area Plan 2024-2030.

I am writing to contribute to the ongoing consultations for the Local Area Plan for Portlaoise. As a resident of Laois and a regular user of both Laois and Offaly and a qualified Designing out Crime  Officer, I strongly advocate for the integration of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles in the development and revitalisation of Portlaoise. CPTED is a proven urban planning approach that uses environmental design to enhance community safety and reduce the fear of crime.

1. Natural Surveillance:
Increase visibility and natural surveillance in public spaces by ensuring that buildings, parks, and streets are oriented in a way that makes activities visible to passersby and other residents. This can be achieved by designing front porches, positioning windows overlooking streets and parks, and avoiding high fences and overly dense shrubberies. Strategic placement of lighting can enhance visibility during night-time hours, further deterring criminal activities.

2. Natural Access Control:
Design streets and pathways that clearly indicate public routes while using landscaping to deter access to private properties. This can include the use of low, thorny plants beneath ground-level windows, or decorative fences that define property boundaries without making them feel unwelcoming. Pathways should be well-lit and have minimal secluded spots, which can become potential crime spots.

3. Territorial Reinforcement:
Promote a sense of ownership and responsibility among residents by defining private, semi-private, and public zones through the use of signage, paving treatments, and art. Regular maintenance and improvement of these areas encourage a stronger sense of community pride and deter vandalism and neglect.

4. Maintenance:
An environment that is well-maintained is less likely to attract crime. Ensure that communal areas are not allowed to degrade over time. This involves regular upkeep of landscaping, prompt removal of graffiti, and repair of fixtures and fittings. This not only boosts community morale but also sends a message that the area is cared for and monitored.

5. Activity Support:
Encourage activities in public spaces that increase the number of people in these areas, as this increases natural surveillance. This can be through community events, markets, or recreational activities that make spaces lively and inhabited, reducing opportunities for crime.

The application of CPTED principles will not only enhance the safety of our town but also its overall livability, which can drive economic and social benefits. These principles have been successfully implemented in numerous cities globally, resulting in safer and more vibrant communities. Incorporating CPTED into the Portlaoise LAP will demonstrate the council’s commitment to proactive, sustainable, and community-focused urban planning.

Thank you for considering this submission. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss this proposal further and contribute to the development of Portlaoise.

EMRA submission on the Draft Portlaoise LAP 2024-2030 

Please see attached submission 

Dear Sir/Madam

 

see attached submission in relation to lands at Boghlone, Mountrath Road

 

 

Dear Sir/Madam

 

RE: Draft Portlaoise Local Area Plan 2024-2030

 

Please find attached the HSE Environmental Health Departments response in relation to the above area plan.

If you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact this department.

I trust this meets your approval.

Please see attached submission to the Draft Portlaoise Local Area Plan (LAP) 2024 – 2030, TII ref. TII24-127151.

We wish to make a submission on behalf of our client Graham Developments to the Draft Portlaoise Area Plan 2024-2030.  Our client owns 14 acres of land along the R445/M7 interchange adjoining Egis Lagan and Laois County Council Motorway depots. The land at present is not zoned within the Draft Portlaoise Area Plan 2024-2030.  We wish to propose that the land be zoned for Enterprise and Employment / Mixed Use. 

Our client, Graham Developments of Meehan House,  JFL Avenue, Portlaoise who have a proven track record in the successful delivery of large schedule development projects in the Portlaoise area, would like to explore the option of developing a private green/renewable e-charging hub on part with enterprise and employment and associated services on the site.   

Please refer to the attachment for our reasoning for this submission to the Draft Local Area Plan.

Regards

Eamon Larkin

We wish to make a submission on behalf of our client as mentioned above to the Draft Portlaoise Area Plan 2024-2030.  Our client owns 14 acres of lands at Ballmackan along the N80 road, Portlaoise.  The land at present is not zoned within the Draft Portlaoise Area Plan 2024-2030.  We wish to propose that the land be zoned for Enterprise and Employment / Industrial.   Our client Graham Developments of Meehan House, JFL Avenue, Portlaoise who have a proven track record in the successful delivery of large schedule development projects in the Portlaoise area, would like to explore the option of developing the site for a data centre with a possible solar farm with battery storage on the site.

Please refer to the attachment for our reasoning for this submission to the Draft Local Area Plan.

Regards

Eamon Larkin

Please find attached comments on behalf of UÉ

Introduction

Community Gardens Ireland are a voluntary, independent, inclusive group that works with all agencies and groups that promote environmental awareness and support community gardening and food growing in all parts of the island of Ireland.

In recent years we have been heavily advocating for an improvement in legislation and policies for allotments and community gardens. In 2021 and 2022, we presented to Oireachtas Committees, including the March 2022 unique sitting on community growing in Ireland: 

https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/joint_committee_on_housing_local_government_and_heritage/2022-03-01/2/

At this meeting, we presented our Let's Get Growing report, which contained a number of recommendations for the Irish Government to improve legislation, set targets, and provide more protection and provision of allotments and community gardens in Ireland: 

http://cgireland.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Community-Gardens-Ireland_Lets-Get-Growing.pdf

Community Gardens Ireland made a detailed submission to the Citizens' Assembly on Biodiversity Loss in the last year, and we were delighted when the following was added in to the final report: 

51. The State must ensure the expansion of community gardens and allotments through local authority initiatives in conjunction with private landowners, in both urban and rural communities.  

https://citizensassembly.ie/wp-content/uploads/Report-on-Biodiversity-Loss_mid-res.pdf

In April 2023, the Children and Young People’s Assembly on Biodiversity Loss also recommended the following: 

"28 Encourage people to grow more vegetables for themselves 

35 Make more green spaces in cities and urban areas" 

Link: https://cyp-biodiversity.ie/ 

In July 2023, Community Gardens Ireland made a submission to the national Climate Action Plan (Expert Evidence) calling for a number of changes, including for every climate action plan to include community growing as an action to be performed and for an increase in allotments & community gardens for each local authority. See attached for reference purposes.

 

Planning and Development (Amendment) Act, 2010

Community Gardens Ireland notes that the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act, 2010 contains the following role for local authorities to reserve land for community food growing as part county development plans:

13. Reserving land for use and cultivation as allotments and regulating, promoting, facilitating or controlling the provision of land for that use.

https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2010/act/30/enacted/en/print.html

 

Laois Climate Action Plan

Community Gardens Ireland notes that the 2024 – 2029 Laois Climate Action Plan contains the following action related to allotments and community gardens:

 

Action: 114 Laois County Council will support community-based food growing initiatives through the development of community gardening guidelines.

Tracking Measure: Development of community gardening guidelines AND/OR Number of community

growing initiatives

 

https://laois.ie/wp-content/uploads/LAOIS-CLIMATE-ACTION-PLAN-2024-2029-26-1-24.pdf

 

Laois Development Plan

 

Community Gardens Ireland notes that the 2021 – 2027 Laois Development Plan contains the following action related to allotments and community gardens:

 

NRPO 8 Encourage community gardening, allotments and other use of open space to facilitate lower carbon living education and practice

 

https://laois.ie/wp-content/uploads/Volume-1-Written-Statement-of-Adopted-LCDP-2021-2027-including-Ministerial-Direction-amendments.pdf

 

Review of Actions

 

Community Gardens Ireland notes that the Draft 2024 – 2030 Portlaoise Local Area Plan does not contain any mention or action related to the planning, provision, supporting or promoting of allotments or community gardens.

 

Recommendations

 

Community Gardens Ireland recommend the following:

 

1. Laois County Council should include an action in the Draft 2024 – 2030 Portlaoise Local Area Plan to support, promote and increase the number of allotments and community gardens provided over the lifetime of the Local Area Plan. The KPI for this will be the number of allotments and community gardens in Portlaoise.

 

2. Laois County Council to commit to performing a review of idle, vacant and derelict land in Portlaoise that could be used for community growing purposes. 

 

3. Laois County Council to commit to executing a survey of local residents throughout the county asking if they are interested in an allotment or a community garden close to them, similar to that executed by Kildare County Council and Wicklow County Council in previous months:

 

https://consult.kildarecoco.ie/en/content/would-you-allotment-near-you

 

https://www.independent.ie/regionals/wicklow/news/wicklow-county-council-to-seek-expressions-of-interest-in-community-gardens/a2288860.html

 

4. Laois County Council to commit to opening and supporting a seed library in Portlaoise library similar to the one established within Wicklow County Council and in Hollyhill Library in Cork City.

 

 

***

 

Backup references:

 

Reductions in carbon and GHG emissions from community gardening

In the past, organisations such as the Scottish Allotments and Gardens Society have estimated the potential reduction in C02 emissions from community growing spaces. According to their document “Briefing paper on Allotments, Food and Climate Change: how growing one's own food can reduce emissions from food production”:

 

“If we assume that 25% of a plot-holders food is grown on their plots and there is a commensurate reduction in all bought food (but not in the domestic processing) then 4% (0.5 tonnes) of an individual’s total emissions will be saved each year. Surveys show that crops are usually shared by families, friends and local community groups. If we use a conservative estimate of two people benefiting, then at least 1 tonne of CO2 is saved by each standard allotment plot every year and a one hectare allotment site saves 50 tonnes of CO2 per annum.”

 

The Scottish Government also highlighted the reduction in carbon emissions from community growing, with estimates of between 2kg and 5kg of carbon equivalent for every kilogram of vegetable produced:

 

“Carbon emissions (including reducing energy use, more sustainable transport and less waste) can be reduced by between 2kg and 5kg of carbon equivalent for every kilogram of vegetable produced”

 

Ref: https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/consultation-paper/2018/06/allotments-further-guidance-local-authorities-part-9-community-empowerment-scotland/documents/00537266-pdf/00537266-pdf/govscot%3Adocument/00537266.pdf

 

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Report, 2019

A large argument in favour for the provision of more community growing spaces is that the spaces assist in the reducing of greenhouse gas emissions, improving urban food security, improving biodiversity and adapting to climate change impacts. In 2019, the IPCC released a report which included Urban Agriculture initiatives, as follows:

 

“Urban and peri-urban agriculture reduces the food carbon footprint by avoiding long distance food transport. These types of agriculture also limit GHG emissions by recycling organic waste and wastewater that would otherwise release methane from landfills and dumping sites (Lwasa et al. 2014). Urban and peri-urban agriculture also contribute in adapting to climate change, including extreme events, by reducing the urban heat island effect, increasing water infiltration and slowing down run-offs to prevent flooding, etc.

 

(Lwasa et al. 2014, 2015; Kumar et al. 2017a1209). For example, a scenario analysis shows that urban gardens reduce the surface temperature up to 10°C in comparison to the temperature without vegetation (Tsilini et al. 20151210). Urban agriculture can also improve biodiversity and strengthen associated ecosystem services (Lin et al. 20151211).”

 

“In summary, urban and peri-urban agriculture can contribute to improving urban food security, reducing GHG emissions, and adapting to climate change impacts (robust evidence, medium agreement).”

 

Ref: https://www.ipcc.ch/srccl/chapter/chapter-5/ 

 

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Report – Working Group III, March 2022

Following the 2019 report above, the IPCC released their Working Group III report in March 2022. Detailed within this were climate and biodiversity actions related to increasing the amount of urban agriculture in urban areas, as detailed below:

 

D.2.1 Sustainable urban planning and infrastructure design including green roofs and facades, networks of parks and open spaces, management of urban forests and wetlands, urban agriculture, and water-sensitive design can deliver both mitigation and adaptation benefits in settlements (medium confidence). These options can also reduce flood risks, pressure on urban sewer systems, urban heat island effects, and can deliver health benefits from reduced air pollution (high confidence).  

 

8.1 Sustainable Development: Urban agriculture, including urban orchards, roof-top gardens, and vertical farming contribute to enhancing food security and fostering healthier diets.  

 

8.2.2 Economic development, competitiveness, and equity: Urban agriculture can not only reduce household food expenditure, but also provide additional sources of revenue for the city.  

 

8.4.6  Urban-rural linkages: Urban food systems, as well as city-regional production and distribution of food, factors into supply chains. Reducing food demand from urban hinterlands can have a positive impact on energy and water demand for food production (Eigenbrod and Gruda 2015) (see ‘food system’ in Glossary). Managing food waste in urban areas through recycling or reduction of food waste at source of consumption would require behavioural change (Gu et al., 2019). Urban governments could also support shifts towards more climate-friendly diets, including through procurement policies. These strategies have created economic opportunities or have enhanced food security while reducing the emissions that are associated with waste and the transportation of food. Strategies for managing food demand in urban areas would depend on the integration of food systems in urban planning. 

 

Link: https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg3/downloads/report/IPCC_AR6_WGIII_FullReport.pdf

 

      

World Health Organisation recommendations for public green spaces

The World Health Organisation included reference to allotments and community gardens in their publication “Urban green spaces: a brief for action”. In addition, they recommend the following:

 

"As a rule of thumb, urban residents should be able to access public green spaces of at least 0.5–1 hectare within 300 metres’ linear distance (around 5 minutes’ walk) of their homes."

 

https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/344116/9789289052498-eng.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

 

 

Nature Restoration Law, 2024

 

The Nature Restoration Law was recently passed at an EU level. As part of the new law, EU countries will need to prepare a national nature restoration plan. The plan can include several initiates to support nature, including the following in Annex VII:

 

LIST OF EXAMPLES OF RESTORATION MEASURES REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 14(16):

 

(31) Increase urban green spaces with ecological features, such as parks, trees and woodland

patches, green roofs, wildflower grasslands, gardens, city horticulture, tree-lined streets,

urban meadows and hedges, ponds and watercourses, taking into consideration, inter alia,

species diversity, native species, local conditions and resilience to climate change.

 

https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/PE-74-2023-INIT/en/pdf

Please refer to attached submission 

Please see submission attached.

GST submission regarding the Portlaoise Local Transport Plan

PDF of submission attached

Our Ref: FP2024-044

Dear Sir/Madam,

Please find attached heritage-related observations/recommendations for the above mentioned consultation.

Regards,

——

Brian Bone

Executive Officer

An Roinn Tithíochta, Rialtais Áitiúil agus Oidhreachta

Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Aonad na nIarratas ar Fhorbairt

Development Applications Unit

Oifigí an Rialtais, Bóthar an Bhaile Nua, Loch Garman, Contae Loch Garman, Y35 AP90

Government Offices, Newtown Road, Wexford, Co Wexford, Y35 AP90 

——

Dear Sir/Madam

Please see attached a submission to the Draft Portlaoise LAP on behalf of (Bircrest Limited) Hollybrook Homes.

Thank you.

Regards

 

Patricia

 

Patricia Thornton

Director

 

No. 1 Kilmacud Road Upper, Dundrum, Dublin 14

T. +353.1. 205.1490

M. 086.1004652

W. www.toctownplanning.ie

Colleagues,

 

Please find attached for your consideration submission on behalf of Department of Transport in relation to the Draft Portlaoise Local Area Plan 2024-2030.

 

Kind regards

Jacqui

 

Jacqui Traynor

Central Policy, Coordination and Reform

An Roinn Iompair

Department of Transport

Lána Líosain, Baile Átha Cliath, D02 TR60

Leeson Lane, Dublin, D02 TR60    

T +353 (0)1 604 1177

gcu@transport.gov.ie www.gov.ie/transport