Section 1 Introduction

THEME

NATIONAL POLICY OBJECTIVE (NPO)

SETTLEMENT PLANS

COMPACT GROWTH

NPO 3c: Deliver at least 30% of all new homes that are targeted in settlements other than the five Cities and their suburbs, within their existing built‐up footprints.

A substantial majority of the housing target will be delivered within the exiting footprint of the towns in accordance with CSO Census 2016 settlement boundaries.

STRONGER URBAN PLACES

NPO 4: Ensure the creation of attractive, liveable, well-designed, high quality urban places that are home to diverse and integrated communities that enjoy a high quality of life and well-being.

Plans focus on creating sustainable communities and taking account of rural nature of many settlements as well as urban generated development pressure.

NPO 6: Regenerate and rejuvenate cities, towns and villages of all types and scale as environmental assets, that can accommodate changing roles and functions, increased residential population and employment activity and enhanced levels of amenity and design quality, in order to sustainably influence and support their surrounding area.

Plans have been informed by an  ‘asset based approach’ to development which will seek to utilise the each settlement’s existing social, economic and environmental assets to drive the sustainable growth of the town.

NPO 7: Apply a tailored approach to urban development that will be linked to the Rural/Urban Regeneration and Development Fund.

Plans will identify a series of potential regeneration development projects that can be funded under the RRDF/URDF programme.

NPO 10: Regional and Local Authorities to identify and quantify locations for strategic employment development, where suitable, in urban and rural areas generally.

Strategic Employment Zones have been identified in the main urban centres such as Portlaoise, Graiguecullen, Portarlington, and in the Self Sustaining towns. Other locations such as Borris in Ossory and Ballybrittas have also been identified for economic growth given their strategic connectivity by virtue of the motorway infrastructure. 

DIVERSE RURAL PLACES

NPO 16: Target the reversal of rural decline in the core of small towns and villages through sustainable targeted measures that address vacant premises and deliver sustainable reuse and regeneration outcomes.

Each settlement is assessed for regeneration opportunities sites and support the reuse of vacant buildings by a targeted approach to vacancy

NPO 17: Enhance, integrate and protect the special physical, social, economic and cultural value of built heritage assets through appropriate and sensitive use now and for future generations.

Conservation and heritage-led regeneration policies included in the LAP for heritage assets.

NPO 18a: To support the proportionate growth of and appropriately designed development in rural towns that will contribute to their regeneration and renewal, including interventions in the public realm, the provision of amenities, the acquisition of sites and the provision of services.

A series of community plans have been prepared by communities in some fo the towns and villages which has informed this plan and its objectives.

NPO 18b: Develop a programme for ‘new homes in small towns and villages’ with local authorities, public infrastructure agencies such as Irish Water and local communities to provide serviced sites with appropriate infrastructure to attract people to build their own homes and live in small towns and villages.

Castletown in Co Laois has currently a scheme of affordable sites (LCC initiative) which is currently being completed. Another scheme of affordable sites has been granted permission in Killeen in the east of the County which provides a good alternative to rural housing.

A General guidance document  will be worked up with the necessary stakeholders to further this initiative.

NPO 21: Enhance the competitiveness of rural areas by supporting innovation in rural economic development and enterprise through the diversification of the rural economy into new sectors and services, including ICT based industries and those addressing climate change and sustainability.

The growth of the food economy in Laois and rural development supported by Laois Partnership. Examples of same are in the provision of commercial kitchens in Mountmellick together with ICT companies using the Beale Centre, the development of Bloom HQ in Mountrath and the network of remote working and co working spaces that have been rolled out throughout the county.

Within Portlaoise the Regional Enterprise funded “Cube” Development is specifically auctioned with addressing climate change initiatives and sustainability.

SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES

NPO 27: Ensure the integration of safe and convenient alternatives to the car into the design of our communities, by prioritising walking and cycling accessibility to both existing and proposed developments, and integrating physical activity facilities for all ages.

Plan promotes an age-friendly and accessible town which seeks universal accessibility and prioritises the development sustainable modes of travel.

NPO 35: Increase residential density in settlements, through a range of measures including reductions in vacancy, reuse of existing buildings, infill development schemes, area or site-based regeneration and increased building heights.

The settlement maps have been prepared having regard to  sustainable densities in accordance with Section 28 ministerial guidelines. They also have been informed by their character and what is appropriate to each level of settlement on the hierarchy and the services and amenities that exist to service them.

CLIMATE RESILIENCE

NPO 53: Support the circular and bio economy including in particular through greater efficiency in land management, greater use of renewable resources and by reducing the rate of land use change from urban sprawl and new development.

LAP and the Urban Regeneration Framework includes a targeted active land management provisions supported by a number of specific objectives.

NPO 54: Reduce our carbon footprint by integrating climate action into the planning system in support of national targets for climate policy mitigation and adaptation objectives, as well as targets for greenhouse gas emissions reductions.

Plan integrates national policies on climate action by promoting compact growth, sustainable movement and other adaption/mitigation measures.

NPO 58: Integrated planning for green infrastructure and ecosystem services will be incorporated into the preparation of statutory land use plans.

Identification of a comprehensive green infrastructure network to be protected and enhanced throughout the life of the plan.