elphin local area plan 2009 - 2015 - Roscommon County Council

Chapter 9: Urban Development
more attractive and safer pedestrian environment which should include the provision of pedestrian
crossings, high quality pavements and cycle paths, street lighting and street furniture in the area.
Roscommon County Council has an ongoing requirement for social and affordable housing and will
continue to provide this in an orderly manner. This will be achieved through the development of existing
Local Authority (LA) housing land as well as through land acquisition, purchase and/or development
through the Part V process.
Roscommon County Council, in carrying out its housing functions, will have regard to Government Policy
as established in ‘Social Housing – The Way Ahead’ (Department of the Environment 1995) and the
Housing Strategy for County Roscommon. These documents set out the broad aim of ensuring that every
household has a dwelling suitable to its needs, located in an acceptable environment and at a price or rent
they can afford. The Council will seek for the inclusion of a significant social and affordable housing
element in large housing scheme proposals. It remains the policy of the Council to encourage the purchase
of public housing units by current tenants.
To ensure the proper planning and development of the Elphin LAP area, the Council will require that
housing proposals do not cause traffic or environmental problems or damage visual amenity, and that all
new residential accommodation is designed to modern standards of energy consumption, convenience and
sanitation.
The provision of a range of housing forms, types and locations will ensure that the needs of persons
seeking housing in the area can be met. Where infill housing or higher density development is proposed it
should reflect the existing character of the street and/or immediate area in terms of height, proportion and
materials used. Generally, proposals will be required to maintain existing building lines and to respect
existing roof pitches, fenestration and other details. The Council will also encourage the renovation and
re-occupation of derelict and vacant houses in both urban and rural areas.
The Council will seek to minimize ribbon type development of individual houses along roads in the Plan
Area. This can result in a loss of visual amenity, traffic hazards, pollution and the demand for uneconomic
extension of services along the outskirts of the Plan Area. The Council will therefore seek to ensure that
future development is located within serviceable areas. This will aid the proper planning and development
of the Plan Area.
Development within areas zoned for Transitional Agriculture will be governed by guidelines contained
within the Sustainable Rural Housing Guidelines, 2004. The Council will only consider granting
permission for single dwelling houses in these areas where it is clearly proven that there is a requirement
to reside in an agricultural area.
It should be noted that under the EIA and Planning and Development Regulations certain projects that
may arise during the implementation of the Plan may require an Environmental Impact Assessment.
There are also requirements with regard to EIA for sub-threshold development. Information regarding
EIA can be found in the following publications:
“Guidelines on Information to be contained in Environmental Impact Statements” EPA, 2002.
“Advice Notes on Current Practice in the preparation of Environmental Impact Statements”, EPA
2003.
“Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Guidance for consent Authorities regarding subthreshold
development”, DoEHLG, 2003.
In addition, it should be noted that the projects would also be required to be screened with respect to the
requirement for Habitats Directive Assessment / Appropriate Assessment as required by Article 6 of the
Habitats Directive. Potential applicants are advised to contact the Planning Authority prior to lodging a
Elphin Local Area Plan 2009-2015 Page 98