elphin local area plan 2009 - 2015 - Roscommon County Council

Chapter 10: Development Management Guidelines and Standards
10.2.2 Access for Persons with Disabilities and the Mobility Impaired
All new developments shall have access for persons with disabilities and those who are mobility impaired.
Such access will be incorporated into the design of the building as an integral part of the proposal. Part M
of the Building Regulations (1997) as revised and any other updates, sets out the design requirements of
persons with disabilities. These design requirements relate, in particular to access, internal circulation,
parking and sanitary facilities. These have to be taken into consideration in the design of new and existing
structures that allow public access to, for example, schools, libraries, shops etc.
The Planning Authority is committed to facilitating the provision of a range of house designs to meet with
the requirements of the housing needs of people with disabilities. There is a need to ensure a variety of
housing types to provide accommodation for people who have disabilities. In order to improve the supply
of suitable housing choice for the future, accommodation for people with disabilities should be included in
all housing estates of 10 dwellings or more. Further detailed information regarding building design and
publicly accessible outside areas can be found in “Building for Everyone” published by the National
Disability Authority, 2002.
10.2.3 Light Pollution
There has been an increased tendency to illuminate buildings to an excessive degree incorporating lighting
that gives rise to glare on public roads. It shall, therefore, be a policy of the Council to minimise light
pollution. Details of any external lighting scheme intended as part of any new development shall be
submitted as part of the planning application. Applicants will be required to demonstrate that the lighting
scheme proposed is the minimum needed for security and working purposes.
10.2.4 Noise
The Council will seek to ensure that new development does not cause an unacceptable increase in the
noise and pollution levels affecting surrounding properties. In considering planning applications for
residential development in areas adjoining major roads, the Council will have regard to any Noise Maps
and Noise Action Plans relating to the site location in accordance with the EU Directive on Assessment
and Management of Environmental Noise as implemented by the Environmental Noise Regulations
(Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, 2006).
10.2.5 Drainage
Developers will be required to provide efficient systems of drainage with separate surface water drains,
taking account of flood levels and of possible increased precipitation arising from climate change. Where
development is proposed in proximity to a scheduled maintainable channel, provision must be made to
ensure that the effectiveness of the existing embankment system is not impaired. In particular, provision
should be made to ensure that the existing embankment system will not be adversely affected by the
discharge of run-off either directly or indirectly to the back drains of the embankments unless appropriate
provision is made to accommodate such run-off.
10.2.6 Conservation of Water
The Council recognises the need to protect or conserve high quality drinking water within the County. In
accordance with the Council’s Conservation/Leak Detection Programme, where new residential
development is proposed a boundary box will be required with a facility of installing a flow meter. In the
case of non-residential development, all new development will be required to install a flow meter prior to
connection.
The Planning Authority will require the installation of economy/double flush type water closets in all
dwellings. Premises with public toilets and urinals will be required to have a flow control device to
Elphin Local Area Plan 2009-2015 Page 118