boyle local area plan 2012 - 2018 - Roscommon County Council

PART II: DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR 2012 – 2018 & BEYOND Chapter 8: Urban Development & Design
8.3.10 Transport (To be read in conjunction with
Chapter 3 of this LAP and Chapter 6 of the
RCDP 2008 - 2014 )
In order for the road network to full fill its primary
function in an era of rapid growth in car ownership and
freight movement, it will be necessary to limit the
number of accesses and junctions to the network.
Failure to do so would result in:
• Traffic hazard and congestion;
• Reduction in carrying capacity;
• High maintenance costs; and,
• Inadequate return on public investment.
The Council will not approve a proposal that will create
a serious traffic hazard. The positioning of the access,
the ability to obtain adequate sight lines and the number
of existing accesses and junctions on a stretch of road
will all be taken into account. The standard of sight
lines required will vary according to the type of road. In
siting and designing the access, existing hedgerows and
trees should be retained, where possible. The
replacement of hedgerows removed with indigenous
species will be viewed favourably by the Council. Car
parking standards (Table 11) will also be required to
ensure that proposals do not result in cars or delivery
vehicles parking on the public road.
1. National and Regional Roads
The National Road network should provide safe and
efficient links between the principle towns and villages
and thus contribute significantly to the economic
prosperity of the county and state as a whole. Chapter 6
of the RCDP 2008 – 2014 provides specific policies and
objectives with regard to development on National and
Regional Routes and Chapter 3 of this LAP provides
more specific policies and objectives for the Boyle area.
2. Public Transport
RCC will fully support the RTI scheme in Roscommon
and will encourage any attempts to expand this scheme
to other parts of the county. Proactive efforts will be
made by the Council to consolidate development in
areas which are in close proximity to public transport
services.
The Council shall encourage developments that attempt
to harness the benefits that would be derived from
improving existing rail links and establishing new
commuter rail links that may be proposed e.g.
Roscommon to Athlone. The Council supports the
extension of public transport options through the
development of new/additional Quality Bus Corridors
as Regional Planning Guidelines for the West Region
2010 – 2022.
8.3.11 Discount Food Stores (To be read in
conjunction with Chapter 7)
Discount food stores typically have a gross floor area of
approximately 1,500-1,800 sq. metres and are served by
a surface car park with approximately 80 – 100 spaces.
The areas where these are ‘permitted’, ‘open for
consideration’ and ‘not normally permitted’ is indicated
in the Zoning Matrix within this chapter of the LAP.
8.3.12 Neighbourhood or Local Centres (To be read
in conjunction with Chapter 7)
It is likely that as Boyle continues to grow in population
terms, that there may be demand for the development of
neighbourhood or local centres to cater for newly
developing residential estates. The areas where these
are ‘permitted’, ‘open for consideration’ and ‘not
normally permitted’ is indicated in the Zoning Matrix in
this chapter of the LAP.
8.3.13 Key Development Areas (To be read in
conjunction with Chapter 2)
Town Core Regeneration
Riverside Area
RCC will ensure that developments in this area have
bulk, massing, scale and appearance which are
appropriate to their surroundings. Single storey, two
storey and potentially three storey buildings will be
considered in this area, subject to appropriate design.
Development should pay particular attention to the
distinctive architectural character and historic interest
of the town. Proposals for significant developments
within this area should be accompanied by a design
statement showing how the proposal relates to its
riverside context.
Development should respect its riverside setting in
height and design, but should be of varied form and
should avoid a predominance of horizontal emphasis
and roof lines where possible. Careful positioning of
new buildings will be imperative in order to maximise
variety, giving the appearance of differing volumes and
heights and taking advantage of the area’s access to
unique views and natural light. Natural materials which
form a more solid presence on the riverside will
generally be more appropriate than extensive glazing or
reflective materials. Development in this area should
incorporate environmentally friendly features such as;
eco-buildings (energy efficient design), enhanced
thermal insulation, improved recycling facilities, and
Boyle Local Area Plan 2012 – 2018 Page 123