boyle local area plan 2012 - 2018 - Roscommon County Council

PART II: DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR 2012 – 2018 & BEYOND Chapter 8: Urban Development & Design
secure bicycle spaces to encourage cyclists, amongst
many others.
Well designed floodlighting can enhance the riverside
where it is appropriate to the character of a building or
its setting; otherwise it could have a negative impact on
the overall balance of the riverside panorama at night
through unwanted light pollution or inappropriate light
colour or intensity.
Development should maintain or improve important
views of the River itself and the surrounding townscape
which are available from the River bridges and banks.
Development should be of the highest quality and
should respect surviving historic structures associated
with the River such as steps and stairs. Improved access
to and from the River can enhance public safety and
therefore RCC may seek to reinstate historic access
points where appropriate during redevelopment. RCC
will promote safety measures, such as the provision of
grab-chains, ladders and life rings on the riverside,
where appropriate.
RCC regards the Boyle River and the Town’s riverside
as an area which is particularly sensitive to the impact
of advertisements. Careful control will be exercised
over the siting, size and nature of advertising material.
Illuminated and electronic display advertisements will
be discouraged. Within the riverside area RCC will
expect all advertisements to be appropriate in size and
in choice of materials to their locality and to be
properly maintained.
In order to maintain and improve accessibility along the
riverside, redevelopment of this area should not
adversely affect or interfere with pedestrian movement
along the riverside. A pedestrian/cycle linkage from
Bridge Street to the Sligo Road, along both sides of the
river, would be of significant value to the town core and
general LAP area. It would also help to improve
linkages between the town core and harbour; drawing
them closer together (see Figure: 3). Careful attention to
details such as lighting, surface materials, soft and hard
landscaping, seating, signage, the appearance of the
river wall, and the inclusion of features which enhance
this pedestrian/cycle linkage and the environmental
attractiveness of the area. The provision of public art in
this area should also be encouraged. Successful
regeneration of this riverside area will require it’s
redevelopment to occur in a fully planned and coordinated
manner.
Business Enterprise Park/Light Industry
The following points are some of the general principles
that can be applied to the development of a Business
Enterprise Park/Technology Park:
‣ Conservation of the site’s natural features in order
to achieve a suitable relationship between new
development and its environment.
‣ Ensuring a high quality physical environment
throughout the Park.
‣ Creation of a system of useable open spaces that is
defined and enclosed by buildings, structures and
landscape.
‣ Ensuring an effective network of connected spaces
and routes for pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles.
‣ Ensuring best practice in ongoing property-related
design and maintenance standards.
‣ Consideration of the use of local materials and
details, interpreted in a contemporary manner, to
enhance local distinctiveness.
‣ Ability to respond flexibly to the needs of different
organisations.
Industrial Uses
Business Park & Industrial Estate Design
In relation to site and building design RCC will
promote sensitive site planning and low impact
development for business parks and industrial estates.
Emphasis on the siting of buildings should be placed on
clustering buildings and parking to preserve open space
and significant natural features as community
amenities, and to take advantage of opportunities to
reflect and express the community’s semi-rural
character through the arrangement of buildings and
landscape.
It is imperative that the development of such areas is
characterised by high quality physical environments
which are unified and legible. Good design principles
will be required to facilitate the delivery of quality
development within industrial and business park
settings.
The development of a potential business park and
industrial estate in Boyle is intended to provide high
quality physical environment for businesses and
industry reflecting the character of the area. The
principle aims of such development are to achieve high
quality design, visual continuity and pedestrian/cycle
friendly environments, whilst ensuring the functioning
of business and industrial locations. It is also considered
that good design will assist in the long term economic
viability of such estates.
Boyle Local Area Plan 2012 – 2018 Page 124