boyle local area plan 2012 - 2018 - Roscommon County Council

PART I: INTRODUCTION & CONTEXT Chapter 2: Historic Context, Settlement Policy & Vision
New development in this area should have a special
architectural and aesthetic quality appropriate to its
context, should include uses which enhance
enjoyment of the river, and should take account of
existing historic buildings, sites, structures, skylines,
important views and archaeological remains. The
town’s riverside makes an important contribution to
the historic and architectural character of central
Boyle through the presence of numerous listed
buildings and landmarks of importance such as King
House. Development along the riverside has great
prominence due to its town centre location and
therefore should be of the highest quality. See
Chapter 8 for further details and guidance on this Key
Development Area. Successful regeneration of this
riverside area will require it’s redevelopment to occur
in a fully planned and co-ordinated manner.
Photo 10: Fishing in the Boyle River, opposite the
Pleasure Grounds
Other sites
There are a significant number of other potential
development sites within the town core and it is a
priority to ensure that they are sensitively redeveloped
in order to protect the historic urban pattern of the
town. For example there are several disused and/or
derelict buildings along Main Street, Patrick Street,
Elphin Street and particularly Green Street, which need
to be regenerated. These areas are considered to have
significant development potential that can be exploited
to build up a strong economic and commercial base
within the town. In this regard there is a particular site
with significant development potential on Patrick Street
(Candon’s). It has direct frontage to the street and
currently accommodates an obsolete and derelict
structure. There is a significant backland area to the
rear of the existing structures (see Map 12). Further
potential development sites within the town include for
example the old Green Isle Foods site along the N61;
amongst others (see Map 12).
RCC will generally encourage the provision of a
sustainable mix of uses: retail and complementary
service uses at ground floor level, office, community
and leisure uses at first floor, and office and residential
on the upper floors. See Map 12 – Opportunities Map,
14a & 14b - Land Use Zoning and Figures 4 & 4(B)
Preferred Development Strategy. A key objective of the
development strategy for the town core is to enhance
accessibility and through connectivity for pedestrians
and cyclists.
In considering regeneration/redevelopment proposals,
building solutions will be sought that will enhance the
physical quality of Boyle. In this regard, all development
proposals will be carefully assessed to ensure a high
quality of design and the provision of a high quality
environment.
Leisure Tourism
Further development of the tourism product in Boyle by
building on the existing potential of the town is
imperative. The improvement of the visual amenity of
the approach roads and public realm, in addition to
highlighting the natural, man-made and other hidden
assets of the town is vital in order to encourage and
entice people to visit and stay in Boyle. It is an
objective of this plan to facilitate and guide the
development of additional attractions and encourage
tourists to extend their stay and increase expenditure in
the town.
In light of the above, two Key Development Areas have
been identified for Leisure Tourism; an area in
Knocknashee to the west of the N61 and an area
surrounding Boyle Harbour (see Figure 4). The land
west of the N61 has been identified for a new hotel for
Boyle, an accommodation base which is crucial to the
future development of the area. The Roscommon
Tourism Strategy 2010-2014 states that the absence of a
major accommodation base in Boyle is an identifiable
weakness, particularly when the town and Lough Key
are major attractions for visitors. It specifically states
the need for a quality hotel in Boyle. This LAP has
identified a potential suitable site for such development
in the town, which is in close proximity to the town
centre and Boyle Harbour (see Map 12). A quality hotel
with facilities such as underground parking, restaurants,
and conference facilities, amongst others, would assist
in making Boyle an attractive venue for business
tourism. It could also incorporate facilities such as a
leisure and fitness centre with a gymnasium, spa,
swimming pool and other tourist related uses/facilities.
It is considered that the development of a quality hotel
and associated recreational uses would assist in
drawing the town centre and Boyle Harbour closer
together and improving tourist activity in the area. RCC
believes that the tourism industry has the potential to
grow significantly in the Boyle area and will support
further investment proposals that will expand and
upgrade the tourism product on offer.
Boyle Local Area Plan 2012-2018 Page 15