VILLAGE PLANS - Offaly County Council

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OFFALY COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2009 - 2015 Volume 2 - Settlement Plans intended that the area delineated will: - • Foster the creation of a more coherent settlement with adequate critical mass to maintain / improve local service provision. • Cater for a small number of small in-depth housing schemes. • Encourage commercial development, which is appropriate in terms of scale, use and location within the village. • Contain development in order to bring some form to the settlement and engender a sense of place. Rhode has a distinctive and traditionally diverse character which is highly valued by its residents. Future growth and expansion can be achieved through developing this area’s residential function, but primarily by promoting its economic role as a sustainable rural village with its own local services, which facilitate the local community and its surrounding rural environs, whilst at the same time constraining rapid expansion resulting from this village’s proximity to the Greater Dublin Area. As the village continues to evolve, this process of change must be positively managed so that the distinctiveness of this village’s identity can be protected and enhanced, whilst managing future growth and new development. Rhode’s proximity to the main Dublin – Galway Road (M6), located c.10km to the north, has influenced the village’s expansion, particularly in recent years. The population of Rhode village increased by 63% over the period 1996-2006 i.e. from 476 persons to 778 persons. This very significant growth rate is reflective of the increasing pressure which the north of the County has been experiencing, given its proximity to the Greater Dublin Area. National Spatial Strategy (NSS) The NSS, (adopted in 2002), is Ireland’s overarching framework plan which provides a strategic vision for the spatial development of the country through the promotion of balanced regional development. The NSS identifies Rhode within its ‘village strengthening and rural areas opportunities’category. It outlines how the promotion of tourism and recreational activity, which is complimentary to the agricultural sector, offers future potential in such villages. It also states that by enabling villages to attract residential and other developments through availability of land and capacity of services, that residential and other functions of this settlement can be strengthened. Further to this, the National Spatial Strategy recognises that many worked out bogs in the Midlands are suited to wind energy development which would support ancillary manufacturing, servicing and development activities, a factor which may assist in supporting and maintaining Rhode as a sustainable settlement. Midland Regional Planning Guidelines The Midlands Regional Planning Guidelines, (MRPGs), (adopted in 2004 due to be reviewed in 2010) are in accordance with the NSS, and seek to ensure that the Midlands Region ‘achieves its potential for enhanced, balanced and sustainable development and contributes towards the national objective of balanced regional development’. Rhode village is included in the ‘eastern development area’ of the RPGs for the Midlands Region and is associated with the population increase which has been identified as being more pronounced on the eastern side of the region, primarily due to the influence of the Greater Dublin Area (GDA). Within this area, it is set out in the Guidelines that any major population increases should be targeted to the nearby ‘key service towns’, i.e. Edenderry and Portarlington. Further to this, the RPGs state that links, particularly with the central midlands area (to the gateway and the principal towns), must be strengthened so as to reduce the pull of the Greater Dublin Area which is currently experienced in this eastern area of the region. The RPGs are consistent with the NSS in stating the necessity of protecting villages such as Rhode. The Guidelines also highlight that significant levels of development of urban generated housing in such villages, which could be accommodated in nearby urban areas (e.g. Edenderry), should be controlled. The fundamentals of village development lie in the consolidation of development within the village rather than large-scale growth. Rhode’s specific role as a village is in providing a range of local services to support the viability of its rural community and surrounding hinterland. This should be February 2009 | Rhode Village Plan | page 141
OFFALY COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2009 - 2015 Volume 2 - Settlement Plans achieved whilst curtailing rapid expansion of the village’s population, and thus the village will form part of a cohesive pattern of balanced urban and rural development throughout Offaly, in accordance with the County’s settlement structure hierarchy and consistent with the Midland Regional Planning Guidelines. 1.4 Policy To encourage Rhode to sustain its current population and role as a rural village through the consolidation of its existing residential component and future development, and the expansion of both its local service / employment functions, in accordance with the County Development Plan and the Midlands Regional Planning Guidelines (MRPGs). 2.0 SERVICES AND SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE 2.1 Water Supply A public water supply is available to serve development within the village. The Edenderry / Rhode water supply scheme is included in the Water Services Investment Programme (WSIP) 2007– 2009. 2.2 Waste Water Main sewers are available along part of the main routes within the village, which currently discharge to a communal wastewater plant. Some of the main sewers require upgrading. Deficiencies in the treatment system have been identified, and have contributed to the refusal of planning permission for a significant number of houses in the years 2001 to the present. An interim treatment plan for 1,000PE (population equivalent) has been constructed and is currently (Nov 2007) being commissioned. This will allow for adequate treatment of sewage to cater for the existing population, but it is not intended to provide for population growth. Rhode waste water treatment scheme is included in Offaly County Council’s Water Services Investment Programme 2007 – 2009. This will cater for 2000PE and for an upgrade of the sewer network. 2.3 Other Services (a) Social and Community Infrastructure Within the village boundary, Rhode presently (2007) provides a variety of low to medium order services and facilities such as; Roman Catholic Church (St. Peter’s) and adjoining graveyard, Garda Station, community premises (Citizens Information Centre, crèche), health centre, pharmacy, convenience store, hair salon, launderette, video store, butchers, post office, petrol station and 3 licensed premises. A community hall which has remained derelict over a number of years is situated along the R400, south of the village core. The national school is located approximately 1km south of the village core along the R400, and the GAA pitch and ancillary facilities are situated circa 1km west of the village. (b) Roads and Infrastructure New roads, which are necessary to serve in-depth development in Rhode, will be required to be designed and constructed to a high standard, in order to provide an attractive and safe environment. While the current plan advocates infill and consolidation rather than large scale development it is intended that over time and where practical, new roads will link up to form an integrated network of routes allowing movement around and through the village. This will require adjoining landowners / development interests to cooperate at an early stage. Broadband is currently available within the village, and provides a vital role in the connectivity of rural areas and encourages and facilitates local business and enterprise. 3.0 KEY MESSAGES FOR RHODE a) Rhode shall be developed in a properly planned coherent manner centred around the existing village core, so that an attractive sustainable outcome is achieved. Policies and objectives with regard to village development are contained in the County Development Plan, 2009-2015, Chapter 4. b) Emphasis on the consolidation of the village’s residential function by permitting only small scale residential schemes which are reflective of Rhode’s essentially rural character. c) Avoidance of excessive residential growth where such growth would precede the provision of adequate services, or would damage the village’s rural character, or would be contrary to the policy contained in Section 1.4 above. February 2009 | Rhode Village Plan | page 142
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VILLAGE PLANS - Offaly County Council

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