VILLAGE PLANS - Offaly County Council

OFFALY COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2009 - 2015
Volume 2 - Settlement Plans
public waste water treatment facility.
2.3 Other Services
a) Social and Community Infrastructure
The majority of services within Riverstown are located
within the Co. Tipperary portion of the settlement,
including a national school and gift shop, and a licensed
premises / restaurant is located within the Offaly
portion of the village. The settlement also benefits from
the services and amenities available in the larger
neighbouring town of Birr.
b) Roads and Transport Infrastructure
Riverstown is located on the N52, southwest of the
town of Birr.
c) Footpaths and Lighting
There are no formal footpaths at present within
Riverstown. However, it is desirable that provisions be
made to provide a network of footpaths, in line with
future development, where feasible. Public lighting is
currently provided within the settlement and it is
envisaged that this too could be extended as the
settlement expands.
The speed limits in place within Riverstown village is
currently 50 km/hr.
2.4 Other Features
• Overall picturesque and rural character.
• Attractive approach from the east - stone walls,
mature trees and views downhill towards the
river and the Tipperary side of the settlement.
• Ballindarra Castle (site of) - Recorded in the Sites
and Monuments Record for County Offaly is of
archaeological significance. The castle was in the
ownership of the O’ Carroll family in 1582 and
passed into the ownership of various different
parties until it fell in 1848. There are no visible
remains at ground level. The remains of the castle
bawn still exist on the site.
• Attractive mature trees in the vicinity of the Little
Brosna River. Particularly attractive cluster of
trees in the vicinity of the site of Ballindarra
Castle.
• Little Brosna River - visually attractive and a
valuable amenity within the settlement.
• Town bridge - attractive bridge over the Little
Brosna River, constructed in natural stone with 5
arches, it marks the centre of the settlement.
3.0 KEY MESSAGES FOR RIVERSTOWN
a) The portion of Riverstown village within County
Offaly shall retain its current development levels.
However, the promotion of infill development
and redevelopment within the development
boundary is appropriate. Policies and objectives
with regard to village development are contained
in the County Development Plan, Volume 1,
Chapter 4.
b) The conservation of existing stone walls, trees
and native hedgerows, and promotion of similar
materials for new boundaries.
c) High quality designs, which are reflective of the
existing rural character of the village, without
precluding high quality innovative contemporary
designs.
d) The conservation and protection of the Little
Brosna River.
e) Protection of the N52, its carrying capacity and
traffic safety.
f) Facilitate and encourage the development of
commercial and employment opportunities
within the village, where possible.
g) Encourage the use of natural building and
boundary materials.
4.0 GENERAL DEVELOPMENT
OBJECTIVES
4.1 The Main Objectives Driving Village
Development are as Follows:
• Facilitate people to live in high quality, primarily
low density housing in a rural village location.
• Encourage and sustain existing services at a local
level.
• Reinforce the attractive rural village which exists
at present by encouraging and permitting
appropriate and sensitively designed redevelopment
of the existing derelict buildings.
• Create commercial and employment
opportunities, where possible.
4.2 Growth Rate
The rate of growth must be in accordance with the
Council’s policy on villages (Refer Volume 1, Chapter 4)
and the availability of services (including physical and
social provisions). It should be noted that in light of the
existing physical features / constraints which exist
February 2009 | Riverstown Village Plan | page 149