VILLAGE PLANS - Offaly County Council

OFFALY COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2009 - 2015
Volume 2 - Settlement Plans
BELMONT VILLAGE PLAN
1.0 GENERAL INTRODUCTION AND
DEVELOPMENT CONTEXT
The settlement plans stem directly from the policies
and objectives contained in the County Development
Plan with particular reference to Chapter 4, “Settlement
Strategy” and Chapter 18 “Landuse and Zoning”. This is
to facilitate the growth of a hierarchy of well-planned,
sustainable and complementary settlements
throughout the county presented in a consistent
manner to allow ease of interpretation and
implementation.
Belmont has been designated as a village within Offaly’s
settlement hierarchy, as set out in Chapter 4 of the
County Development Plan 2009–2015. This settlement
plan along with the zoning map is seen as a specific
view of the village so that development pressures can
be focused and properly managed in order that the
settlement can fulfil this role effectively.
1.1 Location
Belmont is a small settlement some 5kms west of
Ferbane and 3.7kms north of Cloghan and lies within
two DEDs, Lumcloon and Moyclare. It is estimated that
the population within the village boundary (see plan) is
approximately 150 persons with circa 130 persons in
the immediate environs.
Growth has been slow over the past few years and while
this could, in part, be attributed to the lack of
infrastructure there is evidence to indicate that there is
some demand in this area. It is recognised that an
appropriate amount of development could be
harnessed to contribute positively to the proper
planning and sustainable growth of this area.
1.2 Settlement Form
The original form was probably a small cluster at the
crossroads with subsequent development taking the
form of linear development on the constituent routes
with the bulk happening to the east on the Ferbane
road. The settlement is extremely long (at
approximately 1.5kms), with very little depth although
there have been attempts to redress this in the form of
the council housing development in the southwest
quadrant of the village. The settlement is low rise and
low density, with a variation of different suburban
building styles in evidence but with no real definition of
the core area.
1.3 Context
Belmont has been designated as a village within Offaly’s
settlement hierarchy, as set in the County Development
Plan 2009 – 2015. A development boundary has been
identified for Belmont and is shown on the
accompanying map. It is 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 number of small in-depth
development schemes for both housing and
commercial uses, which are 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.
2.0 SERVICES AND SOCIAL
INFRASTRUCTURE
2.1 Water Supply
Water supply is from the Clara/Ferbane public water
scheme.
2.2 Waste Water
The village is served by sewers in the roads which takes
the effluent into a communal septic tank to the south of
the village near the River Brosna. The system will require
investment in order to allow developments within the
village to proceed. It is included in the Water Services
Investment Programme and the preliminary report is
being prepared. (Nov 07) To this end, where a
development proposal precedes adequate availability
February 2009 | Belmont Village Plan | page 56