VILLAGE PLANS - Offaly County Council

OFFALY COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2009 - 2015
Volume 2 - Settlement Plans
CLONEYGOWAN 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.
Cloneygowan 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
Cloneygowan is located alongside the R420,
approximately 19kms southeast of Tullamore and 6kms
north west of Portarlington.
The census return for 2006 states the DED population
for Cloneygowan, within which Cloneygowan village
lies, as 424 people. However, it is estimated that the
population within the village boundary at 2007 (see
plan) is approximately 200 people, with a further 90 in
the immediate environs.
Growth over the previous County Development Plan
period took the form of County Council Serviced Sites
and a small infill scheme of houses. At the time of
writing (2007) there is a small commercial development
and a relatively large residential development under
construction. It is recognised 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
Cloneygowan evolved as a linear roadside settlement
on a basically east/west axis with a nucleus around the
Fair Green, indeed the basic form does not differ greatly
from that shown on early maps e.g. Larkin 1809. The
railway, constructed in the mid 19th century, has
become a constraint to northern expansion and has
reinforced the linear character of the village over the
past 150 years.
1.3 Context
Cloneygowan has been designated as a village within
Offaly’s settlement hierarchy, as set out in the County
Development Plan 2009 – 2015, Chapter 4, Settlement
Strategy. A development boundary has been identified
for Cloneygowan 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 housing,
commercial and employment schemes, 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 reinforce the sense
of place.
2.0 SERVICES & SOCIAL
INFRASTRUCTURE
2.1 Water Supply
Cloneygowan is served by the Killeigh private group
water scheme and consent to connect to it will be
required as part of any planning permission granted.
2.2 Waste Water
The village is served by a main sewer in the road (R420),
which picks up the various spurs from development.
The pumping station in the eastern end of the Fair
Green then transfers the effluent into a rising main
which carries it to the treatment plant which lies some
February 2009 | Cloneygowan Village Plan | page 80