VILLAGE PLANS - Offaly County Council

OFFALY COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2009 - 2015
Volume 2 - Settlement Plans
KINNITTY VILLAGE PLAN
further 180 in the immediate environs. Kinnitty is the
local service centre for the surrounding area.
Development has been relatively slow in Kinnitty in the
recent past. One reason for this is the lack of capacity in
the wastewater treatment facilities.
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.
Kinnitty 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
Kinnitty is an attractive small village located at a
confluence of routes, namely the R421, R440 and three
county roads. It is approximately 25km (16 miles) from
Tullamore and 13 km (8 miles) from Birr.
It is situated in an attractive rural setting in the foothills
of the Slieve Bloom Mountains and was sited originally
in close proximity to an ecclesiastical centre and
fortified position.
According to the Census 2006, the population of
Kinnitty the DED was 518 people. However, it is
estimated that the population within the proposed
village boundary (see accompanying plan) is
approximately 210 people, with approximately a
1.2 Settlement Form
The original settlement is likely to have developed as a
small cluster at the junction. Subsequent expansion has
in the main, taken the form of linear development along
the constituent roads. This settlement is low rise and
low density, with a number of different building styles in
evidence, although the original core has a slightly
tighter grain and more vernacular style.
1.3 Context
Kinnitty has been designated as a village within Offaly’s
settlement hierarchy, as set out in Chapter 4 of the
County Development Plan 2009 – 2015. A development
boundary has been identified for Kinnitty and is shown
on the accompanying map. This is intended to
delineate an area, which will: -
• Foster the creation of a more coherent
settlement, with adequate critical mass to
maintain/improve local service provision.
• Enable some of the “outlying” development to be
incorporated into the village fabric.
• Cater for a number of small in-depth schemes.
• Consolidate development within the delineated
village boundary in order to protect the area of
high amenity within which the village is set.
2.0 SERVICES AND SOCIAL
INFRASTRUCTURE
2.1 Water Supply
A public water supply is available to serve development
within the village.
2.2 Waste Water
The main sewer runs from the small former County
Council housing scheme to the east of the town, along
the R440 to the village centre, and along the L07003 to
the communal septic tank to the north west. There are
a number of short spurs off this line to serve the
adjacent areas. This system will require investment in
order to allow developments within the village to
February 2009 | Kinnitty Village Plan | page 104