Chapter 5 – Sustainable Communities

Closed6 May, 2023, 8:00am - 19 Jun, 2023, 5:00pm

5.1 Sustainable Communities - Introduction

A sustainable community creates the conditions where human, natural and economic opportunities are met while ensuring that adequate resources are available for future generations.  The concept encompasses many different elements including equal opportunity for all, access to adequate health and community services, housing and good quality education, creating a sense of belonging and sense of place whilst protecting the local environment, landscape and heritage and implementing the principles of the circular economy and waste management.  Developing the infrastructure for the above aspects of sustainable communities is one of the best ways to address climate change.

High quality social and community services in an area makes for a more attractive place that encourages the establishment of new business and places where people choose to live.

Newcastle West has a number of well-established community and social facilities and has many active community groups operating within the town involved in a wide range of activities including sports, arts and culture, local history and heritage, youth, environmental and local development.

The Local Authority is committed to the provision, upgrade and expansion of community facilities and social infrastructure in conjunction with private, public and voluntary organisations.  Limerick City and County Council’s Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) performs a role in developing, coordinating and implementing a coherent and integrated approach to local and community development, through the Local Economic and Community Plan 2016 – 2021 (LECP), which is currently under review.

This Plan aligns with higher level spatial plans seeking future development in settlements on the principle of the ‘10 Minute’ Town concept, whereby a sustainable compact settlement, such as Newcastle West, provides a range of community facilities, services, recreational and cultural amenities and employment opportunities within short walking and cycle timeframes from homes, or accessible by public transport services connecting people to larger settlements such as Limerick City. Re-use of buildings, infill, services and amenities including crèches, schools amenities, recreation and other community facilities should be provided in tandem with residential development. Re-purposing of under-used lands have the potential to deliver this concept.

Policy CIP1 Community Infrastructure, Strategic Policy:  

It is the policy of the Council to support the provision of a broad range of high quality social/community, educational, healthcare and recreational facilities and infrastructure in Newcastle West, which  are within accessible walking/cycling distances from residential development.

5.2 Education and Childcare

The provision of good quality childcare and educational facilities is important to support the development of sustainable communities and facilitate economic development in Newcastle West. There are 10 early year services registered with Tusla in Newcastle West. The provision of new childcare facilities within the Plan boundary will be supported in accordance with the requirement of the policies set out in the LDP 2022-2028. Newcastle West is served by three national schools, including Scoil Iosaf, Courtenay Boys and Gaelscoil O Doghair and two second level schools. There is also a HSE Training Centre and a Brothers of Charity Workshop for people with special needs while agencies such as West Limerick Resource provide other training opportunities in the town.

The Council consults with schools, the LCETB and the Department of Education and Skills to identify sites for schools as necessary. In this regard, given the projected population growth to 2030, the Plan supports the proportionate expansion of education facilities in the town and lands are zoned for this purpose.

 

Objective CIO1: Childcare and Educational Facilities- It is an objective of the Council to:

(a)         Ensure that there are sufficient educational and community facilities to meet the needs generated by proposed developments, by requiring the completion of a Sustainability Statement and Social Infrastructure Assessment, in line with the requirements of the Limerick Development Plan 2022 – 2028.

(b)         Ensure that childcare and education facilities are provided in tandem with new residential areas, at accessible locations, which maximise opportunities for walking, cycling and use of public transport and comply with all relevant standards.

(c)          Facilitate the development of lifelong learning facilities and digital capacity for distance learning.

(d)         Ensure that existing school sites are protected for educational use.

5.3 Health

St. Ita’s Community Hospital is located in Gortboy offering residential care for elderly people in the greater West Limerick area. There is also a HSE clinic on Bishop’s Street and a newly constructed Primary Care Centre at Station Road Gortboy. The Newcastle West Primary Care Centre will bring together a broad range of medical services under one roof providing a comprehensive level of care in one centralised and accessible location providing a fully integrated primary care services featuring - GP clinics, Shannon Doc, dental surgery, radiology and ultrasound services, pharmacy and café.

In addition, the Brothers of Charity also have facilities in the town. They provide a training centre at Gortboy to assist people with independent living. The Desmond Complex offers Day Care facilities, a Resource Centre and an integrated childcare facility for both pre-school and after-school children.

The primary role of the Planning Authority with regard to healthcare is to ensure that there is an adequate policy framework in place inclusive of the reservation of lands, should additional services be required. The Council will continue to support further economic and social progress with regard to health services including capital investment in community and continuing care services at the HSE (West) Health Clinic in Newcastle West.

Objective CIO2 – Provision of Healthcare Facilities: It is an objective of the Council to:

Support the Health Service Executive (West) and other statutory and voluntary agencies and private healthcare providers in the expansion and provision of appropriate healthcare facilities and community based care facilities, at appropriate locations, subject to proper planning considerations and the principles of sustainable development.

5.4 Community, Cultural Facilities

The Desmond Complex was imagined and built through local voluntary effort and now provides crèche facilities and facilities for our older citizens as well as being a centre for meetings and social occasions.

The Men’s Shed, the Arra Walking Group and the Active Retired all provide social outlets for different groups of people in the town.

Figure 5.1: Desmond Complex

 

The Council recognise the lack of evening/night-time amenities in the town. There is no cinema in Newcastle West. Similarly, there is no arts/cultural centre in the town. Such amenities help sustain evening and night-time activities and will be encouraged, where appropriate.

5.5 Parks, Open Space and Recreation   

Newcastle West has a broad range of public amenities, sports and recreational facilities including GAA, soccer and rugby and is home to several cycling clubs, an athletics club, tennis club, has a pool and several gyms.

The Castle Demesne is a mature parkland of over 100 acres set in a secluded location within walking distance of Newcastle West town centre. The Demesne provides a variety of leisure, play and sporting facilities for all to enjoy including a 1.8km looped walkway. In the fields beyond the Cullenagh Mór Bridge you will see some of the 28,000 trees planted early this century with the assistance of Coillte. The Wet Meadow and Fox Cover are vital areas for flora and fauna as well as holding a special place in the history of leisure activities for many generations. To the north near the water tower and St. David’s Cemetery, there are tremendous views of the countryside and hills surrounding the town.

Each year, the town hosts Eigse Michael Hartnett, a literary and arts festival with a very special atmosphere. It is run by a local committee in partnership with Limerick City and County Council and brings leading writers, poets, artists and thinkers to the town.

The Great Southern Trail Group is another voluntary group. Their work over 20 years brought the 44km Limerick Greenway into being, the first long-distance greenway in the country and part of the Euro-Vélo 1 route. It is now under the management of Limerick City and County Council and there are plans for to extend it east to the city and to continue it on to Listowel.

Over the past number of years, the Newcastle West Development Association an umbrella organisation which brings together the Chamber of Commerce, the Business Association, Tidy Towns and the Community Council has been spearheading a five-year plan for the town in dynamic collaboration with Limerick City and County Council and the Newcastle West Municipal District. A number of elements of that five-year plan are already underway with the development of a Regional Athletics Hub  and the feasibility of a tourism hub at  Fullers Folly being investigated. Limerick City and County Council are committed to the provision, upgrade and expansion of leisure facilities in the Newcastle West in conjunction with private, public and voluntary organisations. 

The strategic vision for Newcastle West set out in Chapter 3 recognises that if Newcastle West is to fulfil its role as a Key Town settlement as set out in the Limerick Development Plan 2022-2028, it needs to provide community infrastructure in tandem with population growth.  New open space/recreation facilities should be provided in conjunction with new residential developments and there will be a requirement to provide new open spaces as part of these developments in line with the following criteria.

 

Type of Public Open Space

Area Required

Accessibility from residential units

Notes

Play lot/ pocket park – primarily for play for younger children

400m2 – 0.2ha.

Every home within 100m walking distance

All residential areas in excess of 50 units should incorporate a play lot provided at a rate of 4m2 per residential unit;

Required in all housing estates, overlooked with passive surveillance by as many houses as practicable;

Not to be located to the side or rear of dwellings;

Developers will be required to provide a minimum of two permanent play features.

Small Park

0.2ha. – 2.0ha.

Every residential unit within 400m walking distance

To accommodate a small playground with a minimum of 4 play features, kick around space, and passive recreation;

Overlooked with passive surveillance by as many houses as practicable;

Not to be located to side or rear of dwellings.

Local Park

2.0ha. – 20ha.

Residences to be within 1km

To accommodate a wide range of uses including playing pitches, passive recreation and biodiversity areas.

Table 5.1: Public Realm Open Space Provision in Residential Developments in Newcastle West

 

Objective CIO3 Community, Sports and Cultural Facilities: It is an objective of Council to:

 

  1. Require future development of new community facilities to generally meet the following criteria of the 10 Minute Town Concept:
    • Generally located within 800m walking distance of the town centre;
    • Located centrally with respect to the community it serves, taking into account limitations of topography and the road and footpath network;
    • Be either serviced or serviceable by public transport;
    • Clustered with complementary community facilities, local retail services etc. and integrated with housing; and
    • Located where a substantial proportion of the population reside, in particular older and less mobile/mobility compromised members of the community.
  2. Support and facilitate sports clubs, schools, cultural groups and community organisations in the provision, improvement and expansion of community services, sports and recreation amenities, multi-purpose spaces at appropriate locations that are universally accessible.  The Council promotes opportunities for multi and co-use active and passive recreational amenities including sports and recreational facilities, playgrounds and outdoor gym equipment within existing areas of open space.
  3. Prepare a Masterplan for the Castle Demense, which seeks to enhance existing leisure, play and sporting facilities, while also providing new amenities, facilities and infrastructure to better utilise this valuable resource for use by residents of and visitors to Newcastle West. Part of the aim of the master plan would be the preservation of local ecology and where possible enhancement of local biodiversity. 
  4. (Cultural/Arts Facility) – Support the provision of a cultural/arts facility in Newcastle West.
  5. Support the extension of Calvary Cemetery in Newcastle West, on lands located to the north and east of the existing cemetery. The lands shall be safeguarded for the future expansion of the existing cemetery.
  6. Investigate the potential of providing a sports and recreational hub adjacent to the Athletics Hub in order to develop synergies with the existing facility.

 

Objectives CIO4 Walkways, Cycleways and the Limerick Greenway:  It is an objective of the Council to:

(a) Encourage walking and cycling as more convenient, popular and safe methods of movement in Newcastle West, and facilitate the provision of an attractive and coherent network of off-road footpaths and cycle facilities.  This will be achieved by:

  • Providing a safer connection between the Limerick Greenway and the town centre.
  • Development of a greenway hub in Newcastle West.
  • Providing secure cycle parking infrastructure at appropriate locations as opportunities arise.

(b) Support of development of the Limerick Greenway, ancillary facilities, connectivity between the Greenway and the town centre and connectivity to the heritage and cultural assets of the town.

(c) Continue to facilitate the development of walkways as indicated on the Amenity Map (Appendix 1, Map 3) in co-operation with local interested parties including the private, voluntary and public sector. Any proposed development adjacent to such walkways must incorporate connecting pathways into the designated walkway in their design. Developments shall be designed to ensure that properties over look proposed walkways.

(d) Proposals for new Walkways/Cycleways, Greenways and Blueways will be subject to appropriate environmental assessments.  Any development which would have adverse effect on the integrity of European sites or cause a net loss of bio-diversity will not be permitted.

Objectives CIO5 Parks, Open Space and Recreation: It is an objective of the Council to: 

(a) Examine the feasibility of blue-way opportunities along the River Arra and River Daar in Newcastle West, subject to appropriate ecological assessments.

(b) Protect existing open space by not permitting development, which encroaches on such open space, and protect semi-natural open space from inappropriate development.

(c) Facilitate/support the provision of allotments or community gardens at appropriate locations.

(d) Ensure new residential development provides high quality public open space and play-lots proportional to the number of residential units, having cognisance to accessibility, safety, overlooking permeability, place-making and requirements set out in Section 11.3.6 of the Limerick Development Plan 2022 - 2028.

Figure 5.2: Castle Demense Playground

 

5.6 Age Friendly

Limerick County Council adopted the “Age Friendly Limerick 2015-2020” Strategy in 2015. The Strategy commits to improving key areas of infrastructure, services, information and an overall social response to older person’s issues. The strategy aims to achieve measurable outcomes for older people that demonstrate improvement in their quality of life. The Strategy should be read in tandem with this chapter.

Objective CIO6: Age Friendly – It is an objective of the Council to:

Support Healthy Limerick initiatives and the Age Friendly Limerick Strategy 2015 – 2020 and any subsequent replacement initiative/strategy to deliver recreation, environmental improvements, active travel, health infrastructure, as well as addressing the need for the development of independent living, sheltered housing, and respite accommodation for changing demographic needs.  The Council be guided by the National Positive Aging Strategy and any replacement thereof.