Chapter 1 - Introduction

1. Introduction

The Councils of Limerick County Council and Limerick City Council amalgamated in 2014 to form Limerick City and County Council.

The area known as the Southern Environs previously came within the functional area of Limerick County Council and currently comes under the remit of the Limerick County Development Plan 2010 – 2016 (as extended).

The Limerick City Development Plan 2010 – 2016 (as extended) and the Limerick County Development 2010 – 2016 (as extended), will be replaced by the proposed Limerick Development Plan, which will be adopted in 2022. The provisions of the proposed Limerick Development Plan will then directly apply to the Southern Environs. However, given the expiration of the extension to the lifetime of the current Southern Environs Local Area Plan in 2021, a new Local Area Plan (LAP) is required in the interim. The Planning Authority envisages that this Draft LAP, in conjunction with the Castletroy LAP 2019 – 2025 will be incorporated into the proposed Limerick Development Plan following adoption in 2022, and then the aforementioned LAPs will be revoked.

This Draft Southern Environs Local Area Plan has been prepared in accordance with the requirements and provisions of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (hereafter referred to as “the Act”). The Draft LAP sets out an overall strategy for the proper planning and sustainable development of the Southern Environs, in the context of the National Planning Framework, the Regional Spatial Economic Strategy for the Southern Region and the Limerick County Development Plan 2010 – 2016 (as extended). Preparation of the Draft LAP has been informed by Ministerial Guidelines issued pursuant to Section 28 of the Act, together with EU requirements regarding Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Appropriate Assessment (AA).

This Draft LAP will inform and manage the future development of the Southern Environs pending the adoption of the proposed Limerick Development Plan. The Draft LAP comprises a written statement and accompanying maps. The written statement shall take precedence over the map should any discrepancy arise. In the full interpretation of all objectives for the Southern Environs, it is essential that both the Limerick County Development Plan 2010 – 2016 (as extended) and the Draft LAP are read together. Where conflicting objectives arise between the CDP and the Draft LAP, the objectives of the CDP or any replacement thereof shall take precedence.

The majority of objectives, policies and development management standards that will apply to the Southern Environs will be set out in the proposed Limerick Development Plan. The objectives and policies that are specific to the Southern Environs or necessary to emphasis their importance are included in the Draft LAP. This approach will facilitate the streamlining of this LAP to the issues relevant to the Southern Environs and allow an overall reduction in the duplication of content, pending incorporation into the new CDP. This approach should not be viewed as a diminution of the level of importance or indeed protection afforded to this area.