CLOUGHJORDAN SETTLEMENT PLAN

CLOUGHJORDAN SETTLEMENT PLAN

1.0 General Introduction and Development Context Location The market town of Cloughjordan lies close to the border with Offaly at the junction of the R490 and R491 Regional Roads. The town serves an area which is renowned for the quality of its agricultural land and the food it produces. While the town is primarily residential in nature, it acts as a local centre for services and facilities. Population The population fell from 447 in 1996 to 431 in 2002 (CSO) which is decline of 3.6% in the census period. There has been a further decline to 394 in the 2006 Census (CSO, 2006). on large sites to provide an alternative to one-off housing in rural locations. One of the most important developments in Cloughjordan in recent years has been the progress on Ireland s first Eco-Village. The concept of this innovative and unique proposal, to develop a community with commitments to ecological, social and economic sustainability within a urban environment, has been recognised nationally and internally, as being an important pilot for the way future communities might develop. This new community, being developed on 67 acres (c.27ha) of farmland, will merge with the existing village of Cloughjordan through a new street opposite the Church of Ireland. The development of the Eco-village will provide a welcomed inflow of people into the town and has developed Cloughjordan s image as an eco-town. Settlement Form The Ballyfinboy River intersects the town. The town has a strong historic legacy, and many of the key architectural elements that give the town its character are still intact. Important landmark buildings in the town include the three churches and the Rail Station. The town of Cloughjordan remained relatively unchanged during the Celtic Tiger years with limited investment in employment, retail development, or necessary medium or large-scale commercial or industrial development. What is evident from the population figures is that the town has suffered from an outflow of population to the rural countryside and the larger towns. Much of the private housing in the town is on stand alone sites, with a few new private estates having been constructed. It is important that this continues through the provision of private and affordable housing to ensure that the town has a healthy mix of private, affordable and social housing. It will therefore, be important that a range of housing types is proposed as part of new housing schemes. This should include low-density housing The town of Cloughjordan consists of one main street, with three branching side streets. Halfway down Main Street, is the Church Meadow or Town Green, bordered by a stone wall and mature lime trees; setting the stage for St. Kieran s Churchy of Ireland church, built in 1828. To the left of the church are the Militia Houses, reputed to have been built as a nineteenth century army barracks, but never used as such. To the right is the modern St. Kieran s hall, standing on the site of the first purpose-built school in the town. The Methodist Church, built in 1875 is on Main Street, while on Templemore Road, the Catholic Church of SS Michael and John, built in 1899, creates a dramatic vista at that entrance to the town. The oldest and most historically significant

domestic building in the town, Cloughjordan House, is situated on the Shinrone Road. To continue to develop the concept of Cloughjordan being a Eco-town. 3.0 Services and Social Infrastructure Water Supply The village is serviced by a public water supply. 2.0 Key aim and objectives Cloughjordan is identified as being a District Service Centre in Chapter 3 of the County Development Plan. The key aim of this settlement plan is to provide a framework for the development for appropriate residential commercial and light industrial development, to enhance the visual character and amenities of the village and to ensure that Cloughjordan provides the services and facilities for its hinterland. Key Objectives To facilitate low density, high quality housing appropriate to the town and its designation as a District Service Centre on the Settlement Hierarchy in Chapter 3 of the Plan. To maintain and enhance social, community and amenity facilities within the village. To support opportunities for commercial and employment facilities. To focus development within the development boundary of the settlement. Waste Water The village is serviced by a sewage treatment plant. However, up-grade works may be required to cater for additional development. Roads and Transport Infrastructure Cloughjordan developed at the intersection of travel routes between Nenagh, Birr and Moneygall. It is a district service town located 16km north of Nenagh on the R491. It is conveniently located in relation to the major towns of Nenagh, Roscrea, Birr and Borrisokane. Cloughjordan railway station opened on 5 October 1863. It is connected to the Irish railway network on a branch from Limerick to Ballybrophy (where it joins the main Cork Dublin line) and has a twice-daily service in each direction. There is an extensive network of footpaths within the area. Public lighting is provided throughout the settlement.

Social and Community Infrastructure The town has a broad main street, with a tree-lined square at its mid-point. Main Street is lined by an attractive mix of houses and shops, including a post office, a Garda station, a library, ten shops (including a book/coffee shop, a butcher with his own farm, a pharmacy and a cycle shop), a garage, a restaurant, four pubs, a 'chipper', a fire station, sports clubs, two surgeries, two schools, three churches (Catholic, Methodist and Church of Ireland) and GAA grounds. 4.0 Key Messages for Cloughjordan The settlement should be developed in a properly planned and co-ordinated manner in accordance with the zoning objectives of the settlement plan. The picturesque setting shall be retained and enhanced in accordance with appropriately designed and sensitive development. Low density rural clustered style development is promoted on residential zoned sites. The provision of additional passive amenity spaces including playground facilities should be provided. High quality designs, which are particularly reflective of the predominantly rural character of the area, without precluding high quality innovative contemporary designs. The conservation and protection of protected structures, recorded monuments and other features of archaeological and historical merit within the settlement. The conservation and integration into new development of existing stone walls, trees and native hedgerows, and promotion of similar materials for new boundaries. 5.0 General Development Objectives Proposals for development will be assessed in accordance with the policies and objectives of the County Development Plan, 2010-2016 as set out in the main text in Volume 1. In addition to general policy requirements for development, the Council will seek to implement the following objectives: The Council will seek to make provision and/or facilitate the provision of footpaths and public lighting to enhance the local infrastructure. The Council will seek to foster a village identity and definition of the village by facilitating the provision of hard and soft landscaping and signage. The Council will seek to ensure the protection of Protected Structures and archaeological monument (i.e by preservation in situ or at a minimum protection by record). The Council will seek to control ribbon development on the approach roads to preserve and consolidate the built environment of the village. The Council will seek to ensure hedgerows, trees and any natural stone walls are preserved and maintained in any new development proposals. The Council will seek to continue to improve the approach roads to the village and improve traffic calming. The Council will seek to ensure that development is focused

within the village around the core area so as to consolidate the centre of the village. To provide a new streetscape in the centre of the town on vacant and derelict sites. To provide a park as part of the planned village expansion north of Cloughjordan. To protect and provide access to back lands on the Station Road and to lands north and south of Main Street. To seek the undergrounding of cables and wirescape on Main Street. To seek the protection of the architectural conservation area, particularly elements such as coach arches. To seek the protection of stone boundary walls on the Borrisokane approach road, the Birr approach road and within the Conservation Area. To seek the protection of trees at the following locations: o Hardwood trees on the Birr Road. o Trees within the grounds of protected structures. To provide pedestrian linkage as part of new town centre development. 6.0 Conservation Area: This includes most of Main Street, part of South Main Street, part of Station Road (see map attached) 7.0 See RPS (Volume III) for list of Protected Structures 5.1 Transport and Access Improvement Objectives To reserve land for a future link road between R491 and R490 to the south east of the town. To provide extended footpaths as part of new development. To ensure that proposals for new development of lands adjacent to public roads provides access to backlands and land that does not have road frontage. To preserve rights of way.