The Council’s aim in relation to the provision of housing is to ensure that every household has accommodation suitable to their needs, located in an acceptable environment, at a price or rent it can afford.

The Council’s role is to formulate a planning policy for housing, consider planning applications for private housing, ensure that sufficient lands are zoned to meet the projected housing demand and provide houses or facilitate the provision of social and affordable housing for those unable to house themselves. The County Council is both the housing authority and the planning authority. In these roles it has the capacity to influence the supply, location and scale of new housing within its functional area.

Access to housing is one of the key elements in the National anti Poverty Strategy for fighting social exclusion and marginalisation and thereby assisting in the fight against poverty. The Council recognises this and through its function as a housing authority it is committed to the development of a sustainable housing policy in partnership with the Voluntary and Community Sectors which will fight social exclusion and marginalisation.

During the period from 1994 to 1998 there was a total of 2,286 house completions in County Kilkenny. Of that total 2,062 houses were completed by the private housing sector. The private housing sector has a very important role therefore in the provision of houses for population of the County.

It is the policy of the Council:

a) To provide the necessary infrastructural investment to facilitate the overall level of housing out put required to meet the current and anticipated levels of demand in a planned coherent fashion,
b) To zone adequate amounts of land for housing to provide a locational choice and allow for the probability that not all zoned land will be made available for development.
c) To ensure an adequate supply of zoned land
d) To strive for the highest quality built environment when assessing development proposals.
e) To encourage economy and efficiency in the use of land and services.
f) To strive for the consolidation and retention of social infrastructure in the rural towns, villages, smaller settlements and rural areas of the County, i.e. primary schools, post offices, Garda stations, churches and other community facilities.
g) To support serviced land initiatives and the provision of group water schemes and group sewerage schemes.
h) To contribute to the vitality of the towns and villages of rural areas through the Urban and Village Renewal Programme
i) To promote high standard of architecture in the siting and design of new housing developments.
j) To encourage a variety of house types, sizes and tenure in individual schemes and to encourage variety, interest and social mix in private and social housing developments.
k) To ensure that the Council’s housing policy and objectives are linked with employment, environmental, and infrastructural policies and objectives with the aim of improving the quality of life and the attractiveness of the county’s towns, villages and open countryside.

Infill housing in existing built up areas of the towns and villages of the County and in rural areas between existing houses will be encouraged. Any proposals should be designed to integrate successfully with the existing pattern of development in terms of housing type, scale and details such as materials finishes, building lines etc. In all cases the protection of the amenities of existing development should be the primary consideration.

The National Development Plan 2000 - 2006 has identified a need to increase social housing output to meet rising demand.

This increased housing out put will be met by the Council in a number of ways as a housing authority through,

- Affordable housing/joint venture schemes
- the local authority’s house building programme,
- the sale of sites scheme,
- the Voluntary Housing Sector and the Rental subsidy scheme,
- the capital assistance scheme
- the disabled persons grant,
- the essential repairs grant and other measures
- the Homeless Forum initiative

The Council will continue to meet social housing needs in the towns, villages and rural areas of the County in a balanced way avoiding over concentration in any one particular area.

The Council in its house building programme will place an emphasis on well designed and integrated schemes appropriate to the scale and character of the area.

The Council recognises the important role played by the Voluntary Sector in meeting social housing need and will support and facilitate the expansion of that role.

It will be the policy of the Council to meet social housing need by

a) Providing houses under its multi-annual housing programme
b) Assembling land banks
c) Co operating with and assisting the Private and Voluntary Sectors.
d) Implementing the Affordable Housing/ Shared Ownership Schemes and other housing initiatives
e) Participating in estate management & involving residents associations through the Council’s community liaison programme.

Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (the Act) requires that housing strategies be drawn up by planning authorities and integrated into their development plans. The strategy is to have regard to the proper planning and sustainable development of an area and will be concerned with the overall supply of housing within the administrative area of the Local Authority.

The Act states that the needs for social and affordable housing shall be a material planning consideration which must be taken into account in formulating development plan policies, preparing the housing strategy and deciding on planning applications. The Act places a statutory obligation on the Planning Authority to ensure that sufficient land is zoned for housing in its development plan to meet the projected housing requirement over the period of the plan and to ensure that shortage will not arise.

The housing strategy shall:

(a) include an estimate of, and provision for, the existing need and the likely future need for housing in the area covered by the development plan. The Planning Authority shall ensure that sufficient and suitable land is zoned in its development plan for residential use (or for a mixture of residential and other uses), to meet the requirements of the housing strategy and to ensure that a scarcity of such land does not occur at any time during the period of the development plan.

(b) take into account the need to ensure that housing is available for persons who have different levels of income, and in particular for those in need of social or affordable housing in the area. A housing strategy shall therefore provide that as a general policy a specified percentage, not being more than 20% of the land zoned in the development plan for residential use, or for a mixture of residential and other uses, shall be reserved for social and/or affordable housing.

(c) ensure that a mixture of house types and sizes is developed to reasonably match the requirements of the different categories of households, as may be determined by the Planning Authority, including the special requirements of elderly persons and persons with disabilities.
(d) counteract undue segregation in housing between persons of different social backgrounds. The Planning Authority may indicate in respect of any residential area that there is no requirement for social/affordable housing in respect of that area, or that a lower percentage than that specified in the housing strategy may instead be required.

A housing strategy may be prepared jointly by two or more Planning Authorities. The housing strategy for Kilkenny City and County was prepared jointly by Kilkenny County Council and Kilkenny Borough Council. In the preparation of the housing strategy regard was had to the Model Housing Strategy and step-by-step guide issued by the Department of Environment and Local Government (DoELG) as part of the Housing Supply Guidelines (December 2000).

The principal features to emerge from the analysis presented in this housing strategy are as follows:

• A total of 4,002 new households are expected to be formed in County Kilkenny over the 2001-2006 period.
• The existing Local Authority Housing Waiting List is 1,130
• Over this period an average of 18.7% of land zoned for residential, or for a mix of residential and other uses will be reserved to meet the accumulated and prospective need of social and affordable housing within the County As far as possible, the local authorities will address this need while maintaining an emphasis on sustainable development.
• The availability of zoned and serviced land is not expected to act as a constraint over the course of the development plan.
• As provided for in section 94(4)(c) of the Act, the local authorities will as a general policy reserve 18.7% of land zoned for residential, or for a mix of residential and other uses for the purpose of providing social and affordable housing on land. In all planning applications regard will be had to the particular circumstances (existing housing mix, location, planning requirements, etc) in determining the breakdown between social and affordable housing provision of the development in question.
• The County Council and Borough Council will consult with all relevant stakeholders in arriving at final decisions relating to housing mix and social integration.
• Both will seek to reduce the current housing waiting lists over the course of this housing strategy.
• The local authorities are intent on promoting the principles of sustainable development, and so the spatial distribution of future housing will reflect an emphasis on the continued ordered development of the principal urban centres of Kilkenny City and Environs, Waterford Environs and the four Scheduled Towns.

a) It is an objective of the Council to implement the housing strategy contained in appendix A of the Development Plan.
b) The Council will require that 18.7% of the land zoned for residential use or for a mixture of residential and other uses be made available for the provision of social and affordable housing.

Since the adoption of the 1994 Development Plan the National policy has evolved to promoting increased densities in appropriate locations. The National strategy outlined in the document "Sustainable Development - A strategy for Ireland" sets out the Government Policy of encouraging more sustainable urban development by the avoidance of excessive suburbanisation curtailing of housing in the countryside for people working in cities and towns along with the promotion of higher residential densities in appropriate locations.

This will result in:

- More economic use of existing infrastructure and serviced land
- Reduced need for investment in infrastructure.
- Better access to existing services and facilities
- More sustainable commuting patterns.

The Council recognises that higher densities will not be appropriate in every circumstance. In achieving higher densities the protection of the amenities of existing developments and those of the residents of the proposed development will be a primary consideration. A high quality of architecture in the siting and design providing a good quality living environment is essential if increased residential densities are to be acceptable. In previous Development Plans the concept of maximum residential densities was used. In this plan in the light of the Governments strategy this system will not be used.

In assessing proposals for residential development in the urban areas of the County the Council will have regard to the Government’s publication "Residential Density Guidelines for Planning Authorities”, and Action Area Plans prepared by the Council for particular areas.

Action area plans will play an important role in setting the framework for the achievement of balanced development in areas of expansion. The Council in its action area plans provides guidance in relation to appropriate densities for particular areas. Higher densities in accordance with Government guidelines and the Council’s Action Area Plans will be encouraged at appropriate locations in town centres in proximity to public transport facilities and overlooking or adjoining major public open space.

It follows from this approach that there will be no set minimum or maximum density specified in the Plan. The emphasis will be on providing quality housing environments based on innovation and a design led approach.

It will be the policy of the Council to:

a) Achieve a more integrated and sustainable development of all residentially zoned land.
b) Achieve an efficient use of land through residential densities appropriate to its context while avoiding the problems of over development.
c) Emphasise quality, innovation and a design led approach with proposals appropriate to each site and location.
d) To encourage a variety of house types, sizes in individual schemes.

Ribbon Development is defined as a number of houses in a continuous row outside the existing development areas constructed along a roadside.

Over the years there has been development pressure in the County for one off scattered housing. This has not been uniform throughout the County and has manifested itself in the form of concentrations within easy commuting distance of the larger urban centres of the County and those urban centres close to the County boundary such as New Ross and Waterford City.

This development pressure can be broken into four (not exclusively so) main elements:

(a) Local people wishing to provide housing for themselves
(b) People originally from the area and wishing to return to the area to live.
(c) People who need to live in the area by virtue of their employment
(d) Those moving from the nearest urban centre to live in a rural area.

In the main, ribbon development and urban sprawl in the countryside will be discouraged. It is undesirable because it creates numerous accesses onto traffic routes, sterilises backlands, land locks farmland, creates servicing problems (e.g. water supply, drainage, footpaths and street lighting etc.) and intrudes on public views of the rural setting.

The Council is dedicated to developing a strong, vibrant and sustainable rural community living in the towns, villages, and smaller settlements and in the open countryside and to facilitate and support this through its rural investment programmes, policies and objectives.

The necessity to maintain a vibrant rural community and to strive for the sustainable development of such communities and their services such as schools, post offices, churches, shops etc is recognised by the Council. The County Council recognises the need to retain the rural population and permit the development of houses in rural areas in a manner which will not diminish County Kilkenny's high quality rural environment and distinctive character.

The aim of the Council is not to exclude the development of rural housing but to accommodate the housing needs of rural dwellers and their families who have strong affiliations to a particular area and the needs of those who, out of necessity by reason of employment or other economic or social reason, need to reside in a rural area and to reduce to a minimum the amount of random speculative development.

The Council will facilitate and support this through its rural investment programmes, policies and objectives.

In developing a settlement strategy for the County the widely dispersed system of parishes was examined. Within each parish the location of services such as schools, post offices, Garda stations etc. was identified. From that survey the locations of smaller settlements that service the parish and local hinterland were identified.

It will be the policy of the Council:

a) To meet the housing needs in rural areas.
b) To encourage housing development to locate in the designated towns and villages where infrastructural and social services exist or are planned to be provided.
c) To encourage appropriate levels of residential development in smaller settlements where there is a basic nucleus of community facilities and services such as a school, post office, small shop, and/or church etc.
d) To minimise the amount of sporadic urban generated rural housing particularly in areas of development pressure close to Kilkenny City, New Ross and Waterford City.
e) To meet the needs of those who need to reside in rural areas by virtue of employment or essential social reasons.
f) To protect the areas of high amenity in the County as important elements of rural character which underpin rural development particularly tourism.
g) To promote high quality design with appropriate siting, landscaping, materials and fenestration.
h) To use its powers under the sanitary services small schemes programme and group sewerage schemes programme in conjunction with local development groups and/or private individuals and developers to facilitate the development of waste water treatment facilities and water supplies.

The areas of development pressure and high amenity are defined on Map 7.1.
The towns and villages designated and the smaller settlements are shown on Map 7.2.

The towns and villages designated within the county were chosen having regard to their ability to sustain growth, the Council’s infrastructural investment programme and the need for an equitable geographical distribution

The towns and villages designated under this strategy are:

Castlecomer, Callan, Graiguenamanagh, Thomastown, Kilmacow, Urlingford, Freshford, Johnstown, Goresbridge, Ballyragget, Bennettsbridge, Inistioge, Clogh-Moneenroe, Gowran, Piltown, Fiddown, Slieverue, Glenmore, Ballyhale, Stoneyford, Knocktopher, Mullinavat, Kells, Paulstown, Kilmoganny, Mooncoin, Kilmanagh.

A number of village plans have been made by the Planning Authority. These include Urlingford, Ballyraggett, Bennettsbridge, Inistioge, Piltown, Fiddown, Slieverue, Paulstown, Mooncoin, Freshford, Gowran, Kilmacow, Clogh/Moneenroe and Kilmaganny.

A review will be carried out of the above list of settlements to allow consideration of the addition of further settlements. The Council shall acquire suitable sites within these settlements in order to provide serviced sites for housing.

It will be an objective of the Council to prepare local area plans for particular areas whether rural, urban or suburban as the need arises and as resources permit during the term of the development plan.

There are smaller settlements dispersed through the rural parts of the County. They possess a limited range of physical and social infrastructure but have the capacity to cater for additional limited development. The County Council will seek to encourage appropriate levels of development in these areas to help sustain population levels and support existing services.

The Council will encourage well-designed and located clusters of houses within or adjacent to the development areas of these settlements as an alternative to roadside development, normally no more than 8 houses off a single access road, with public services if these can be economically provided or other suitable effluent treatment arrangements.

The Council will require that where such schemes are granted permission that the scheme is maintained by an approved management company with appropriate bonding arrangements to ensure the long term maintenance of the development.

The strategy outlined above under this section is also underpinned by investment in local infrastructure under the Council’s infrastructural programmes in roads sewerage, and water services.

The Council will look favourably on proposals for sustainable developments using alternative approaches to waste disposal and energy creation within the designated and smaller settlements throughout the county in addition to the measures outlined under the small schemes programme outlined above.

Similar clusters will be permitted in rural areas.

In order to allow balanced development of the designated towns, villages and the smaller settlements, in rural areas thereby supporting existing services and preventing population decline, it is reasonable to adopt a policy of restriction for parts of the County where the development pressure is greatest from urban generated housing.

Policy
Within the area of development pressure and the areas of high amenity outlined on Map 7.1, a positive presumption will be given toward the building of one-off houses, for occupation, by the applicant of the following classes of persons.

I. Persons whose primary employment is in agriculture, horticulture, forestry or bloodstock, or other rural based activity in the area which they wish to build.
II. Immediate members of farm families (sons & daughters), seeking to build on the family farm.
III. Persons whose primary employment is within County Kilkenny and need to live in a rural location because of that employment or whose employment would provide a service to the local community.
IV. Persons who have strong family linkages with the rural location in which they wish to build.

In areas outside the areas of development pressure and other than areas of high amenity a positive presumption will be given towards the building of one off houses.

The appearance of new housing development can have a substantial impact on the landscape. Inappropriately sited and designed houses can detract from the rural character of an area.

The County’s scenic areas are an economic resource of growing importance. Where development is acceptable in principle a high standard of siting and design will be required to protect the character of the area.

It is an objective of the Council to produce a set of design guidelines for developments in the countryside during the period of the Plan.

The Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998 placed a statutory obligation on the Council to prepare and adopt a five year programme, subject to periodic reviews for the provision of traveller accommodation in the County.

The County Council recognises the distinctive culture, lifestyle and requirements of the travelling community within the County.

It is the policy of the Council to accommodate the traveller families indigenous to Kilkenny through its Traveller Accommodation Programme and where appropriate to provide facilities for transient Traveller families parking in Kilkenny.

Community facilities are essential to the well being and functioning of populated areas. These facilities include health clinics, hospitals, schools, churches, shopping facilities, car parking, libraries, community halls, fire stations, burial grounds etc.

It will be the policy of the Council to:

• Reserve site for community facilities in areas of population growth as appropriate and to seek to remedy deficiencies in existing developed areas.
• Locate community facilities within existing settlements and where population levels warrant a particular service.
• Liaise with community groups and to assist community initiatives subject to the availability of resources.

The Community Liaison Section of the Council was established in 1998. Its aim is to foster participation and community organisation and develop a strong representative group in partnership with the Council.

It is the policy of the Council to continue to establish a progressive representative residents association in communities throughout the County in partnership with the Council to foster a strong sense of ownership and vision at local community level.

The County Council is the fire Authority for Kilkenny City & County. There are stations located in Kilkenny City, Freshford, Castlecomer Urlingford, Graiguenamanagh, Thomastown and Callan.

It is the policy of the Council to upgrade and replace fire stations and to replace and provide new equipment and vehicles as the need arises.

The Council will continue to improve the library service in accordance with the Council’s 5-year development programme 1998 to 2002 for the library as resources permit to endeavour to provide comprehensive service to all inhabitants of the county irrespective of location.

It is the policy of the Council subject to adequate resources to

• Provide a permanent library in the Piltown electoral area.
• Upgrade the present part time service points
• Provide new service points
• Automate service points and the library information service.

It is the policy of the Council to facilitate the development by the South Eastern Health Board of a comprehensive range of health and social care services and in particular services for the elderly including the development of community, hospital, community nursing and day care services throughout the County.

In the light of an increasing ageing population, investment in developing a range of facilities for the elderly, including nursing units, has been facilitated under the National Development Plan.

It is the policy of the Council to ensure that adequate land and services are available for the provision of all types of facilities for the elderly including nursing homes both public and private and the improvement, expansion and establishment of health services generally such as extended nursing care, day care and respite care.