Chapter 9 Rural Westmeath

Chapter 9

Proposed Amendment CH 9.1

Section:

Heading

Page No.

9.4

Rural Settlement Strategy

255

CPO 9.1

Areas Under Strong Urban Influence

To accommodate demand from individuals for permanent residential development in defined ‘Rural Areas Under Strong Urban Influence’ who have strong links to the area and who are an intrinsic part of the rural community, subject to good planning practice, environmental carrying capacity and landscape protection considerations.

Local Housing Need

Permit residential development in areas defined ‘Rural Areas Under Strong Urban Influence and Stronger Rural Areas’ subject to the following circumstances:

1. Persons who are actively engaged in agriculture, horticulture, forestry, bloodstock and peat industry,
2. Members of farm families seeking to build on the family farm,
3. Landowners for this purpose being defined as persons who own the land 5 years prior to the date of planning application.
4. Persons employed locally whose employment would provide a service to the local community,
5. Persons who have personal, family or economic ties within the area, including returning emigrants
6. Persons who wish to return to farming and who buy or inherit a substantial farm-holding which is kept intact as an established farm unit, will be considered by the Council to be farmers and will be open to consideration for a rural house, as farmers. Where there is already a house on the holding, refurbishment or replacement of this house is the preferred option.
7. Persons who demonstrate extraordinary and exceptional circumstances, regard shall be had to those circumstances in consideration of the application.

The local area for the purpose of this policy is defined as the area generally within a 10km radius of the applicant’s family home.

Chapter 9

 Proposed Amendment CH 9.2

Section:

Heading

Page No.

9.4

Rural Settlement Strategy

255

Chapter 9

Proposed Amendment CH 9.3

Section:

Heading

Page No.

9.4.2

Rural Nodes

256

CPO 9.5

Continue to monitor and review rural nodes in the County, across the lifetime of the Plan, in order to ensure compatibility with environmental protection objectives. This shall include a review of the extent and representation of each individual node where appropriate.

Chapter 9
Proposed Amendment CH 9.4

Section:

Heading

Page No.

9.6

Development within the hinterland of Settlements

258

Chapter 9

Proposed Amendment CH 9.5

Section:

Heading

Page No.

9.7

Rural Areas Subject to Sensitive Resource Designation

259

CPO 9.21

Restrict residential development not related to farming or forestry practices in defined water catchment areas of Lough Owel and Lough Lene, with the exception of the erection of a house for a member of an existing residential farm family who will inherit the farm, or another member of the family, provided that not more than two dwellings (existing and proposed) be permitted on any farm holding within the water catchment and only where this relates to the first dwelling for the applicant and no alternative site is available outside the water catchment.

Landowners for this purpose being defined as persons who own the land 5 years prior to the date of planning application.

Where there is a conflict with CPO 9.22 below, this policy shall take precedence.

Chapter 9

Proposed Amendment CH 9.6

Section:

Heading

Page No.

9.8

Areas of High Amenity

259

CPO 9.22

Restrict development not related to farming practices and tourism in all High Amenity Areas, with the exception of housing for the immediate family (son/daughter) of established residents living on landholdings, who demonstrate a housing need and have long-term intrinsic links with the area.
The entire landholding will be demonstrated to have been in the resident’s ownership 5 years prior to the date of application.

Landowners for this purpose being defined as persons who own the land 5 years prior to the date of planning application.

Chapter 9

Proposed Amendment CH 9.7 

Section:

Heading

Page No.

9.11.1

Farm Diversification

263

Chapter 9

Proposed Amendment CH 9.8

Section:

Heading

Page No.

9.7

Rural Areas Subject to Sensitive Resource Designation

264

Chapter 9

 Proposed Amendment CH 9.9

Section:

Heading

Page No.

9.14

Forestry

267

CPO 9.48

Encourage the development of forestry, with higher proportions of broadleaf, to a scale and in a manner, which maximises its contribution to the economic and social well-being of the County on a sustainable basis.