Council told to reduce land zoned for residential use

A LOCAL authority has been directed to reduce its residentially-zoned land banks.

The Department of the Environment had warned Clare County Council about an oversupply of zoned housing sites.

Despite council plans to cut back land banks, the department advised a further reduction was required in the draft North Clare Area Plan.

Specifically, the department highlighted concerns about proposed zonings in Corofin, Bellharbour, Boston, Carron, Fanore, Kilnaboy and Ruan.

It also noted that tourism proposed for Ballyvaughan raised concerns regarding the potential for adverse effects on Natura 2000 sites.

Further reservations about the zoning of Special Area of Conservation areas in Ennistymon, based on the proposed open space definition, were noted.

However, county manager Tom Coughlan has disagreed with the department’s submission.

Mr Coughlan pointed out in relation to material alterations to the draft North Clare Area Plan, land use zonings and quantum of land in each settlement had been altered to be aligned with the population targets as set out in a core strategy.

“New land use zonings have been introduced — agriculture, existing residential and low density residential — while the land use zoning ‘other settlement land’ has been removed.”

“As such, it is necessary to adjust the quantum of lands zoned in Doolin, Tubber and Ennistymon/ Lahinch.

“In the case of Doolin, additional ‘low density residential’ is required to bring the total available low density residentially zoned land up to the available requirement.

“I consider it appropriate that existing lands already zoned ‘agriculture’ in Ennistymon be amended and zoned ‘low density residential’ and some existing lands already zoned ‘low density residential’ be amended to ‘residential’ to address this.”

He also responded to the department’s concerns regarding the non-application of local rural criteria within designated clusters and that such criteria should apply to clusters within urban generated pressure areas and heritage landscapes.

Mr Coughlan stated: “In response to this suggestion, I would observe the clusters are small settlements often with a school, shop, church or other services, and need to be able to sustain themselves. The pace of growth will be carefully controlled in line with the objective of the Clare County Development Plan for clusters.”

The draft plan is due before the March meeting of Clare County Council.