Planning and Development 2007

The role and function of Kilkenny County Council's Planning Department is:

Forward Planning - County Development Plan/Local Area Plans

Highlights:

The review of the County & City Environs Development Plans is ongoing, and Public consultation open days were held around the City & County in 2007 during the public display phase. The review of the County & City Development Plans 2008 - 2014 is ongoing.
The Draft Loughmacask Local Area Plan was published in August. Proposed amendments were published in December.
Consultants were appointed to carry out Local Area Plans for Bennettsbridge, Callan, Castlecomer, Graiguenamanagh, Kilmacow, Thomastown and Waterford City Environs.
An amendment to the Piltown Local Area Plan was adopted.
Variation No 9 of the Kilkenny County Development Plan 2002 (Thomastown zoning objectives map) was adopted in 2007.
The preparation of the Rural Housing Design Guidelines continued.
Village Design Statements were prepared for Tullaroan, Newmarket and Hugginstown.

Highlights:

The sum of €161,000 was paid under the Conservation Grant Scheme for improvements and works to protected structures during 2007.
5 additions were also made to the Record of Protected Structures.
Architectural Inventories have been carried out for four villages and Urban Design Studies carried out for a further four villages.
The N.I.A.H. survey for County Kilkenny commenced in 2005 and is ongoing.
Kilkenny County Council offers a planning consultancy/advisory system for any persons wishing to carry out works to sensitive buildings and protected structures within County Kilkenny.

Highlights:

The Council&'s five Area Offices are responsible for derelict sites with the support of the Director of Service for Planning.
2 Notices under the Derelict Sites Act 1990 were issued in 2007.
Derelict sites will continue to be investigated and notices served as appropriate.
The County Council continues to identify sites that are suitable for infill housing in order to generate and revive some of the more dilapidated black spots in villages and towns around the County. The acquisition of suitable derelict properties are pursued under the Compulsory Purchase Proceedings of the Derelict Sites Act 1990.

Highlights:

The new Development Contribution Scheme was applied to all permissions granted from 1st January, 2004.
The sum of €11.7m was collected in 2007.

Highlights:

2,273 applications were received in 2007 (2,346 in 2006), and the sum of €1,132,000.00 was received in planning fees.
722 Commencement Notices under the Building Regulations were received.
The Planning Clinic system continues to operate successfully in each of the Area Offices, with the addition of a Group Clinic facility for 'one off house' and extension applications introduced in each clinic in 2007.

Highlights:

A total of 180 new complaints were received during 2007.
Enforcement Proceedings are ongoing and approximately 32 cases were forwarded for legal action.
The Council successfully prosecuted 12 cases during 2007.
A total of 44 cases were brought to conclusion during 2007
Fines and costs in the sum of €12,000.00 were imposed by the Courts following legal action taken by the Council.
Development contributions would also be due on foot of a number of applications which were received as a direct result of enforcement action.
This is an area which has evolved significantly over the past 5 years and Kilkenny County Council is pro-active in this area.

The Town Renewal Scheme is a tax relief scheme similar to the Urban Renewal Scheme which has been in operation for a number of years.

Highlights:

40 projects have been approved to date under the Town Renewal Scheme.
The closing date for receipt of applications for the scheme was 31st December, 2004. However, the qualifying dates for tax relief was extended to 31st July, 2008 where additional conditions are met.

Highlights:

In 2001 a Strategic Plan for the Implementation of the Urban & Village Renewal Scheme was prepared by Kilkenny County Council. This set out the Council's plans for the years 2001 - 2007 in allocating the Urban and Village renewal funding throughout the County.
The Urban and Village Renewal Scheme is funded by the EU and Exchequer through the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government.
The grant allocation for the year 2007 was €550,000.
The provision of playgrounds for Graiguenamanagh and Newpark Close in Kilkenny commenced in 2007 and should be completed in 2008.
Phase 7 of the six year programme was undertaken in 2007 and the following projects were carried out:

Castlecomer	Civic Amenity Area Church Avenue completed.
Kilkenny	River Nore Linear Park under construction
MUGA	(Multi Use Games Area) at Newpark Kilkenny, under construction
Loughboy Park	Tree planting footpaths and public lighting- ongoing
MUGA	(Multi Use Games Area) at Garringreen completed in 2007
Ballyhale	provision of playground completed
Rosbercon	Tree Planting completed
Urlingford	shrub planting/provision of amenity area completed
Kells	provision of paved footpaths in village centre and entrance to Kells Priory completed
Piltown	provision of paved area in village entrance/replastering of walls at County council depot /tree planting completed.

Highlights:

EPlan, Kilkenny County Council's internet based Planning and GIS system (which was made available online in 2004), offers a link to a GIS system which allows users to view the location of a planning application on a map register. This has continued to be successful throughout 2007 and has proved very popular with members of the public.
Throughout the year the Planning Webpage is updated with current events and legislation. 'A Frequently Asked Questions' section was added to assist members of the public with current information and is updated on a regular basis.
Kilkenny County Council is in the process of scanning planning files with a view to making the files available online. This will allow members of the public to access any planning file online without having to call to the planning office, (which is the current situation), and to download drawings and plans and any other information as may be required.
A survey was carried out in 2007 and the results were very positive towards the level of customer service being provided by the Planning Department, including the ongoing over the counter file validation procedure and the extended opening hours.