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

• to determine the physical planning policy of the county.

• control of new development and building.

• promotion of industrial, commercial and other appropriate development.

 

Forward Planning - County Development Plan/Local Area Plans:

Highlights:

• The Local Area Plan for Gowran was completed and adopted in 2010. The Local Area Plans for Fiddown and Piltown will be completed for adoption in 2011.

• Strategic Environmental Assessments & Appropriate Assessments were completed as necessary in parallel for these plans.

• A total of 9 Habitat Assessments were carried out in conjunction with the Heritage Officer for Ballyhale, Ballyragget, Fiddown, Gowran, Johnstown, Knocktopher, Mooncoin, Piltown and Urlingford.

• Participated in the preparation of the South East Regional Planning Guidelines which were adopted in July 2010.

• The preparation of a Core Strategy as required by the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2010 commenced.

• The quantitative assessments (including floorspace assessment, household and shopper surveys) were completed as part of the ongoing review of the 2007 Retail Strategy.

• The Loughmacask Local Area Plan 2008-2014 received a Commendation at the Irish Planning Institute National Planning Awards 2010.

 

Consultative website

In conjunction with the IS Department a second generation planning consultation site was launched which offers a totally new collaborative interface to citizens:
http://lap.kilkennycoco.ie/
The site presented a series of questions at the bottom of every chapter and a very user friendly comment form was also available on every page. This page was a featured link from the County Council website banner since the new county council website went live and was used as part of the public participation process for the local area plans for Fiddown, Gowran and Piltown.

 

Conservation:

• The sum of €107,002 was paid under the National Conservation grants Scheme for conservation works to protected structures in 2010.

• 22 additions were made to the Record of Protected Structures in 2010 representing Kilkenny County Council's ongoing commitment to responding to the Ministerial Recommendation to add to the RPS all buildings rated Regional or above in the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage survey for Co. Kilkenny, published in 2006.

• Kilkenny County Council provides a planning consultancy/advisory system for any persons wishing to carry out works to buildings of architectural heritage significance and protected structures within County Kilkenny.

 

Derelict Sites:

Highlights:

• The Council's five Area Offices are responsible for derelict sites with the support of the Director of Service for Planning.

• Notices under the Derelict Sites Act 1990 are issued where appropriate and Derelict sites will continue to be investigated.

• 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 is pursued under the Compulsory Purchase Proceedings of the Derelict Sites 1990.

 

Development Contributions:

Highlights:

• The new Development Contribution Scheme was applied to all permissions granted from 1st January, 2004.

• Sum of €2.3m was collected in 2010.

 

Development Control:

Highlights:

• 729 planning applications were received in 2010, and the sum of €339,293 was received in planning fees.

• 306 Commencement Notices under the Building Regulations were received.

• The Planning Clinic system continues to operate successfully in each of the Area Offices.

• A panel for approved Site Suitability Assessors was set up in 2008 and there are a total of 65 on this panel. This has improved the quality and reliability of the information submitted with a planning application, and has resulted in the reduction of referral of planning applications to the Environment Section for verification of the data.

 

Enforcement:

• A total of 156 new complaints were received during 2010.

• Enforcement Proceedings are ongoing with approximately 15 cases forwarded for legal action.

• The Council successfully prosecuted 9 cases during 2010.

• A total of 103 cases were brought to conclusion during 2010.

• Fines and costs in the sum of €26,992.78 were imposed by the Courts following legal action taken by the Council.

• There is a growing number of unfinished housing estates throughout the county and priority must now focus on their completion in conjunction with derelict sites.

 

IT Developments:

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 2010 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. To the end of 2010 there are approx 18,500 files scanned in respect of applications received between 2000 and 2010. 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.