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:

• Local Area Plans were completed and adopted for Callan, Castlecomer, Thomastown, Graiguenamanagh, Ferrybank/Belview, Bennettsbridge and Kilmacow.

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

• Commenced review of the local area plans for Gowran, Fiddown, Piltown and Mooncoin and began the public consultation process.

• Variations to the County   Development Plan were completed to update the list of Architectural Conservation Areas that were adopted under the local area plans for Thomastown, Graiguenamanagh, Castlecomer and Callan and also to vary the policy in relation to individual wind turbines in order to allow for greater flexibility of turbine heights and to avoid contradictions between the County Development Plan and the exempted development provisions of the Planning and Development Regulations 2008.

• The Thomastown Local Area Plan 2009 was amended to allow for greater flexibility in the use of two sites.

• Tenders were sought from ecological consultants for Habitat Assessments to be carried out for settlements where the local area plans are due to be reviewed or prepared.

 

Conservation:

• The sum of 148,000 Euros was paid under the National Conservation grants Scheme for conservation works to protected structures in 2009.

• 210 additions were made to the Record of Protected Structures 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.

• The Record of Protected Structures was reviewed and updated for the Local Area Plans of Thomastown, Graiguenamanagh, Callan and Castlecomer and Architectural Conservation Areas were designated for these towns. The Record of Protected Structures for the Ferrybank/Belview Local Area Plan was reviewed and updated.

• 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.

• Kilkenny County Council collaborated with Waterford County Council to hold a lime workshop "Working with Lime" which was held at the Coastguard Station, Tramore on the 4^th of September 2009. The event was held over one day and included lectures and demonstrations.

• Kilkenny County Council supported the publication by the Building Limes Forum of Ireland of their new book on the use of lime in traditional structures and new build entitled "Lime Works" by Patrick McAfee.

• Kilkenny County Council collaborated with the Irish Georgian Society to hold a seminar entitled Energy Efficiency in Historic Buildings in the Parade Tower, Kilkenny Castle on the 20^th October 2009.

 

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 are 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 €2.2m was collected in 2009.

 

Development Control:

Highlights:

• 843 planning applications were received in 2009, and the sum of €551,408 was received in planning fees.

• 382 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 57 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 190 new complaints were received during 2009.

• Enforcement Proceedings are ongoing with approximately 25 cases forwarded for legal action.

• The Council successfully prosecuted 6 cases during 2009.

• A total of 182 cases were brought to conclusion during 2009.

• Fines and costs in the sum of €13,378.63 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 2009 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.

 

Wiki:

Kilkenny County Councils Planning and IS Departments Planning wiki website: http://wiki.kilkennycoco.ie. was used as part of the public participation process for the local area plans for Callan, Castlecomer and Bennettsbridge.  The aim of this wiki is to enable interested and engaged members of the public to participate online in a collaborative discussion around the development of future Local Area Plans (LAPs), thereby enhancing public participation in the process. Any interested parties can register themselves on the wiki and can then make changes or additions to articles within the LAP's. Comments can also be made on any of the content of the wiki.