Cranny

Cranny

Location and Context

Cranny village is a dispersed linear settlement situated on the line of a shallow ridge with a picturesque rural setting. The village slopes down from the school in the east to the junction for Coolmeen in the west, at Cranny Bridge beside the Cloon River. Expansive views of the surrounding rural countryside are afforded on both sides of the road, particularly to the west near the river where the land levels out. Services in the village include a school, church, a post box and public house. The reuse, redevelopment, or enhancement of existing vacant buildings in the village centre is encouraged as a means of its regeneration and promoting sustainable development.

Existing buildings in Cranny are served by private wastewater treatment systems and currently there are no public wastewater treatment facilities. Any future development proposals within the village must comply with the EPA Code of Practice for Wastewater Treatment Systems in order to ensure no significant long-term effects on the River Shannon or the adjacent European sites (Cloon River SAC and the Lower River Shannon SAC) occur.

The settlement of Cranny lies within the Shannon-Cloon River Catchment which has been identified by the NPWS as a ‘Catchments of SAC populations listed in S.I. 296 of 2009’ with respect to the presence of Freshwater Pearl Mussels. This catchment historically had records of mussels but its status is currently unknown. Therefore, any proposed development will need to take into consideration the potential effects on this species and its habitat. Accordingly, objectives set out in Volume 1 of this Plan, relating to European sites and to appropriate assessment will apply to any future development proposals in this area. The Natura Impact Report accompanying this Plan (Volume 10a) relevant mitigation measures and recommendations at site and project level.

General Objectives

• To promote the consolidation of Cranny village through brownfield reuse/redevelopment and compact growth within the designated Village Growth Areas; • To ensure that growth in Cranny is incremental in nature, relative and appropriate to the scale, size and character of the population and services in the village; • To support the provision of infrastructure to allow for future growth in the village; • To improve the footpath network in the village, linking the residential properties to the national school;

• To facilitate the development of a playground in the village; and

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• To ensure that developments shall not adversely affect species and habitats designated for protection by the Habitats Directive, in particular the Cloon River and Shannon-

Cloon River Catchment.

Employment and Enterprise

Agriculture remains an important part of the local economy in the smaller settlements around the county. In order to support economic development, the Council will facilitate home-based economic activity and encourage farm enterprise and agri-tourism in Cranny.

There are two brownfield sites at the western edge of the village, next to Cranny Bridge, which contain disused/derelict buildings in the form of the old creamery and some storage sheds, which have the potential for redevelopment for small scale industrial/enterprise units. A buffer is provided along the banks of the Cloon River at these locations in order to protect the SAC and its qualifying habitats and species. Any proposal for re-development or re-use of these buildings should incorporate Sustainable Urban Drainage (SuDs).

Strategy for Growth and Sustainable Communities

The strategy for the sustainable growth of the village and its community is through consolidation and regeneration that promotes compact sequential growth and supports and strengthens a sustainable village community and its rural hinterland. This will be achieved by encouraging small scale growth in areas which make a positive contribution to the overall enhancement of the village and sustains it into the future. In line with this approach and to promote vibrant rural villages, village growth areas have been identified which provide opportunities and choice for development, including small scale commercial, enterprise, community, services/facilities as well as small scale cluster housing, all of which offer a viable and attractive option for rural living within a village community and setting.

Agriculture Zonings

Any development proposals that come forward for agricultural lands must provide appropriate environmental assessment and a buffer between the proposed development and the European site (Cloon River) where necessary.

Flooding and Flood Risk

The Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (Volume 10(c)) accompanying this Plan advises that as there is limited encroachment of Flood Zone A and B redevelopment within these areas is likely to be low impact and risks can be managed through appropriate site layouts and building layouts, with development limited to Flood Zone C.

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