Kilmaley

Kilmaley

Location and Context

Kilmaley is situated on and between the R474 road to Miltown Malbay and Kilmaley Bridge, approximately 11km from Ennis. The village has a church, school, retirement home and community housing, GAA pitches and all-weather pitches, community centre, pub, shop, post office and a playground. Its proximity to Ennis makes Kilmaley an attractive place to live. The main services and facilities in Kilmaley are located in two distinctive areas at either end of the link road between the Post Office at Kilmaley Bridge and the crossroads of the R474. Development has mostly occurred between these two centres.

The development strategy centres around the two identified core areas. Development should be concentrated in these areas in order to support the viability and vitality of the existing services. These centres focus around the school, church and post office to the south of the village and around the community centre, shop, pub and new housing development to the north of the village. The broad range of social, sporting, educational and community facilities in Kilmaley singles out this settlement as a very attractive place to live for those seeking good community networks in a rural setting, all within a short distance from Ennis. Kilmaley Voluntary Housing Association has set a national example of community health and residential provision.

The R474, which runs to the north of the village, experiences significant through-traffic and as such, concentrating development on the southern side of the R474 and minimising access off and across the main road has been a significant consideration in informing zoning for future growth. The strategy for Kilmaley is to provide for small scale, well-designed residential, commercial and community developments which have regard to the character of the village itself.

Water supply is sourced through the Inagh-Kilmaley Group Water Scheme and has capacity to accommodate growth. The village does not have a public wastewater treatment system therefore all future development will be dependent on the suitability of the land to accommodate on-site treatment systems. Any future development including alterations to existing commercial or employment generating development, will require private wastewater treatment subject to suitable site-specific conditions and must ensure they comply with the EPA Code of Practice for On Site Wastewater Treatment Systems. The Natura Impact Report accompanying this plan (Volume 10a) provides relevant mitigation measures and recommendations at site and project level.

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General Objectives

• To make provision for the sustainable growth of the village, ensuring that future growth is aligned with the availability of water supply and wastewater services; • To support and facilitate the development of recreational and community facilities to serve the local population; • To make provision for the development and maintenance of physical infrastructure that will effectively accommodate the resident population and allow for the future growth of the village.

Enterprise and Employment

In order to promote economic development in Kilmaley, land for Mixed Use zoning has been identified at the junction of the village with the R474. This zoning will facilitate the expansion of existing services in the village (see also Place Making and Amenity below). Commercial zoning is also provided at the shop and petrol station to the south.

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.

Land has been designated for village growth that is easily accessible and well located in relation to the school and other community facilities. The delivery of any new development in Kilmaley will be encouraged by adopting a combined approach of sequential compact growth and the re-use and redevelopment of vacant or derelict sites and buildings within the village.

Any development in Kilmaley is highly dependent on the suitability of the land to accommodate on-site wastewater treatment systems.

VGA 1 Lands North of the School

This site has the potential to accommodate a small-scale cluster housing development situated directly adjacent to the school. Development on this site will reinforce the southern

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centre of the village, supporting the services to ensure their viability and vitality. The topography of the site is undulating, and any future residential development proposals shall be required to provide high quality design of dwellings and layout, paying particular attention to the levels and contours of the site. Access to the site will be from the local road running along the eastern boundary of the site.

Place Making and Amenity

This village is characterised by its extended form, stretching between the R474 to the north and Kilmaley Bridge to the south. The commercial facilities are concentrated at each end of the settlement with a road, but no footpath linkage between them. Footpaths within the village are currently planned as part of the Active Travel Programme which will provide safe pedestrian connectivity within the village.

The majority of the development of the village has focused around these two commercial centres and along the link road between them, including the school, church, GAA pitches, a housing development and individual houses. The inconsistent treatment of the margins and set-backs in terms of both depth and surface treatment needs to be addressed. The Council will support community efforts to improve the public realm of Kilmaley to bring about the required enhancement. An effort has been made at the R474 end of the village to define edges and reduce an over-wide junction and thus improve pedestrian comfort and safety.

It is important that development of the Mixed Use lands around the R474 junction forms clear edges to the public road to assist with both place making and traffic calming, as required by the Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets (DMURS).

Flooding and Flood Risk

The Strategic Flood Risk Assessment in Volume 10(c) of this Plan advises that there is fluvial risk to Kilmaley with some areas at risk of pluvial flooding. Flooding is also shown backing up from the main river and along its tributaries. However, risk is mainly limited to agricultural land and open space, with small encroachment in community and existing residential lands. Open space and agricultural uses are appropriate and should be maintained. Further development within the Community zoned land within Flood Zone A or B should be for less vulnerable or water compatible uses, and future residential development should be located within Flood Zone C.

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