Howth – Urban Centre Strategy and Traffic Management

The Development Plan contains an objective to do an Urban Centre Strategy for Howth.  The Transportation Department has separately advertised for consultants to work on traffic and parking in Howth. I am trying to ensure that the Urban Centre Strategy is done in tandem with the traffic work.

To: Planning Department, Transportation Department
by email: 21st August

A chairde

The Development Plan contains a number of objectives specifically related to Howth (attached as Annex 1)

In particular the first objective is

“Objective HOWTH 1

“To prepare an Urban Centre Strategy for the village core to include
detailed urban design guidelines and actions for the harbour (extending
to Claremont Strand) and village area and which will have regard for
the special historic and architectural character of the area.”

Arising initially from a proposal by the Department of the Marine to
introduce parking charges, the Transportation Department is seeking to
employ consultants to work on traffic and parking management in Howth. 
See http://www.e-tenders.gov.ie/search/search_show.aspx?ID=JUL064318 

It seems to me that it would be best for the Urban Centre Strategy work
to be connected to the Traffic and Parking Management Plan.  Indeed it
would make so sense at all to do the Traffic and Parking Management
Plan with all its impacts on the design and use of the area and then
come back to do an Urban Centre Strategy.  Additionally, the Traffic
and Parking Management Plan if implemented is likely to give rise to
some income which could be used to fund work such as burying
electricity cables in the historic core of Howth.
 

Therefore I would like to recommend that the two pieces of work be
carried out in tandem. I will raise this at the area cttee. in
September but I am aware that tenders will be coming in in relation to
the traffic work and I wanted to give you my views as soon as possible.
 

Regards,
 

David
  
 

Annex 1 Extract from County Development Plan pp. 177 to 178
 

HOWTH

Howth is a distinctive settlement located within a unique natural and built environment. It fulfils a predominately

leisure role for visitors with restaurants, cafes, bars and some niche shopping such as arts and crafts.

DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY

It is envisaged that Howth village will develop in a manner that will protect the character of the town, strengthen

and promote the provision and range of facilities especially the retention and promotion of retail convenience

shopping and community services to support the existing populations and tourists. Future development shall be

strictly related to the indicated use zones including the infilling of existing developed areas rather than further

extension of these areas. Development shall be encouraged which utilises the recreational and educational

potential of the area and other nearby natural environments of high quality.

The strategy for Howth Peninsula is to ensure the conservation and preservation of the areas of outstanding

natural beauty and the sustainable tourist and recreational use of natural assets. The main basis for this

strategy will be the Howth Special Amenity Area Order.

DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES

Objective HOWTH 1

To prepare an Urban Centre Strategy for the village core to include detailed urban design guidelines and

actions for the harbour (extending to Claremont Strand) and village area and which will have regard for the

special historic and architectural character of the area.

Objective HOWTH 2

To encourage the retention and development of ground floor commercial uses within the core of the village.

178

Y o u r F i n g a l – W r i t t e n S t a t e m e n t

New development in the core of Howth shall ensure the provision of commercial/retail uses on the ground

floor. Such uses should be of a convenience and comparison retail mix with emphasis on the latter. Office

provision should also be encouraged to ensure a vibrant village core with both indigenous day and evening

populations.

Objective HOWTH 3

To implement the Howth Special Amenity Area Order, the associated management plan and objectives for the

buffer zone.

Objective HOWTH 4

To continue to encourage the development of the harbour area for fishing and marine related industry and

tourism.

Objective HOWTH 5

To provide traffic calming in Howth Village taking account of its environment as a residential, tourist and local

shopping area, and in particular the protection of the residential amenity of Main Street from the effects of

motor traffic.

Objective HOWTH 6

To restrict the number of advertising structures in Howth peninsula and village.

Objective HOWTH 7

To reduce the number of masts on the West Mountain to the minimum necessary.