Draft Galway County Development Plan 2022-2028

Chapter 4 Rural Living and Development

RC 4 Mixed Use Development in Villages

Support the provision of appropriately scaled commercial development within villages,and existing serviced brown field enterprise parks that have been previously designated for commercial, warehouse or light manufacturing practices this may include limited new mixed use development, including employment generating development, childcare and other appropriate commercial development.

Section 4.7

RD 1 Rural Enterprise Potential

To facilitate the development of the rural economy through supporting a sustainable and economically efficient agriculture and food industry, together with forestry, fishing and aquaculture, energy and extractive industries, the bio-economy and diversification into alternative on-farm and off-farm activities, As well as in existing serviced brown field enterprise parks while at the same time noting the importance of maintaining and protecting the natural landscape and built heritage which are vital to rural tourism.

RD 2 Smart Economy

 To support and develop a diverse base of smart economic specialisms as dynamic drivers in our rural economy, including innovation and diversification in agriculture and sustainable energy and green agenda projects

RD 4 Remote Working

To support remote working in the rural area, at an appropriate scale, for enterprise/businesses that do not require visiting members of the public, subject to normal planning consideration. To promote “connected Hubs” for enterprise, light commercial, rural - start up, social enterprise and green agenda sustainability projects aimed at disseminating and upskilling rural communities in achieving our 2030 and 2050 climate targets

4.13 Commercial Developments in Rural Areas

Addition to be made addition into last paragraph

In relation to the expansion of an existing rural enterprise,or enterprise park consideration will be given to the scale of the existing and proposed development, the capacity of local infrastructure to accommodate the expansion, and the compatibility of the development with the surrounding area.

Section 4.13

CD 1 Rural Enterprises

Consider and support the establishment of small scale rural orientated enterprises in unserviced rural areas outside of town or village settings which can be accommodated in existing farm buildings or can be established on a brownfield site, subject to satisfying the following criteria:

(a) Compatibility and general suitability to an unserviced rural area (primary consideration will be given to agriculture, renewable and marine resources, forestry, tourism, recreation or food production related enterprise activities and services);

(b) Scale of development (assimilate appropriately into a rural setting);

(c) Nature of development (raw materials sourced locally);

 (d) Consideration of social and environmental impacts (enterprise must not have a significant adverse impact on the environment or rural amenity);

 (e) The enterprise must not constitute a road safety hazard or have a major adverse impact on the road network, road capacity and traffic levels;

(f) Residential amenity (enterprise must not have a significant adverse impact on residential amenity)

(g). Consideration and promotion will be given to serviced brown field existing enterprise parks in the environs of rural settlements