Publications
This is the Planning publications section. Here you can find all publications, reports and presentations for this heritage area of interest.
PLANNING FEATURED PUBLICATION
Village Design Statements (VDS) in Ireland - The Way Forward?
Following the Heritage Council's announcement at its village design conference in Slane Castle in October 2008, to update and revise the National Village Design Programme, the Council has now published the findings of its consultation with key stakeholders including LEADER Groups and Tidy Towns Committees. The consultation will inform the preparation of a Draft 3 Year Action Plan 2010-2012 for the National
Village Design Programme II. The Village Design Questionnaire Analysis Report is available to download below.
Click here to download the VDS Questionnaire Analysis [PDF 6.7MB]
For further information on the National Village Design Programme II, please contact Alison Harvey, (Programme Manager) at aharvey@heritagecouncil.ie or on Tel 056 777 0777.
Proposed Central Access Scheme (CAS), Kilkenny City
The Heritage Council a 'prescribed authority' under the provision of the planning and development acts 2000-2006 and the planning and development regulations 2001-2007, welcome the opportunity to formally comment on the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) submitted in support of the proposed Central Access Scheme (road and bridge) with the historic medieval city of Kilkenny.
Enhancing Local Distinctiveness: Evaluation of Village Design Statements (VDSs) in Ireland
The remit for this study was to inform national policy on issues relating to the
conservation, enhancement and sustainable development of villages in Ireland. The stated aim was: “to examine the ways in which Village Design Statements have progressed and developed in Ireland, with particular emphasis on the involvement of the Heritage Council, Local Authorities / Local Authority Heritage Officers in VDS and the adoption of VDS as Supplementary Planning Guidance”.
Village Design Statements: The Way Forward?
The Heritage Councils Village Design Statement booklet outlines what makes a good village design statement and the benefits of producing one. The booklet also provides lessons learned from village design statements already produced in Ireland as well as lots of additional information of value.
Lucan Village Design Statement
In February 2006, members of the local community, supported by the Heritage Council and South Dublin County Council, came together to explore the possibility of a Village Design Statement for Lucan.
A Steering Group of local community representatives was established to direct the project, and in October 2006, with funding from South Dublin County Council and the Heritage Council, a team of consultants was appointed to work in partnership with the Steering Group and other village residents to meet this aim. Lucan’s Village Design Statement was produced through an extensive community consultation programme, combined with desk-based study.
More Village Design Statements
Download examples of Village Design Statements already produced for villages around Ireland by clicking here
National Evaluation of Landscape Character Assessment (LCA) in Ireland
The Heritage Council undertook a national evaluation of Landscape Character Assessment (LCA) in Ireland, including a review of current LCA practices in Europe, in 2006. The report indicated that 68% of planners, consultants and heritage officers surveyed had no formal training in undertaking Landscape Character Assessment. As a result of this study, the Heritage Council is currently designing the delivery of a Landscape Character Assessment CPD Module in partnership with the Irish Planning Institute, the Irish Landscape Institute and the Institute of Archaeologists of Ireland.
The National Development Plan 2007-2013: Submission to the Department of Finance by the Heritage Council, March 2006
The Heritage Council stressed the need for Landscape Character Assessment (LCA) and Historic Landscape Characterisation (HLC) in order to facilitate sustainable development during the Plan period.
The Role of the Heritage Council in the Planning Process
The statutory planning system has a major contribution to make to the conservation of the national heritage and to the evolution of a sustainable environment. It is the aim of the Heritage Council, through its role of proposing policy and priorities for the national heritage, to play its part in allowing the planning system to realise this potential.
To learn more about The Heritage Councils role in the Planning Process download The Role of the Heritage Council in the Planning Process [PDF 324KB]
PLANNING NEWS
The first Public Realm Plan (PRP) for the historic town of Wicklow completed
Following an in-depth public consultation, the drafting of the first Public Realm Plan for the historic town of Wicklow is now complete.












