Kilnamona

Kilnamona

Location and Context

Kilnamona is a small village which has seen only small-scale incremental growth over recent years in the form of single houses, extensions and agricultural developments. Future growth should be focused in the village where the main community services are located.

Kilnamona is situated to the west of Ennis, mid-way between Ennis and Inagh, approximately 1km north of the N85. The village consists of a school, church, community centre and has a pleasant rural character. There is a designated carparking area adjacent to the school. The local GAA pitch is located just outside the village.

Kilnamona is situated in a landscape identified as 'Ennis drumlin farmlands' in the County Clare Landscape Character Assessment. The area is characterised by a drumlin farmland landscape punctuated by small loughs.

The strategy for the development of Kilnamona is to ensure that the settlement maintains existing population levels and services and that future growth is incremental and small scale in nature, relative and appropriate to the scale, size and character of the village.

Kilnamona is served by a group water scheme. There is no public sewerage scheme serving the village so development is limited to small scale growth. In the absence of a wastewater treatment system for the village the EPA Code of Practice for Wastewater Treatment Systems in all residential development must be strictly adhered to in order to ensure that there are no significant long term effects on the receiving environment.

General Objective

• To make provision for the sustainable growth of the village which will support existing services and encourage further expansion of the service base, whilst retaining its distinctive character.

Employment and Enterprise

Agriculture remains an important part of the local economy in the smaller settlements near Ennis. In order to support economic development the Council will facilitate and encourage farm enterprise and agri-tourism in Kilnamona. The Council will also support home-based economic activity where feasible.

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 offers a viable and attractive option for rural living within a village community and setting.

Kilnamona offers a rural retreat set in drumlin farmland, a short distance from the busier urban centres of Ennis and Ennistymon. Its location elevated above the N85 is a good choice for those wishing to live in a high quality rural environment.

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 Kilnamona 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.

The areas identified for village growth allow for the sustainable compact growth of settlements, providing opportunities for small scale cluster type housing, as well as for other uses appropriate to the function, size and scale of the settlement.

Development in Kilnamona is highly dependent on the suitability of the land to accommodate on-site treatment plants.

Flooding and Flood Risk

The Strategic Flood Risk Assessment in Volume 10(c) of this Plan advises that any further development within the Community zoned land and within Flood Zones A or B should be less vulnerable or water compatible. Residential development should be located within Flood Zone C.