Cross

Cross

Location and Context

Cross is a small village situated on the Loop Head Peninsula to the west of Carrigaholt on the main R487 regional route. It has a linear structure with buildings situated along both sides of the main road. Views from the village are open and expansive on both sides, affording extensive views of the Atlantic Ocean, Shannon Estuary and surrounding bare, flat landscape. The settlement itself includes a school, church, public houses, a community hall, B&B and a garage. It is also home to the Cross Digital Hub, a modern digital hub facility located in the repurposed National School in the village centre. The hub provides high speed broadband connectivity and offers hot desks, co-working and conference/event facilities. The village is also served by Clare Bus with daily services to Kilrush and onward services to Ennis. The reuse, redevelopment, or enhancement of existing vacant buildings in the village is encouraged as a means of regenerating the village centre and promoting sustainable development.

There is no wastewater treatment infrastructure in the village. Any future residential development including alterations to existing residential developments, commercial or employment generating development will require private wastewater treatment subject to suitable site-specific conditions and must ensure they are in compliance with the EPA Code of Practice for On Site Wastewater Treatment Systems. The village is connected to the public water supply.

General Objectives

• To encourage the small-scale expansion of the village throughout the lifetime of this

Plan in order to sustain and increase the population of the area and support new and existing services in the village; • To ensure that future growth in Cross is incremental and small scale in nature, relative and appropriate to the scale, size and character of the population and services in the village; • To consolidate development in the village which will help support and encourage development of services and facilities, enhance its viability and vitality, whilst safeguarding its unique character and distinctive natural environment; • To support the provision of infrastructure to allow for future growth of the village; and • To support the development of a settlement network in the Loop Head Peninsula including Cross along with Kilbaha and Carrigaholt, to assist collaborative projects and the sharing of assets and strengths including developing its economic and tourism potential as a stopping point on the Wild Atlantic Way and Loop Head Peninsula.

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Employment and Enterprise

Tourism

It’s location on the Loop Head Peninsula has put Cross, as well as the neighbouring settlements of Kilbaha and Carrigaholt, firmly on the map for those seeking alternative holiday experiences based on the unique environment, heritage and activities the peninsula has to offer.

In this regard it is an objective:

• To facilitate the continued development of existing tourism assets and support the development of additional tourist facilities and services within the Loop Head Peninsula in a sustainable manner.

In addition to compliance with the policies and objectives set out in Volume 1 of this Plan, any development proposals on areas identified for tourism shall consider the following:

TOU1 Lands to the South of the Main Street

This site has been identified as a suitable location for tourism related development in the village, for the benefit of the village itself and the wider area. The provision of accommodation solely in the form of holiday homes shall not, in general, be considered favourably. However, it is considered that a limited form of holiday home accommodation may be provided as part of an overall tourism product. Development proposals must give particular attention to matters of design and layout and how these matters reflect the character of the village. They must also address the capacity of the site and the village to absorb the development that is proposed from a visual, environmental and social perspective.

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.

Place Making and Regeneration

The approach roads to this linear village are traditional earth embankments along the R487. The village is visually prominent in an open landscape. The existing trees on the north side of

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the road soften the outline and replication of this idea could benefit the sense of place. The very deep setback in front of the house beside the church would benefit from a suitable layout and landscaping. The principles for place making on the Wild Atlantic Way are set out in Chapter 14 Volume 1 of this Plan.

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