Kildare County Council (KCC) has published a Draft version of their County Development Plan for 2021 to 2029.  Deadline for Submissions is May 24 2022 and if you have not done so previously, you need to register.     

The Plan is available at: https://consult.kildarecoco.ie/en/consultation/draft-kildare-county-development-plan-2023-2029

There is also a series of Podcasts to accompany the Plan at: https://kildarecoco.ie/AllServices/Planning/DevelopmentPlans/KildareCountyDevelopmentPlan2023-2029/

The KCC’s Draft Plan has 17 Parts and 12 Appendices.  

We have extrapolated areas of interest that may prove helpful to IWAI Members when making their submissions.  We have divided these areas into two sections, I Corbally Canal and II Other Areas of Interest.  There are a couple of items showing twice where the subject applies to both sections. 

I  Corbally Canal in KCC’s Plans  

Part 4 Resilient Economy & Job Creation

P38 – RE O137 Work with Waterways Ireland to progress the delivery of the (i) Naas to Sallins Greenway and (ii) Naas to Corbally Harbour Greenway and to develop the harbour itself for amenity purposes

P42 – RE O154 Develop, in conjunction with the relevant authorities, berthing and other ancillary infrastructure at key locations along the canal systems, particularly in areas where tourism is underdeveloped at present.

Part 5 Sustainable Mobility & Transport

P 17 TM O21 Implement the Greenway and Blueway projects that promote walking and cycling in conjunction with the relevant organisations and bodies including:  Naas to Sallins and Naas to Corbally Harbour Greenways and linking these to the national Grand Canal Greenway network.

Part 13 Landscape Recreation & Amenity

P 33 LR O50 Facilitate the delivery of the (i) Naas to Sallins Greenway and (ii) Naas to Corbally Harbour Greenway, in co-operation with landowners, Waterways Ireland and Government Departments.

P 33 LR O51 Explore the feasibility of developing a greenway/cycle for amenity purposes, in cooperation with Waterways Ireland and Government Departments.

  • Naas to Corbally harbour
  • Corbally Harbour to Newbridge.

P 33 LR O52 Explore, in conjunction with Waterways Ireland, the feasibility of reopening the canal between Naas and Corbally Harbour for navigation, mooring and launching vessels, to encourage its use for recreational water sports.

P 36 LR A11 Investigate the feasibility of developing long distance walking and cycling routes along disused sections of railway lines (e.g. Tullow line, Edenderry to Enfield (former Midland Great Western) line, Harristown Railway line) and canals (Corbally Line, Blackwood Feeder, and Mountmellick Line) or through boglands, possibly using the bog railway routes, during the lifetime of the Plan, in conjunction with the Irish Sports Council and adjoining Local Authorities. These walking and cycling routes will be segregated where possible.

Part 14 Urban Design Placemaking & Regeneration

P 15 UD A1  Continue to seek funding from relevant agencies and Government sources including the Rural and Urban Regeneration and Development Funds (RRDF/URDF) to secure financial support for all town and village renewal projects in the county.

Appendix 3 Open Space & Outdoor Recreation Strategy

Note:  This is the result of a User Satisfaction Survey on the Kildare Consult Portal.  735 surveys were input. 

P 11 When asked what their favourite local park/outdoor amenity space was, many people indicated that they had two or more favourite places. Respondents listed over 82 different locations within the county. The five most popular destinations were:

  • The Royal and Grand Canals (21%)
  • Castletown House and Park (14.3%)
  • Liffey Linear Park in Newbridge (10%)
  • The Curragh (8.3%)
  • Donadea Forest (8%)

Note:  P 26 This table lists all recommended ‘Green Corridors’ in the Kildare County Council Plan: 

  • Peatways (as per Green Infrastructure Strategy)
  • Grand Canal Greenway from Naas to Corbally Harbour.
  • Tullow Railway Line Greenway
  • Rye River Valley
  • Barrow River Valley
  • Greese River Walk
  • River Slate Walkway

Note:  In the previous KCC Development Plan 2017 – 2023 the Corbally Canal was mentioned twice, under:

EO 52 Promote and develop the towpaths along the Grand Canal, the Royal Canal (including from Maynooth to the Dublin County Boundary as part of the Dublin to Galway Greenway project), the Barrow Line and the Corbally Line as cycleways, in co-operation with Waterways Ireland and neighbouring Local Authorities.

CR 5 Investigate the possibility of developing long distance walking routes, within the lifetime of the Plan, along disused sections of railway lines (e.g. Tullow line) and canals in the county (Corbally Line, Blackwood Feeder, and Mountmellick Line).

II Other Areas of Interest in KCC’s Plans

Part 4 Resilient Economy & Job Creation

P31 – RE O95 Support the expansion and development of tourism in Kildare, investigating the feasibility of key opportunities such as those centred on the racing industry, motorsports, retail, heritage, historical heritage (both persons and places), geology, golf and eco-tourism to include: Arthur’s Way, the Dublin – Galway Greenway, the Barrow Blueway, the Shackleton Trail, Shackleton Museum, Mondello the Gordon Bennett Route, the Grand Canal Greenway, Brigid 1500, a Fitzgerald Family Trail, the Made of Athy Trail, Castledermot Town Wall and other opportunities.

P42 – RE P27 Maximise opportunities for the use of canals and other waterways including the River Liffey and River Barrow as tourism and recreational amenities.

P42 – RE O154 Develop, in conjunction with the relevant authorities, berthing and other ancillary infrastructure at key locations along the canal systems, particularly in areas where tourism is underdeveloped at present.

P42 – RE O155 Support the only circular boating route in Ireland that links the Royal Canal, Shannon, Liffey and Grand Canal where it passes through Kildare.

Part 5 Sustainable Mobility & Transport

P 31 TM O89 Improve connectivity across the railways and canals in County Kildare.

Part 8 Urban Centres & Retail

P 22 RET O27 Maynooth:  Facilitate the development of appropriately scaled retail development in the Leinster Street and Canal Harbour areas. 

P 23 RET O36 Work with all stakeholders in further promoting the asset of Kilcock’s heritage townscape and location on the Royal Canal.

Part 9 Our Rural Economy

P 12 RD A1 Promote and support the development and operation of a number of long-distance Peatways that traverse the Bog of Allen utilising former industrial peat railway tracks and lines at the following locations:

  • From Ticknevin Bridge (Grand Canal) to Rathangan
  • Enfield (Royal Canal)/Kilshancoe (Raven’s Cross)/Killyon/Doogary through Timahoe Bog to Allenwood Community Development Association Ltd. and onto the Grand Canal and from there through Lullymore East and onto the Rathangan.

These routes would also provide a loop walk comprising elements of the above two routes.

Part 10 Community Infrastructure & Creative Places

P 20 AH O40 Co-operate with Waterways Ireland in the management, maintenance and enhancement of the Royal Canal and Grand Canal and associated structures/features.

Part 11 Built & Cultural Heritage

P 38 Note: Naas Harbour is shown as designated within Naas Conservation area

Part 12 Biodiversity & Green Infrastructure

P 38 While Bord Na Mona has clear intentions of developing extensive areas to meet government renewable targets – in the form of wind and solar farms – nonetheless, the Bog of Allen represents a unique opportunity for nature-based solutions on a grand scale to address the national biodiversity crisis and climate change mitigation.

Within the Bord Na Mona landownership complex there will be a need to develop a separate masterplan that will identify its own Core Areas, Stepping Stones and Connections/Corridors. This masterplan should, at a minimum, include the following ‘core areas’ – one should centre around Lullymore Heritage Park, Lullybeg Wetlands, Butterfly Reserve, Lodge Bog – with an extensive buffer zone; a second core area would focus on Ballynafagh Bog, Ballynafagh Lake and Hodgestown Bog; a third area would focus on Killinthomas Wood (Coillte owned), Ballydermot Bog East; a fourth would focus on Ummeras.

Each of these would be connected either through the Grand Canal Greenway or the Barrow Blueway/Slate River and/or new and broad Peatway Corridors (the Connectors) and elsewhere there will be other ‘stepping stones’ in the form of key wetlands, intact raised bogs, woodlands, etc. A number of proposed long distance peatways that could connect the Royal Canal with the Grand Canal/Barrow Blueway are listed below in Section 12.14.8.8. It is expected that 50% of the Peatland Area will remain free from any development.

P 41 Peatways  As part of the Green Infrastructure Strategy, it is proposed to provide a number of ‘Peatway Corridors’ that would seek to maintain some degree of connectivity and continuity throughout the Bog of Allen and would seek to connect natural areas of raised bog with naturally regenerating areas and in so doing it would provide for long distance amenity and recreation routes with very significant tourism potential. A number of routes have been selected – based on the route of Bord Na Mona private roads, but mostly on the former industrial railway lines that criss-cross the Bog of Allen but with the intention of establishing broader Countywide Green Infrastructure links to connect the Royal Canal with the Grand Canal. Rather than just developing a singular ‘peatway trail’ for walkers, it is envisaged that these would be substantial landscape corridors of c. 1 – 2 kilometres wide (i.e. 500m – 1000m either side of the railway or pedestrian trail), that will provide connections for amenity, ecology/ecosystem services.

The Peatway Trails and Corridors will provide a strategically planned network of natural and semi-natural areas (bogs and rewilded areas) with other environmental features (such as re-wetted peatlands, wetlands, lakes and ponds) designed and managed to deliver a wide range of ecosystem services such as air quality, space for recreation and climate mitigation and adaptation. They will also provide important wildlife corridors and will be free for energy infrastructure such as solar farms and wind turbines.

There are three primary Peatway Corridors proposed:

  1. From Rathangan Town/Killinthomas Wood north to Ticknevin (where it will meet the Grand Canal Corridor) – with an option for a link to Edenderry via the Derries (subject to co-operation and consideration with Offaly County Council).
  2. From Rathangan/Killinthomas to Lullymore (linking the Grand Canal Corridor) and from there to Allenwood North (Allenwood Community Development Association Ltd.) and continuing north via Timahoe Bog (Timahoe West) and onto the townland of Doogary/Cooltree a few kilometres south of Johnstown Bridge/Enfield and the Royal Canal Greenway.
  3. From Edenderry to Carbury Bog following the path of the former disused railway line and from there north to Martinstown/Blackwater Aquaduct on the Royal Canal Greenway.

Part 13 Landscape Recreation & Amenity

P 29 13.6.1 Countryside Recreation – Countryside recreation includes a wide range of activities including horse riding, cycling, walking, picnicking, country drives, off-road biking, nature trails, bird watching, painting, photography, field studies, orienteering, para- and hang-gliding, rock climbing, adventure sports, camping, archaeological guided walks and water related activities which include swimming, boating, canoeing and kayaking.

It is recognised that the countryside of Kildare provides an important resource in outdoor recreational facilities not only for the population of Kildare but also for those visiting the county. The Council recognises the significance of natural amenities as a major resource for visitors and local people.

P 32 LR O39 Support Coillte, Bord na Mona, Waterways Ireland and other state agencies to explore the provision of more recreational infrastructure at appropriate locations to include access ways and nature trails with a view to opening up state lands for recreational use.

P 32 LR O43 Investigate the feasibility of connecting the Barrow Blueway with Portarlington, Co. Laois along the Mountmellick Grand Canal and Peatways in consultation with Laois County Council and Waterways Ireland.

P 34 LR O58 Preserve the pedestrian link between the River Liffey and the Grand Canal at the Leinster Aqueduct and to explore making the existing underpass fully accessible as recommended in the report ‘Towards a Liffey Valley Park Strategy.’

P 36 LR A11 Investigate the feasibility of developing long distance walking and cycling routes along disused sections of railway lines (e.g. Tullow line, Edenderry to Enfield (former Midland Great Western) line, Harristown Railway line) and canals (Corbally Line, Blackwood Feeder, and Mountmellick Line) or through boglands, possibly using the bog railway routes, during the lifetime of the Plan, in conjunction with the Irish Sports Council and adjoining Local Authorities. These walking and cycling routes will be segregated where possible.

Part 14 Urban Design Placemaking & Regeneration

P 15 UD A1  Continue to seek funding from relevant agencies and Government sources including the Rural and Urban Regeneration and Development Funds (RRDF/URDF) to secure financial support for all town and village renewal projects in the county.

P 15 UD A2  Prepare a series of Masterplans / Urban Design Frameworks over the lifetime of the Plan, in co-operation with relevant stakeholders, including but not limited to the following areas:

  • The Northwest Quadrant, Naas
  • The Canal Quarter, Naas
  • Lands at Confey, Leixlip
  • Dominican Lands, Athy
  • Lands at St. Raphael’s / Oakley Park, Celbridge
  • Lands at Simmonstown, Celbridge
  • Collinstown (Strategic Employment lands), Leixlip
  • Collegelands (lands to west of Maynooth, adjoining Maynooth University and St. Patrick’s College)

Appendix 2 Wind Energy Strategy

P 36 County Offaly. The Offaly County Development Plan 2021-2027 Draft Wind Energy Strategy has a Landscape Character Assessment which informs where wind energy developments should be located. The majority of the area adjoining the boundary with county Kildare is not considered overly sensitive, however it is noted the Grand Canal has been designated highly sensitive. This is depicted in the Offaly Landscape Character Assessment map below (Figure 9).

P 52 ………. Particular attention should be given to how perspective schemes would be observed from scenic routes, scenic viewpoints and hilltop views, in particular those associated with the Royal and Grand Canals, and River Barrow.

Appendix 3 Open Space & Outdoor Recreation Strategy

P 11  This is the result of a User Satisfaction Survey on the Kildare Consult Portal.  735 surveys were input. 

When asked what their favourite local park/outdoor amenity space was, many people indicated that they had two or more favourite places. Respondents listed over 82 different locations within the county. The five most popular destinations were:

  • The Royal and Grand Canals (21%)
  • Castletown House and Park (14.3%)
  • Liffey Linear Park in Newbridge (10%)
  • The Curragh (8.3%)
  • Donadea Forest (8%)

P 26 In the table on this page, it is recommended that as well as the Royal and Grand Canal, the following should be in included as future proposals for ‘Green Corridors’ in the Kildare County Council Plan: 

  • Peatways (as per Green Infrastructure Strategy)
  • Grand Canal Greenway from Naas to Corbally Harbour.
  • Tullow Railway Line Greenway
  • Rye River Valley
  • Barrow River Valley
  • Greese River Walk
  • River Slate Walkway

Note:  Volume 2 contains designations and plans for small towns and villages, many of which are along the Canals.  This will be of interest to those living in either bricks and mortar or afloat in these areas.