Chapter 7 Built Heritage/Urban Design
7.1 Aim, Context and Strategy
7.2 Built Heritage
7.3 Archaeological Heritage
7.4 Urban Design
Aim
To create a high quality, sustainable built environment in Galway City through the protection and enhancement of the built and archaeological heritage and also by encouraging high quality urban design.
Context
Galway has embraced change and has experienced rapid growth and development in recent years. This development has contributed to the increased vibrancy of the city. The rapid growth has led to expanding residential suburbs and significant redevelopment in the city. This growth has demonstrated the importance of the protection of the built and archaeological heritage of Galway and of high quality urban design which contributes to the identity and the economic vitality of the city.
Galway has exceptionally strong links with its past. This is evident in the built form and archaeology of the city. The city has a distinct physical character, with narrow streets, contrasting buildings, canals, millraces and a relationship with the river and sea creating a unique urban setting. Most of the citiy’s significant built heritage, archaeology and industrial archaeology are located in the city centre. Heritage is also enhanced by a number of village settlements, such as Menlough. This heritage is a valuable tourism and cultural asset, which makes an important contribution towards the character of the urban environment.The Galway City Development Board Strategy Gaillimh Beo agus Briomhar 2002-2012, recognises the need to protect and revitalise the built heritage of the city, while embracing change.
Good urban design contributes to the character and distinctiveness of the city. Opportunities exist in the city for the regeneration of areas where high quality urban design can contribute to creating new vibrant areas which can provide sustainable residential neighbourhoods and attract new investment and uses. Increased growth and development in residential neighbourhoods outside the city centre represents opportunities for high quality urban design, both of buildings and of the public realm. This can make a contribution to creating vibrant, viable and sustainable neighbourhoods with a distinct urban character and strong sense of place.
Strategy
• Protect and enhance the built and archaeological heritage of the city.
• Promote high quality urban design in the regeneration of areas and in new development areas.
• Promote high quality urban design in all new developments.
• Ensure sustainable neighbourhoods with distinct urban character and identity in all residential areas of the city.
Galway City, especially the city centre is unique in terms of its architectural and built heritage. The relationship between its natural waterfront setting and built environment with narrow winding medieval street pattern contrasting with the more planned form of Eyre Square, gives Galway a distinctive townscape. The central city area derives its character from the combination of buildings of significant architectural and historical value and simple vernacular architecture. The city also contains a valuable built heritage outside the city core including a diversity of historically and architecturally significant residential buildings. The growth of development in the city has resulted in increased pressure on the built heritage. The Council recognises the value of the built heritage to the vitality of the city and is committed to the protection and enhancement of this heritage through the measures contained in the Planning and Development Act, 2000 -2004.
The Planning and Development Act, 2000 -2004 provides a range of measures for the protection of the architectural heritage, these include the Record of Protected Structures and the preservation of the character of Architectural Conservation Areas (groups of structures and the settings of protected structures). The Council recognises the value of these measures for the protection of the built heritage.
Record of Protected Structures (RPS): A protected structure is a structure or part of a structure that a planning authority considers to be of special interest from an architectural, historical, archaeological, artistic, cultural, scientific social or technical point of view. Given the rich built heritage of the city there are approximately 600 protected structures in the city. These protected structures are listed on the Register of Protected Structures, which is available in the Council offices and a list of structures included in the RPS is included as Appendix 2 to the plan. Additions or deletions, where appropriate, can be made to this register during the period of this plan by the Council. It is Council policy to encourage the protection and enhancement of these protected structures. It is recognised that in order to prolong the life of the building, it may be necessary for protected structures to accommodate change or new uses. Any alterations to protected structures shall enhance the character or setting of the structure and should be carried out to best conservation practises. To encourage the restoration of protected structures the Council will not apply development contributions that might normally apply to the development if the proposal involves conservation works. The Council will also consider a change of use of a protected structure to a use appropriate to the conservation of the building notwithstanding the zoning of the area. Conservation works to protected structures will be facilitated by the administration of conservation grants from the DOEHLG. The Council will consider the inclusion in the RPS of additional structures of special interest where appropriate.
Architecture Conservation Areas: An Architectural Conservation Area (ACA) is a place, area group of structures or townscapes which is either of special architectural, historical, archaeological, artistic, cultural, scientific, social or technical interest in its own right or which contributes to the appreciation of protected structures. The designation of an ACA requires that the carrying out of works to the exterior of a structure be exempted development only if those works would not normally materially effect the character of the area. ACA status also allows for the preparation and implementation of a management plan for the streetscape. Such plans include a strategy for local authority works which can enhance the character of the area. The protection and enhancement of the townscape quality of an ACA can contribute to increased vitality and act as a catalyst for economic investment in the area.
Galway has a number of distinctive areas of special interest and value or historical merit, which in terms of streetscape, arrangement of streets and spaces, composition of buildings and structures and architectural styles creates a character worthy of protection. These areas of special character require management, protection and enhancement. Seven areas have been designated as proposed ACAs. Each of these areas represents different periods in and functions of the development of the city. The next stage after designation will be the preparation of management plans for the streetscapes which will involve extensive public consultation. Critical to the success of ACAs is for the Council to provide information and advice to property owners/occupiers on good conservation practise. The Council will consider the designation of additional areas of special interest as ACAs within the period of the plan. The seven areas designated as proposed ACAs are as follows:
Fig 7.1. (top, below)
The City Core
The medieval core of Galway is a mix of streetscape and buildings of many periods. The layout and the scale of some of the streets reflect the medieval street pattern.
The city core is the most important area of built heritage in Galway. Its designation is beneficial in ensuring the area’s character is enhanced and protected.
Fig.7.2 (bottom, above)
Lower Dominck Street
Lower Dominick Street contains some of the best 18th and 19th century buildings, facades, shop-fronts and contemporary features to survive in long uninterrupted stretches in the city. This is a street which would benefit, both visually and economically, from a management plan resulting from ACA status.
Fig. 7.3 (top, below)
The Crescent/Sea Road
The Crescent is a very pleasant sweep of late Georgian style houses with gardens to the front and with further gardens and ancillary buildings, mews buildings to the rear. Most of the houses on Sea Road date from the mid and late 19th centuries. This is an area of distinct urban form and visual richness, worthy of ACA designation.
Fig. 7.4 (middle, above)
The Long Walk
The Long Walk has a particularly attractive setting, with views towards the sea and the Claddagh. The area characterises a distinct urban form, which reflects Galway’s historic
relationship with the sea and is a landmark area for the city. The area is worthy of ACA status.
Fig.7.5 (bottom, above)
St Nicholas Street
St Nicholas Street is a terrace of 19th Century artisan’s dwellings and is one of the few such groups of this extent and completeness, which survive in the city, and therefore merits preservation from a social and architectural interest.
Fig.7.6 (top, below)
St Mary’s Terrace
St. Mary’s Terrace consists of two 19th Century uniform terraces of attractive, well maintained, rendered, tudor-style houses flanking St. Mary’s Avenue. This group of buildings is architecturally worthy of ACA status.
Fig. 7.7 (bottom, above)
1-6 Dock Road
1-6 Dock Road consists of a terrace of Victorian Buildings on a prominent position overlooking the commercial dock and form part of a terrace of the few remaining 19th century buildings on the street. No.1 Dock Road has historical significance as it was the birthplace of Padraic O’Conaire. The designation of these buildings as an ACA is beneficial in ensuring the area protection and enhancement.
Policy no. 7.2 Built Heritage
• Encourage the protection and enhancement of structures listed in the Record of Protected Structures.
• Ensure new development enhances the character or setting of a protected structure.
• Identify protected structures that are endangered by neglect or otherwise and take appropriate action.
• Consider the inclusion in the Record of Protected Structure buildings of special interest.
• Consult with the Heritage and Planning Division of DOEHLG regarding any planning
applications relating to protected structures.
• Implement proactive measures to encourage the protection of protected structures.
• Prepare and implement management plans for the preservation and enhancement of the city’s Architectural Conservation Areas.
• Engage in a process of public participation to disseminate information in relation to
Architectural Conservation Areas.
• Protect the character of Architectural Conservation Areas by ensuring alterations to buildings enhance the character of the area.
• Encourage a high standard of design for new development that will enhance the character of Architectural Conservation Areas.
• Consider the designation of additional areas of special interest as Architectural Conservation Areas.
Galway has a rich archaeological heritage, which extends from the Mesolithic, to Medieval, to post-Medieval period and to industrial archaeology. The archaeological heritage includes deposits, features, structures, samples, artefacts and their context. The medieval legacy of the city is apparent from the form and character of the central area of the city which has also one of the largest groups of multi-period building containing medieval and late medieval fabric in the country. The historic relationship between the city and waterways is evident in the industrial archaeology of the city, such as millraces and mill wheels. The city has many significant archaeological sites outside the city centre, for example the ringforts of Ballybaan and Dangan. This archaeology creates an important historical resource, unique to Galway City. Through archaeology, the current and future generations can achieve an understanding of the factors which shaped Galway City. The growth of development in the city has resulted in increased pressures on the archaeological heritage of the city. While archaeological sites are legally protected under the National Monuments Act, 1930-1994, (a National Monuments Bill, to consolidate and modernise national monuments is currently at draft stage) the Council also has a role in the protection of archaeological heritage of the city.
The Record of Monuments and Places (RMP) is an inventory of sites and areas of archaeological significance. An archaeological exclusion zone is shown around each monument. This zone is an area around known archaeological sites where there is the possibility of further archaeological remains. Given the medieval legacy of Galway, most of the city centre is designated a Zone of Archaeological Potential (ZAP). Fig no.7.7 shows the ZAP in the city centre. Before any new development takes place on a site of architecural significance or within the ZAP the DOEHLG should be first notified as required under the National Monuments Acts. It is the policy of the Council to ensure that development within an area of archaeological signifcance/potential does not adversely impact on the archaeological hertiage. In view of this, the Council will have regard to the archaeological recommendations of DOEHLG when considering proposed development.
Galway has many multi-period buildings containing medieval and late medieval fabric. Many of these building are both recorded monuments and protected structures. Through the planning process the Council will encourage the protection archaeological heritage of these buildings. Where development is taking place it is important for the heritage of the city that reports of the archaeology on site are compiled. Where appropriate, the Council will require impact assessment, monitoring, surveying or excavation of the archaeological heritage of a site during the development process. The Galway City Heritage Plan recommends that a database of all archaeological reports including excavation archives are compiled and made available to the public in order to promote public awareness of the archaeological heritage of the city.
Fig.7.8 Zone of Archaeological Potential in City Centre
Source: Heritage and Planning Division of the DOEHLG.
Policy no. 7.3 Archaeology
• Protect the archaeological heritage of the city.
• Ensure that proposed development within the designated city centre Zone of Archaeological Potential is not detrimental to the character of an archaeological site or its setting.
• Have regard to the archaeological recommendations of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government on proposed development.
• Endorse the sustainable use of archaeological heritage as an educational and cultural resource and promote public awareness of the archaeological heritage of the city.
• Require the surveying, recording or excavation of archaeological heritage during the development process, where appropriate.
Galway has experienced a significant growth in development and prosperity. While urban design standards have improved, opportunities exist for higher qualitative standards for the living and commercial environment of the city. Good urban design is essential in the creation of attractive living environments and can create environments which can facilitate communities to grow. High quality, innovative urban design can create vibrant regeneration areas for the city which will contribute to economic vitality. In order to promote successful and sustainable built environments, urban design should be considered from the start of the development process.
The development guidelines and standards for all new development contained in Chapter 11 are designed to create development which will contribute to a high standard of urban design for the city. These guidelines and standards will also contribute to the protection and enhancement of the urban design quality of existing areas.
Opportunities exist in the regeneration of city areas, for example the Ceannt Station area and the Harbour area, for high quality urban design to contribute to creating new vibrant areas which can attract new investment and uses and provide sustainable residential neighbourhoods. The Council will require overall urban design frameworks for the specific areas before individual development can be considered. In these areas the Council will encourage innovative architecture and where appropriate landmark buildings.
The Council through the preparation of Local Area Plans for Ardaun and Murroogh will provide an urban design framework that will contribute to the development of sustainable and vibrant living environments with a distinct local urban character. Local Area Plans will guide development from the start of the development process and encourage high standards of design quality in all areas, but particularly in the public realm.
On residentially zoned land the Council, when considering significant residential developments, will require a design statement that demonstrates how the development will enhance the living environment of the area (see Chapter 2). In addition the Council will update design guidelines for residential development in the context of the current plan.
The urban design quality of the public realm of residential areas and of civic spaces is important in contributing to a strong sense of identity to the area and the city. The Council will prepare improvement schemes for the residential areas of Claddagh, Shantalla, Bohermore, Mervue and Henry Street/William Street West which will enhance the areas living environment (see Chapter 2). The Council will prepare civic improvements schemes for Woodquay and Bowling Green which will contribute to urban design quality and vibrancy of the city (see Chapter 9).
Policy no. 7.4 Urban Design
• Encourage high quality urban design in all developments.
• Improve qualitative design standards through the application of design guidelines and standards of the development plan.
• Prepare design guidelines that will contribute to sustainable neighbourhoods with distinct urban character and identity in all residential areas of the city.
• Ensure that high quality urban design contributes to the creation of urban regeneration in the city.
• Encourage innovation in architecture.
• Prepare Local Area Plans for Ardaun and Murroogh which provide an urban design framework to contribute to the development of sustainable and vibrant living environments.
• Enhance residential areas such as Claddagh, Shantalla, Bohermore, Mervue and Henry Street/William Street West, through the implementation of improvement schemes
• Improve the public realm and residential amenities of Woodquay and Bowling Green by the implementation of improvement schemes.