THOMASTOWN

Function and Aims

The Plan has two main functions:

1. To provide the strategic guidance for the physical development of Thomastown
2. To provide the basis for assessing the detailed planning applications submitted to the Council.

The aim of the Thomastown Draft Development Plan, as part of the Draft County Kilkenny Development Plan is to ensure the proper planning and sustainable development of the town. It will therefore facilitate the co-ordinated social, economic and environmental development of Thomastown and its environs and for the conservation and enhancement of its natural and built environment. The Local Authority also has an obligation to promote principles of sustainable development as outlined in “Sustainable Development - A Strategy for Ireland” 1997, as adopted by the Government. It is therefore the duty of the Local Authority to ensure a sustainable balance between socio-economic growth, cultural growth and the environment.

Thomastown is situated approximately 10 miles South West of Kilkenny City and 20 miles N.E. of Waterford City. The Mount Juliet estate is located to the east. The R700 Regional Route linking Kilkenny to Rosslare via New Ross and the Dublin-Waterford National Primary Route N10 intersect at Thomastown. The town is also served by the Waterford - Dublin railway route via Kilkenny. Thomastown acts as a market and service centre for the surrounding hinterland.

Thomastown is attractively set within the Nore Valley, mainly on the north bank of the river. The river’s flood plains remain as grazing land on both the north-west and the south east of the river. The extremes of topography to the south of the river have precluded substantial development, being either liable to flooding or too steep to develop. A tributary stream runs through Thomastown, and was conducted in the 1780s beneath Market Street. There are number of fine views of Thomastown from its entry points.

The town was established during the 13th century by Welsh Norman settlers. The town was originally known as Grenan but its present English-Irish name refers to its association with the family of Thomas Fitzanthony, an Anglo-Norman seneschal of Leinster. In 1370 the town was walled (parts of which still survive on the southwestern side of the town between the river and Mill View House) and later in the 14th century a bridge was constructed. The town functioned as a fortified inland entry point for Kilkenny City. Separate to the towns mercantile core was the development of the river as an industrial base. During the 17th and 18th centuries the town established itself as both a storehouse and as a centre for milling. A number of very large mills were developed along the river during this period.

The town lost its role as a port for Kilkenny during the 1830s, due to the silting of the river Nore when navigation between Thomastown and Inistioge was lost to the town.
Thomastown is now generally regarded as the second town of the county with an established commercial and residential base.

The medieval core of Thomastown is a square block formed by Low Street, Pipe Street, Market Street and the Quays and is concentrated on the west bank of the Nore river. The streets and site plots at the centre of Thomastown were laid out in the 13th Century so as to maximise the number of properties with street frontage. This layout is essentially unchanged since that date. Narrow convoluted streets and sharp angled junctions, combined with urban compactness, give the town a unique identity. The buildings were generally 2 or 3 storey in height with a patchwork of outhouses, storehouses, bakehouses, yards and small gardens to the rear.

The Dublin and Kilkenny roads leading out of this central square have been developed mainly in a linear fashion, as terraced housing. Topographical features have contributed to the stepping of development along the town’s hilly areas, thus they command fine views over the river Nore.

Thomastown is recognised for its highly attractive townscape, which results from the quantity, quality and diversity of its historic buildings, and from its riverside surroundings. Dramatic change in scale is a particularly attractive feature of the town, with a number of very large-scale buildings (mills, hospital, churches, community buildings) contrasting strongly with small terraced houses and cottages. These very large and very small buildings are the most vulnerable structures, the large-scale buildings being costly to maintain and convert to new uses and the small scale being difficult to adapt to today’s requirements.

There is considerable scope for restoration, renovation and infill in the town centre. This must be carried out so as to retain and enhance the distinctive appearance in character and in detail, of Thomastown’s vernacular architecture. It is a priority of this Plan to encourage new uses for redundant buildings. Particular features characteristic of the town, and which are endangered by removal include steeply random-slated pitched roofs of a very small slate size, small-paned sliding sash and casement windows, scrolled - fascia shop-fronts and door cases with simple fanlights. The retention or replacement of these features which where lost is a policy of the County Council. Buildings listed for preservation, in the record of protected structures are itemised in the Conservation section of the town plan and also in the appendices to the County Development Plan.

It is an objective of the Council

1. To preserve and enhance the street pattern and distinctive architectural character of Thomastown’s historic core. Where new development is proposed within the town these should relate to the context provided by other buildings, street and plot patterns, building frontages, established public views, landmark buildings and other townscape elements.

2. To encourage the planned development of serviced lands within the town and to discourage road frontage development in areas zoned for development and on the approach roads to the town.

3. To continue to seek the removal of dereliction by repair and reconstruction, using relevant powers under the 1991 Derelict Sites Act.

4. To preserve the medieval street layouts and plot lines of the centre of Thomastown.

5. To develop a long - term plan for the landscaping of Market Street, including the relocation of the public toilets and the replacement of the Market Cross as a focal point at the junction of Low Street and Market Street.

6. To encourage and assist a co-ordinated programme of restoration and refurbishment of the buildings throughout the town in conjunction with designations put forward in the Town Renewal Plan for Thomastown.

7. To encourage establishment of a new, preferably public use for St. Mary’s Church.

8. To strongly encourage the use of local materials, in particular limestone, for boundary walls and other structures.

9. To prepare an Architectural Conservation Area Plan for Thomastown to guide its future conservation and as appropriate future development.

10. To retain the clear distinction between the town and surrounding areas by means of development control.

11. To encourage and assist the conservation of old stonewalls and the general improvement and cleaning up of the riverside downstream of the Bridge.

12. To have a good social mix in new residential developments providing a range of unit types/sizes.

13. To investigate the provision of pedestrian/cycle paths linking parts of the town otherwise poorly connected.

14. The new developments should address the public realm in a manner appropriate to their use and location.

15. To seek the preservation of those items of archaeological, architectural and historic interest listed as Protected Structures in the County Development Plan including items of industrial archaeology.

16. That all developments within the town are of a high quality and use ecologically sustainable materials and construction details.

17. To encourage mixed use developments such as upper floor residential over ground floor retail; upper floor community/cultural facilities over ground floor retail/office and where appropriate, retail/community/cultural facilities incorporated into housing schemes.

18. That all development in the expression of its form should relate to its context and scale.

19. That all development should integrate with the town structure maximizing potential for developing new or existing connections with adjacent areas of the town.

20. That all new public buildings should be fully accessible. (This may not always be possible in existing buildings, particularly where the necessary interventions would mean the loss of important historic fabric or features. Where this happens partial access will be encouraged.

21. To provide a clear hierarchy of public spaces.

22. To encourage and facilitate street planting and seating in appropriate locations. Orientation of seating, shelter, shading by planting, nearness to traffic, suntrap potential, etc are all issues to be considered in assessing the location of such features.

23. To have a high quality of public lighting in all developments appropriate to the area.

24. To ensure that new cabled services in the town are located underground and to seek to have all existing overhead cables undergrounded on a phased basis.

Thomastown is County Kilkenny’s largest town, with a population of 1,581 recorded at the last census (1996). This constitutes an increase of 94 persons since the 1991 recording. The trends in population of the intercensal period 1966 to 1996 is shown in the table below.

As can be seen from the table above, Thomastown has increased in population since the 1966 census with the exception of a decrease from 1986 to 1991. It has also managed to retain its percentage share of the population of the County.

Development has been constrained within the town due to a lack of infrastructural services. This will be rectified during the plan period with the upgrading of the existing treatment works serving the town. This will allow development to proceed with a resultant increase in the population during the Plan period.

To provide conditions in Thomastown which allow it to sustain and strengthen its role as a population centre within County Kilkenny.

A new census of population has been undertaken in the year 2002. It is an objective of the Council to monitor and analyse the results from the new census as they become available during the period of the new plan in order to identify problems and opportunities which might arise as a result of changes in the towns population.

Thomastown has an established residential and commercial base with resources such as banks, credit union, schools, equestrian college, geriatric hospital nursing home, courthouse, Garda station railway station as well as a diverse range of retail shops, public houses etc.

The key employment sectors are health, education, agriculture, and agricultural related services, tourism, craft production, professional services and retailing.

Unemployment has shown a decline in Thomastown over recent years in line with the improved economic performance of the country generally. Unemployment registered in the Thomastown exchange has decreased from an average of 686 in 1993 to 389 in June 2000.

It is an objective of the Council:

1. To ensure that adequate amounts of land are zoned for industrial development within the town.

2. To improve the attractiveness of the built environment in Thomastown as a place in which to work and live and as a location for industry, services and tourism investment.

3. To urgently investigate availability of industrial lands and start-up premises in and around Thomastown, and to identify appropriate sites for development.

4. To seek a new location for the abattoir currently located in the tower house to the west of the bridge and to encourage relocation of this business.

5. To liaise with the Industrial Development Authority Enterprise Ireland the County Development Board, and with local development and enterprise organisations to encourage new firms to locate in Thomastown and to facilitate the expansion of existing firms through the provision of infrastructure and the identification and reservation of lands.

6. To liaise with all relevant bodies in establishing premises for use by local start-up businesses.

7. To preserve and enhance Thomastown’s good quality environment in the interests of attracting enterprises and tourist visitors to the town.

8. To investigate the feasibility of increased use of hydro-power in Thomastown and to encourage the refurbishment and reuse of old industrial buildings.

9. To facilitate development of suitably located and designed tourist accommodation of all types.

10. To assist and encourage training and education in Thomastown, in particular the Craft and Equestrian Schools.

11. To improve the attractiveness of the built environment in Thomastown as a place in which to work and live and as a location for industry, services and tourism investment.

12. To improve the quality of the built environment of Thomastown through the Village Renewal Programme.

13. To take steps through the Town Renewal Programme in association with local community bodies and business interests to improve the environment and appearance of Thomastown in the interests of attracting enterprises and tourist visitors to the town.

14. To encourage and promote the strengthening of Thomastown as the local market centre for its rural catchment area.

15. To require a high standard of design and landscaping in industrial development, in order to maintain the areas attractiveness to new enterprise.

Thomastown provides the normal services of a market town, including banking, post office, and shopping. The Council commissioned a retail study for the Entire County. As part of that study the retail hierarchy of the County was confirmed. Thomastown was placed in the sub county town category below Kilkenny City and on a par with Castlecomer, Callan and Graiguenamanagh.

The study confirmed that Thomastown performs an important function in its role as a market town for its hinterland. The location of retail development will be assessed through the sequential test. For details of the sequential test see sections 3.4.11 and 3.4.26 of Vol. 1.

For Thomastown it is recommended that significant proposals for retail development of 500m2 (gross) or greater convenience and comparison would be assessed against a range of criteria. For details on this see sections 3.4.24 and 3.4.25 of Vol.1.

In general it will be the policy of the Council to maintain and enhance the role of Thomastown as a local market centre for its rural catchment area and as a centre to service its anticipated expansion during the period of the Plan.

It will be the policy of the Council to:

1. Maintain and enhance the role of Thomastown as a local market centre for its rural catchment area and as a centre to service its anticipated expansion during the period of the Plan.
2. To widen the extent of specialist retailing uses within the town having regard to the retail policies set out in Vol.1 of the plan.

Thomastown has the basis for providing a range of good quality holidays, and also contributing to the overall success of tourism in the county and region.

The major tourism assets of the town itself include its appearance, history and character, and also the richness and variety of architectural and archaeological endowment in the surrounding area.

A major tourism attraction adjacent to the town is Mt. Juliet which has developed since 1990 and is now one of the major employers within the County. Mt. Juliet is now recognised as a high quality tourism and sporting resource of significant local, national and international importance.

The vitality of craft production in the Thomastown area has created a niche for specialist craft and manufactured goods, which are produced and sold in Thomastown. This type of retail is particularly beneficial in building up tourism activity and in generating employment.

The Watergarden at Ladywell street which is run by the Camphill Community has developed as a tourism feature within the town and is noted within various guide books. The amenity of the gardens has been developed with a coffee and craft shop and garden open to the public as well as craft, catering and therapeutic facilities for the day attendees.

It will be the policy of the Council to:

1. Provide a significant level of investment in the provision of roads and sanitary services infrastructure, which will help to foster the development of Tourism within Thomastown.
2. Co operate in the development of a tourism development strategy for the town and its hinterland in association with Kilkenny City and County Tourism, SERTA, Bord Failte and local development and enterprise organisations.
3. Encourage the development of outdoor recreational /leisure activities which are based on the natural amenities and resources of Thomastown
4. Investigate the possibility of developing a tourist theme on the industrial archaeology of the town as part of the tourism development strategy for the town.

Thomastown has a good range of sports facilities and community organisations. The extent of commitment to community organisations is impressive and gives Thomastown a considerable capacity for self-generated development. The formation of links between the different groups might assist in the undertaking of more ambitious projects and ensuring that community initiatives are co-ordinated and mutually supportive.

It is the policy of the Council
1. to preserve, provide for and improve recreational facilities within the town.
2. to seek the preservation of mature trees in Thomastown unless they have been shown to be unsafe.

1. To assist and co-operate with residents’ associations and local voluntary bodies in
2. improving amenities throughout Thomastown.
3. To extend as the opportunity arises the existing riverside walk to the west of Thomastown.
4. To seek to ensure that adequate and appropriate recreational facilities are available to different age groups and different sections of the community.
5. To improve accessibility and facilities for river swimming for residents and visitors.
6. To seek the removal of dereliction and the improvement of previously derelict sites including the gravel pit adjacent to the railway viaduct at Jerpoint.

Thomastown is well catered for with regard to primary, secondary, and training courses. The two primary schools are at full capacity and it is proposed to amalgamate them during the plan period, which would cater for an increase in pupil numbers. The V.E.C. also proposed to take over more land in order to provide additional classrooms and recreational space. There is existing spare capacity within the V.E.C. to cater for immediate pupil number expansion.
The Camphill Community at the Watergarden in Ladywell Street has craft, catering and therapeutic facilities for day attendees.

It is the policy of the Council to:

1. Facilitate the provision of adequate primary school facilities in appropriate locations in the town
2. Facilitate and encourage the promotion of all forms of continuing education and training in skills needed to develop the local economy.
3. To support and facilitate the development and expansion of the VEC School and its facilities and the establishment of specialised vocational training, apprenticeships and continuing and distance education.
4. To facilitate and encourage the promotion of all forms of continuing education and training in skills needed to develop the local economy.

The library service in Thomastown is provided on a part time basis. To provide a better level of service to the community the opening hours need to be expanded and the facilities upgraded.

It is the policy of the Council to continue to improve the existing library facilities in the town as the need arises subject to the availability of finances.

The existing health facilities within the town includes the geriatric hospital and the health centre. The services provided include a health nurse, community welfare service, general practitioner, and dental service.

It will be the policy of the Council to provide for and encourage the development of health and other community facilities in the Town with the South Eastern Health Board and other statutory and voluntary agencies.

The availability of good quality well located housing for purchase and rental is vital to the future development of Thomastown. Additional lands have been zoned for residential purposes in order to release lands within the town for residential development.

a) To ensure that an adequate amount of residentially zoned land is available to cater for the expansion of the town.
b) It is an objective of the Council to implement the housing strategy contained in appendix A of the Development Plan.
c) The Council will require that 18.7% of the land zoned for residential use or for a mixture of residential and other uses be made available for the provision of social and affordable housing.
d) To reserve land so as to offer opportunities for locational choice for housing development within the Development Boundary, and to seek to maintain a clear division between the town and the county.
e) To ensure the maintenance and preservation of housing within the town centre, and to encourage continued residential use of upper floors. To encourage the rebuilding of new residential infill development where vacant plots exist.
f) To seek improvement and enhancement of existing council-built housing estates.
g) To encourage planned housing development of serviced lands within the development boundary and to encourage a wide range and high standard of design within these developments. The Planning Authority will require that serviced/serviceable lands will be developed in depth and at sustainable densities. The use of degraded or brown-field sites will be preferred and utilised where possible in order to improve the environmental character of the town.
h) To ensure a high quality of building design and open space in all proposed housing, and other developments and to preserve where possible existing hedgerows, trees and habitats.
i) To encourage conversion to residential or tourist accommodation use of historic structures, including mills, whose original use has become redundant.
j) To encourage and assist a co-ordinated programme of restoration and refurbishment of the buildings throughout the town in conjunction with designations put forward in the Town Renewal Plan for Thomastown.
k) To encourage sensitive conversion and reuse of historic structures where an original use has become redundant.
l) To utilise the powers under the Derelict Sites Act (1990) to require the maintenance of residential properties in non-derelict condition.
m) To provide for good quality pedestrian/cycle links between new developments and the town centre.
n) To have a good social mix in new residential developments providing a range of unit types/sizes.
o) To ensure a high quality of building design and open space in all proposed housing, and other developments and to preserve where possible existing hedgerows, trees and habitats.
p) To encourage residential use on upper floors within the town over ground floor retail/office; or community/cultural facilities and where appropriate, retail/community/cultural facilities incorporated into housing schemes.
q) For residential units within the Town the following minimum sizes shall be required:

Thomastown is located at the intersection of the R700 regional route and the N9 National Primary Route from Dublin to Waterford.

Levels of traffic in Thomastown’s Market St. are comparable to those of the Kilkenny by pass and have serious effects on the environment within the town and with continual danger of damage to buildings. Particularly severe circulation problems exist at the junction of Pipe Street and the Kilkenny Road (R700) which could be relieved in part by parking restrictions in Pipe Street.

The removal of through traffic from Thomastown would increase the safety and well-being of pedestrians and the environmental quality of towns.

It was an objective of the Council to construct a bypass for the town n the 1994 Development Plan in order to relieve traffic from the town.

The National Development Plan 2000 - 2006 has identified significant levels of investment to be made in the national road network in the County. This investment will include the development by 2006 in its entirety within the County to motorway/high quality dual carriageway standard of the Waterford to Dublin (N9). This will relieve the through traffic from the town along the existing N9 and will negate the building of a by pass for this route as proposed under the 1994 Plan. However a by pass line is reserved in this plan to link the R700 and the N9 north of the town and the R700 south of the town to New Ross.

Thomastown is well served in terms of public transport, with rail connections to Waterford, Kilkenny and Dublin, bus services to Kilkenny and coach services to Dublin and Waterford. Taxi services are also provided in the town.

Improved public transport facilities, in particular commuter and tourist services would facilitate economic growth and assist in the sustainable development of the town.

Car parking in the town centre is under provided for and leads to overflow parking and congestion along town centre streets. The upgrading of the existing and the provision of new car parking would help alleviate current problems. Ease of circulation within the town is negated by the narrow and convoluted nature of the streets, the sharp bridge approaches and the internal intersections and junctions. On-street parking is viewed as obstructing the flow of through traffic.

In 1998 a traffic management plan was prepared for the town by the Roads Design section of Kilkenny County Council

It is the policy of Kilkenny County Council to implement its Traffic Management Plan.

It is an objective of the Council

1. To develop the Central Corridor Route (Waterford to Dublin) to motorway /dual carriageway standard to facilitate the removal of through traffic from the town.

2. To facilitate and seek the maintenance and improvement of public transport services.
3. To seek funding to extend footpaths and lighting within the Development Boundary on a phased basis.
4. To reserve free from development a by pass line for the town to link the R700 and the N9 north of the town and the R700 south of the town to New Ross.

Effluent is pumped to a treatment facility at Grenan and discharged from there to the Nore. Recent growth and regeneration of Thomastown has been restricted because of an inadequate waste water treatment facility for the town.

Plans are well advanced for the construction of the Thomastown sewerage scheme which will upgrade the treatment works and improve and provide new pipe network.

It will be the policy of the Council to:
1. Ensure that Thomastown is provided with an adequate water supply to meet the existing and projected needs of the town.
2. Ensure that Thomastown is provided with an adequate foul drainage system, which will comply with all relevant environmental standards.

1. To protect the sources of existing water supplies to Thomastown.
2. To seek to ensure that houses are connected to the public mains wherever practicable.
3. To upgrade treatment works, improve and provide new pipe network for Thomastown Sewerage Scheme.

By preserving characteristic features of the County, we seek to maintain and nurture our cultural heritage as part of our identity. The intrinsic value of the Thomastown townscape, the areas of nature conservation and the sites, monuments, and structures of historic, architectural, artistic or technical interest is a major resource for the development of tourism and economic development while contributing to the quality of life. The sustainable management of this heritage is a key priority. The Council will seek a balance of accessibility and tourism development along with the conservation and preservation of the protected structures and heritage items generally and their settings.

Thomastown has a rich heritage and through the policies and objectives in Chapter 9 of Vol. 1 of the Development Plan the Council will seek to maintain and preserve that heritage.

It is the policy of the Council to use its powers and available resources to protect the architectural, archaeological, historic, artistic and natural heritage of Thomastown both for its cultural and tourism value in accordance with the policies set out in Chapter 9 of Vol. 1 of the County Development Plan.

The following are the objectives of the Council:

It is an objective of the Council to prepare an Architectural Conservation Area Plan for the town with the period of the Plan.

It is an objective of the Council to seek the preservation/conservation of the following structures.

Thomastown