RATHMULLAN (Community & Heritage) REGENERATION PROJECT

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PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT ACT 2000 – SECTION 179

PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS 2001 – ARTICLE 81

NOTICE PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 81 OF PART 8 OF THE ABOVE REGULATIONS (“the Regulations”), RELATING TO A PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT BY DONEGAL COUNTY COUNCIL IN PARTNERSHIP WITH RATHMULLAN THE WAY FORWARD COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE

Project Name: RATHMULLAN (Community & Heritage) REGENERATION PROJECT

TAKE NOTICE that Donegal County Council (“the Council”) in partnership with Rathmullan The Way Forward Company Limited By Guarantee proposes to carry out the development specified in paragraph (b) below and in relation thereto:-

(a)   The location of the development is on a site shown on a site location map included in the plans and particulars referred to at paragraph (e) below, which site is in the Wesleyan Street, Main Street, Kerrs Bay and Pier Road areas of Rathmullan in the townland of Rathmullan & Ballyboe in the Letterkenny & Milford Municipal District.

(b)   The nature and extent of the proposed development is as follows:-

• The renewal, extension and repurposing of a Protected Structure - Rathmullan Battery Fort (Ref. RPS 40819002) and its attendant lands as a key heritage asset providing flexible indoor and outdoor space with multi-functional capacities for: (i) interpretation, exhibitions, conferences, education & learning, and for (ii) civic, cultural, recreation and social gatherings and events. The extension will consist of a single storey contemporary intervention within the Battery Fort walls with a floor area of 287 sq.m and terrace over;
• The renewal of the Glacis as an integral historical element of the Battery Fort inclusive of: de-cluttering, re-profiling and the development of boundary treatment, universal access and permeability interventions including an elevated bridge link across the defensive moat from the Glacis to the Battery Fort;
• Construction of a new Community hub type building on a brownfield site at the junction of Kerrs Bay and Pier Road with flexible multi-user spaces and accommodation solutions including: (i) at Ground Floor: a community hall, office & reception; 2no. retail spaces; changing places facility & 2no. accommodation rooms including accessible accommodation; storage; (ii) at First Floor: a mezzanine office and 12no. twin accommodation rooms and 2no. triple accommodation rooms and communal space; (iii) at Second Floor: an office and flexible workspace, and (iv) at Third Floor: a flexible community hub space with a roof terrace over; and having a total floor area of approx. 1,582sq.m (17029sq.ft);
• The construction of access management, public interest controls and interpretation facilities at a Protected Structure - Rathmullan Abbey (Ref. RPS 40819027) consisting of: entrance threshold improvements and the enhancement of existing pathways with a new gravel finish; installation of a pedestal supported floor plate with a floor area of 292sq.m incorporating seating options, historical interpretation features and a bespoke lighting scheme, utilities and services (discreetly concealed in the sub-structure);
• Material improvement of the existing road and pedestrian infrastructure at the junctions between Main Street and Wesleyan Street and Kerrs Bay and Pier Road including:  modified junction and road kerb alignments, improved pedestrian infrastructure and level grade crossing points, and new high quality surface material finishes and street furniture;
• The formation of a small public amenity space bounded by the sea wall on a site to the south of Rathmullan Abbey;
• All associated ancillary works to include site drainage, connection to public water supply and other services, enhancements to public lighting, landscaping, development related signage & public art, connection & discharge to the public sewerage network.
• A schedule of proposed uses for the Battery Fort, Community Hub and Abbey is provided with the particulars referred to at paragraph (e) below.

All associated ancillary site works shall be located within the townland of Rathmullan & Ballyboe in the Letterkenny & Milford Municipal District.

(c)    The proposed development is sub-threshold for the purposes of Environmental Impact Assessment (“EIA”) per Article 92 of the Regulations and the Council has concluded on the basis of a Preliminary Examination of the nature, location and size of the proposed development in accordance with Article 120 (1)(b)(i) thereof that there is no real likelihood of significant effects on the environment arising from the proposed development and that Environmental Impact Assessment (“EIA”) is not required. A copy of this Preliminary Examination and conclusion will be available for inspection or purchase along with the documents referred to at paragraph (e) below.  

(d)   In order to ascertain whether the proposed development required Appropriate Assessment (“AA”) the Council carried out a screening of same in accordance with Article 250(1) of the Regulations and made a determination in view of best scientific knowledge that the development individually or in combination with other plans or projects would not be likely to have a significant effect on a European site in view of the site’s conservation objectives and that AA was not required.  A copy of this determination including the main reasons and considerations on which the determination was based will be available for inspection or purchase along with the documents referred to at paragraph (e) below.  

(e)   Plans and particulars of the proposed development will be available for inspection online at www.donegalcoco.ie or for inspection at the Council’s offices below and purchase (at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy) at:

The said plans and particulars will be available for inspection as above from Thursday 24^th November 2022 until Tuesday 3^rd January 2023 (both dates inclusive).

(f)    Submissions and observations with respect to the proposed development, dealing with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area in which the development is situated may be made in writing to The Co. Secretariat, Donegal County Council, Lifford, County Donegal, before 4:30pm on Wednesday 18^th January 2023. Please mark the front of the envelope with the project name as per the above schedule.

Liam Ward,

Director of Service Community & Planning Services,

Donegal County Council, County House, Lifford.  

Date: Thursday 24^th November 2022. 

The Plans and Particulars of the proposed development can be viewed by clicking the links below:

• Report on the Nature & extent of the proposed development
• Preliminary Examination in relation to Environmental Impact Assessment
• Screening in relation to Appropriate Assessment
• A‌rchitects Design Report
• Heritage Impact Assessment
• Archaeological Impact Assessment
• Site Location & Site Extent
• Work Area 01 - Rathmullan Gun Battery
• Work Area 02 - Community Hub
• Work Area 03 - Rathmullan Abbey
• Work Area 04 - Public Realm
• Work Area 05 - Public Amenity Space