Chapter 15: Ballon Plan

Vision
   To maintain and support the vitality and vibrancy of Ballon by consolidation of the town centre with an appropriate mix of uses, to promote regeneration and healthy placemaking while accommodating population growth, promoting employment opportunities within the town, and pursuing a continued pattern of high quality development that respects the inherent characteristics of the town’s natural and built environment.

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15.3.3 Ballon Plan

15.3.3.1 Location and Context

Ballon is located in the central area of the County, where it is strategically positioned on the national road network, with the N80 traversing the town centre. The settlement is 18 kilometres from Carlow Town and 6 kilometres from the interchange of the M9 and N80 at Rathcrogue. Ballon due to its strategic location, coupled with an availability of a range of local services, maintains a local significance for its resident population and the surrounding rural hinterland. 

15.3.3.2 Settlement Form and Function

Ballon is based on the Sraid Bhaile (street-town) concept.  Main Street is located on the N80 route from Rosslare to Carlow Town and the Midlands. The settlement form of the town was historically focused on Main Street and Church Street, the latter rising westwards and leading to the elevated focal point of Ballon Hill.  The location of the town relative to Ballon Hill contributes to the character and setting of the settlement. The built fabric of the town is predominantly 2-storey in height.  

Development in the more recent past, particularly in the residential areas of Forge Meadows and Mullaunmore, have extended the settlement northwards along the N80 and westwards along Ballykealy Lane/Fenagh Road. 

The main function of the town is as a local service centre for the resident population and surrounding rural hinterland, with convenience shops, a post office, a church, two pubs, a national school, a café, two takeaways etc. Ballon is also a commuter settlement for workers, who utilise the links to Carlow Town, and the southeast, midlands, and Dublin regions, via the N80 and M9.

Historic Map 6 Inch Colour (1837-1842) showing Ballon and Ballon Hill (Source:  www.osi.ie)
 

15.3.3.3   Population and Socio-Economic Profile

Population, Demographic and Nationality

The 2016 Census recorded a population of 712 in Ballon.  This represents a small increase of 4% from 2011.  The previous intercensal period between 2006 and 2011 recorded an increase of 14.77% with the most significant period of growth occurring between 2002 and 2006 (+110%). 

Ballon has a young age profile, with 41% of its population recorded in the 0-24 age group in 2016, which is greater than the national figure of 33%.  From the 2016 Census it is also apparent the town has a higher proportion than the national average of  infants (0-4 years) 9.8% and children (5-12 years) 18%. The 65+ age group represented 8% of the population of the town in 2016 (below the national average of 13.4%).

Non-Irish nationals accounted for 7.6% of Ballon’s population in 2016, which is below the share for the State (11.4%) and the County (10.5%).

Economic Profile

The 2016 Census identified that there were 319 persons in the labour force i.e. aged 15 years and over who were able to work; excluding students, retired, those looking after family or unable to work due to illness or disability.  Of this labour force 87.8% were in employment (280 persons). 

At 24.6%, professional services were the biggest sector of employment, followed by commerce and trade (23.2%), and manufacturing industries (16.1%).  The building and construction sector is also a significant employer for Ballon (9.6%). 

The unemployment rate for Ballon in 2016 stood at 12.2%, which was comparable to the figure for the state of 12.9%. Persons not in the labour force comprised of 8.5% retired, 13%, students (aged 15yrs and over), with 5% unable to work due to permanent sickness or disability, and 9% were categorised as looking after home/family. 

Aerial imagery of Ballon captured between 2013-2018 (Source: www.osi.ie)
 

15.3.3.4 Housing

A total of 232 households were recorded in Ballon in the 2016 Census, 70% of which were owner occupied. Of this number, one and two-person households comprised 43% of all households, which was below the national figure of 52%.  Over half of the town’s housing stock (59.7%) was constructed from 2001 to 2010. 

The housing target for Ballon identified in the Core Strategy in Chapter 2 is 62 new residential units over the Plan period from 2022-2028.  It is the policy of the Council to encourage the provision of additional housing within Ballon including the completion of Laraghbeg an unfinished housing estate in the town. The Plan will also promote a policy of consolidation focused on localised growth through the development of infill / brownfield lands and mixed use on town centre expansion lands . All development shall respect the character and setting of the town and make a positive contribution to its built environment.

15.3.3.5 Social Infrastructure

Active community-based groups have contributed significantly to the social, community and cultural development of the town. A variety of services and local facilities are provided and include:

• Ballon Community Centre which provides a range of social, cultural, educational and care services. 
• Ballon Business and Training Service (old school building) providing training courses as well as room hire for meetings, classes, fitness, hobbies etc. 
• Sports facilities include Ballon GFC and Burrin Celtic Football Club located outside and to the west of the settlement, off the Fenagh Road.
• Ballon National School which serves the town and its surrounding catchment, accommodating 280 pupils.  The town is also serviced by a Community Childcare Facility.
• Riverdale Nursing Home to the west of the settlement and off the N80. 
• A new post office which opened in 2019. 
• A community Shop - Siopa Glás on Main Street.
• St. Peter and Pauls Church is located within the town with the cemetery located at the southern end of the town.

15.3.3.6 Economic Development

Ballon is designated a level 3 Small Town under the Retail Hierarchy for the County. It has a more limited retail role and function than higher order settlements, with provision typically restricted to services and convenience shopping.

There are two public houses, a convenience store/grocer, two take-aways, in the town, as well as a café, a hardware store, and a hair salon.  There are two service stations on either end of the town to the north and south.  In addition to serving passing traffic on the N80, the service stations also have an important function as local convenience stores, with one accommodating the town’s post office. A commercial premise providing stonecutting services also operates from Main Street. 

In order to consolidate and strengthen the Level 3 status of the town, commercial and retail development should be located within Ballon’s town centre area, which is focused along Main Street and Church Street.

15.3.3.7 Vacant / Derelict Units and Sites

Vacancy, dereliction, and unfinished sites can have an adverse effect on the visual amenity of a town. In 2016, 4% of residential properties were recorded as vacant in Ballon. Commercial vacancy is evident in the town on Main Street and on the Fenagh Road but is not extensive.

15.3.3.8  Regeneration/Redevelopment Opportunities

The Council promotes and supports the use of previously developed brownfield and infill sites within the established built footprint of Ballon, as well as the redevelopment of existing sites and buildings.  This will contribute to:

• Securing more compact and sustainable growth. 
• Enhancing the public realm and overall character and appearance of the town. 
• Retaining and increasing vibrancy and vitality in the town centre, including viability for local services, shops, and public transport.
• Increased opportunities for sustainable travel such as walking and cycling.

New development proposals on brownfield and infill sites must be accompanied by a Site Brief. The Site Brief must demonstrate how a proposal incorporates principles of good urban design and placemaking as contained in Chapter 12, as well as compliance with national policy and guidance on the achievement of compact growth.

15.3.3.9 Intervention Area - Laragh Beg Site

This site occupies a prominent position within the existing built environment of the town, with dual frontage onto Main Street (N80) to the east and onto Ballykealey Lane (L2035-0) to the west.  It has an area of c. 1.2ha with permission for 21 no. residential units and comprises part of an unfinished residential development of 13 no. completed and occupied houses.  The site is vacant, underutilised, fenced off to prevent access, and detracts from the character and appearance of the area.  It is an objective of the Council to seek completion of this site which has potential to deliver new residential development that will harness the opportunity of a prime location next to the town centre, the local primary school and community centre.

Map 15.3.3.1:  Intervention Area – Laragh Beg Site
 

15.3.3.10 Movement and Transport

The N80 traverses the town and is a busy commuter route, providing direct access to the southeast region (Rosslare Port).  The interchange for the N80 and M9 is 6km to the northwest of the town at Rathcrogue.  The N80 also functions as an important route in the County for traffic driving between Ballon and Carlow Town. 

The town’s location on the N80 and proximity to the motorway interchange, combined with more recent development and growth in the settlement, have resulted in high traffic volumes through Ballon. 

As a result of Brexit and with an associated increase in freight through Rosslare Port, there is potential for traffic volumes to increase through Ballon beyond normal growth patterns.   The provision of a future N80 bypass, to facilitate local traffic safety and providing a higher standard of access between Rosslare and the M9 interchange, is required for Ballon to ensure sustainable long-term development.

Car parking in Ballon is predominantly provided on-street and along Main Street. This services residential, commercial properties and the National School.  A pedestrian (zebra) crossing is located on Main Street beside the National School.

In terms of public transport, the Bus Eireann service along Route 132 between Wexford and Dublin, serves Ballon. This bus route also links Ballon with other towns in the County, namely Tullow and Rathvilly.  Wexford Bus also provides regular scheduled bus services, and Ballon is a stop on their Wexford Town to Carlow Town Route 376. 

15.3.3.11 Water and Environmental Services

From 2020 Irish Water data, the existing design capacity of the Ballon Wastewater Treatment Plan is 1,200 PE and has an available spare capacity of 483 PE. 

Ballon is serviced by the Central Regional Water Scheme.

Domestic, commercial and industrial waste are collected and disposed from Ballon by private operators. Ballon Recycling Bring Bank is located off the Fenagh Road and caters for the collection of beverage cans and glass bottles/jars. The Council encourages recycling and the minimisation of waste through its environmental education programme and the Green-Schools programme.

15.3.3.12 Flood Risk Management

The flood risk mitigation measures and justification tests for Ballon are detailed in Section 7.7 and Section A.1 of the Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) prepared as part of this County Development Plan (See Appendix III).  General guidance on development management and flood risk is set out in Section 6 of the SFRA.

15.3.3.13 Public Realm

The visual appearance and general attractiveness of the environment of Ballon has in large part been due to significant  community effort and initiatives within the town.  

The Council in co-operation with local communities, businesses and other relevant stakeholders are seeking to continually improve the physical presentation and appeal of many towns in the county such as Ballon, both through the planning process, initiatives such as Pride of Place, County Tidy Towns, and through funding from the Town and Village Renewal Scheme.  In 2017 Ballon was one of a number of project areas in the county awarded funding under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme. 

Ballon also received a Tidy Towns Community Climate Action Award in 2018, a competition sponsored by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment.   The award recognises the positive contribution the local community in Ballon are making in addressing climate change through their Tidy Town's Activities.

This Plan will support any funding applications under the Town and Village Renewal or similar schemes that would enhance the public realm, built environment, and environmental quality of Ballon.

15.3.3.14 Natural Heritage

There are no SACs or pNHAs within the development boundary of Ballon.  The River Slaney is c. 3km east of the settlement and is a designated Special Area of Conservation (Slaney River Valley SAC, Site Code 000781) and a proposed Natural Heritage Area (pNHA).  A tributary of the River Slaney flows around the western and northern sides of Ballon Hill and crosses the northern end of the town at Ballykealy Bridge on the N80.

15.3.3.15 Architectural Heritage

Ballon is an historic settlement, having originally formed part of the (former) Ballykealy estate.  The original 300-acre estate of Ballykealy was the seat of the Lecky Family from 1649, when Cromwell granted lands at Ballykealy along with lands at Kilnock, Carlow. The estate remained in the Lecky Family until 1953 and was then sold to the Land Commission.

Ballykealey House (Source:  NIAH  www.buildingsofireland.ie)
 

Ballon contains a number of structures and features which are recorded in the Record of Protected Structures, and by the NIAH (See Table 15.3.3.1). Chapter 10 of this Plan outlines policies and objectives for protecting architectural heritage within the county.

St. Peter and Pauls Catholic Church (Source:  NIAH  www.buildingsofireland.ie )