Chapter 13: Rural Design Guide

Dúnta23 Fea, 2022, 9:00am - 23 Már, 2022, 4:30pm
Section 13.4.7 Landscaping and Boundary Treatments

(Amendment No. 105) Amend Section 13.4.7 ‘Key Principles – Landscaping and Boundary Treatments’ (page 321):- deleted text in red, new text in green as follows:-

Key Principles

Landscaping and Boundary Treatments

  • Work with the landscape by formulating a layout and design that responds to existing landscape features.
  • Remove as little of the existing landscaping features as possible i.e. trees, hedgerows, stone walls, sod banks, contours etc.
  • Use contours of site to soften the setting of a rural house.
  • Avoid suburban type landscaping and formal symmetrical layouts.  Straight lines are not appropriate in rural areas.
  • Avoid surrounding the house with hard landscaping which will divorce it from the natural context of the site.
  • Avoid tarmacadam, concrete and brick driveways. Aim for self-draining grasscrete or gravel which is more suitable for a rural setting in terms of visual impact and surface water drainage. In the interests of environmental protection and biodiversity use of herbicides should be minimised.
  • Design informal layouts.
  • Plant wild meadows or strim grass areas which are more natural to rural areas. Incorporate wildflower meadows by enhancing existing grass areas through reduced mowing. Planting new areas of wildflowers should be seen as a last resort and then only native species of Irish origin should be used.
  • Reduce or avoid large areas of mown lawn.
  • Plant native trees in groups of three or more. Create new mixed hedgerows of native/local species to maintain biodiversity.
  • Avoid planting non-native single species such as Leyland Cypress.
  • Retain ponds and ditches on the site.
  • Provide appropriate setback from watercourses (including streams and drains), woodlands and wetlands allowing natural vegetation to develop.
  • Avoid replacing boundaries with unsympathetic fencing, pre-cast decorative concrete blocks and artificial stone.
  • Where possible commence planting of the required boundaries before the construction of the house commences.

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