Location
The coastal village of Ardmore is located approximately 14 miles from Dungarvan and 10 miles from Youghal in County Cork.  Download  Ardmore Map (adobe .pdf, 255 kbs)  here and download the pages relating to Zoning Objectives (word .doc, 183 kbs) . The Zoning Objectives and Landuse Zoning Matrix need to be used when looking at the individual settlement zonings.

Services
The village of Ardmore is a major 'based' holiday location, centred on the fine beach.  Ardmore is also a popular 'walking' holiday destination as it provides a variety of walking routes for both the local community and visitors; for example, the popular St Declan's Way is a Pilgrim Path stretching between the ancient ecclesiastical centres of Ardmore and Lismore, whilst the Cliff walk is a popular local walking route which takes in scenic coastal views.

The range of services available, including restaurants and hotels, is a reflection of the village's tourism function. Community facilities of the town are adequate.

Infrastructure
The water supply for Ardmore is just adequate to meet the existing needs of the local population but pressure problems are experienced to the upper areas to the south of the village.  In addition, water is supplied from Ardmore to Grange. Consultants have been appointed (in 2004), to prepare a preliminary report on the improvement of Ardmore Water Supply.  There is a firm proposal for a new wastewater treatment plant under the '7 Villages' Scheme, and construction of this, is expected to commence in early 2007.

Development Strategy
Over the period of the last Plan there has been major development of mainly 'tourist' type homes. This type of development is creating unbalance for the established community and future development will have to be controlled so as to promote sustainable community.  To this end also land has been zoned for industrial purposes to encourage starter units and light industrial enterprise as a means to sustain the workforce of Ardmore and surrounding areas. No development should be permitted on these lands which would negatively impact on the quality of the ground water. Provision should be made for adequate surface water collection and disposal arising from the development of the site. Prospective developers are required to liaise with Sanitary Services with regard to the provision of sustainable surface water drainage and wastewater treatment in advance of any future application for permission.

Regard should also be had to the protection of residential amenity on adjoining residentially zoned lands, with no structure/unit to be permitted within 20m of an existing or permitted dwelling. Any future application for the development of these industrial zoned lands should be accompanied by a detailed landscaping plan.

Residential zoning will be prioritized to the landbanks to the north and west of the village, where land-forms are low-lying and slopes minimized.

The coastal setting, local architecture and historic eccleastical monuments give Ardmore an attractive appearance. However, the village center (in front of the Church) would benefit from redefinition and streetscape improvements. In addition, there are a number of derelict and vacant sites located within the development boundary that should be addressed over the next plan period.  The zoned area of Ardmore is shown on the Ardmore Land Use Zoning Map.

Any development, which impacts negatively on bathing water quality and hence human health, is unlikely to be favourably considered.