Location
The town of Tallow is designated as a Local Service Centre given its strategic location close to the N.72 (Mallow-Dungarvan) National Secondary Route, and relative close proximity to the N.25 (Rosslare - Cork) and N.8 (Dublin-Cork) National Primary Routes - approximately 35 kilometres from Dungarvan, and approximately 24 miles from Fermoy in County Cork. Tallow is 9km from Lismore, 20km from Youghal, Middleton and Fermoy.  The cities of Waterford and Cork are 80km and 60km away respectively.

(Download Tallow (adobe .pdf, 602 kbs)  Map Here) and also 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.

Characteristics
Tallow is a rural, low-lying town, which originated as a planned market town, and has a strong industrial heritage.  Tallow is characterized by stone buildings and boundary walls, with a wide, 'boulevard-type', main street. The retention, enhancement and incorporation of these characteristics, should be the objective of any design or development proposal for the area.

Services
The town is located close to the Cork/ Waterford border and has a wide range of retail services and community facilities, including 8 pubs, 3 restaurants, a few guest houses, Tallow Enterprise Centre, Credit Union and Bank, Community Hall, library, Veterinary clinic, pharmacy, supermarkets and hardware stores.  There is a number of small industries located in the industrial estate in the town.

Infrastructure
The public water supply and sewerage systems require upgrading. A waste-water treatment plant will be provided as part of the County Waterford Seven Villages Sewerage Scheme, which is expected to commence construction in late 2006.  Tallow falls within the West Waterford Water supply scheme (Stage 1 Area), for which consultants have been appointed to prepare Preliminary Report proposals for upgrading.

Any constraint to development is associated with existing infrastructural deficiencies, and development proposals will need to cater for this in any applications for permission along with satisfying the Planning Authority as to the standards for new development at Section 9.2. These matters will have to be discussed and approved with the Sanitary Services Section of Waterford County Council, prior to any development proposal being submitted for Planning Permission.

Development Strategy
The development boundary and strategy for Tallow is illustrated on the attached Land Use Zoning Map.  The area to the south-east of Tallow is zoned industrial to facilitate start-up industry, this will allow further expansion of this function in the area. Significant land is zoned for Open Space purposes (to the north-east and south-west). 

This is to preserve low-lying lands which cannot be serviced free from development and ensure that the existing sports fields are maintained as open space. This will allow for the provision of both active and passive recreational open space.

There are large amounts of land available for development, which are zoned for residential use. The residentially zoned lands to the immediate south of the Carmelite Convent will be restricted to single storey development only. Development proposals on elevated residential zoned land to the south of Tallow (at Coshmore/Coshbride), will be subject to the following limitation:-

• Any development on the lands shall be confined to single storey dwellings with roof pitch not exceeding 30°; situated on lower site slopes and fronting onto the laneway, which shall be widened and upgraded.
• Access to the laneway shall be from the minor public road. 
• The upper slope shall be landscaped and planted with parkland trees.
• Any proposals for development shall have to satisfy the requirements for foul and storm water drainage along with an adequate water supply for domestic and fire fighting purposes.