Cross
Cross Location and Context Cross is a small village situated on the Loop Head Peninsula to the west of Carrigaholt on the main R487 regional route. It has a linear structure with buildings situated along both sides of the main road. Views from the village are open and expansive on both sides, affording extensive views of the Atlantic Ocean, Shannon Estuary and surrounding bare, flat landscape. The settlement itself includes a school, church, public houses, a community hall, B&B and a garage. It is also home to the Cross Digital Hub, a modern digital hub facility located in the repurposed National School in the village centre. The hub provides high speed broadband connectivity and offers hot desks, co-working and conference/event facilities. The village is also served by Clare Bus with daily services to Kilrush and onward services to Ennis. The reuse, redevelopment, or enhancement of existing vacant buildings in the village is encouraged as a means of regenerating the village centre and promoting sustainable development. There is no wastewater treatment infrastructure in the village. Any future residential development including alterations to existing residential developments, commercial or employment generating development will require private wastewater treatment subject to suitable site-specific conditions and must ensure they are in compliance with the EPA Code of Practice for On Site Wastewater Treatment Systems. The village is connected to the public water supply. General Objectives • To encourage the small-scale expansion of the village throughout the lifetime of this Plan in order to sustain and increase the population of the area and support new and existing services in the village; • To ensure that future growth in Cross is incremental and small scale in nature, relative and appropriate to the scale, size and character of the population and services in the village; • To consolidate development in the village which will help support and encourage development of services and facilities, enhance its viability and vitality, whilst safeguarding its unique character and distinctive natural environment; • To support the provision of infrastructure to allow for future growth of the village; and • To support the development of a settlement network in the Loop Head Peninsula including Cross along with Kilbaha and Carrigaholt, to assist collaborative projects and the sharing of assets and strengths including developing its economic and tourism potential as a stopping point on the Wild Atlantic Way and Loop Head Peninsula.
__________________________________________________________________________________ Draft Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029
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