EPA - Ireland's Environment, An Integrated Assessment - 2020

Ireland’s Environment – An Integrated Assessment 2020 Figure 5.4  Percentage of homes constructed since 2011 that are one-off houses in 2016 (Source: CSO, 2016) Providing housing in rural settings in a carefully planned, designed and environmentally sustainable way that meets the needs of rural communities and economic activities, can be achieved. For example, clustered rural housing close to or within rural villages, micro-generation of electricity using renewable technologies such as solar, wind and heat pumps, and adherence to strict standards for wastewater treatment and disposal all have a part to play in sustainable rural development. However, the accelerating rate of development of one- off commuter-driven housing in rural areas close to larger cities and towns and along transport corridors, such as the motorway network, is locking in long-term environmental impacts. These impacts include climate impacts (from long-distance commuting in private vehicles), water quality impacts (because of poorly performing or maintained domestic wastewater treatment systems), the fragmentation of ecological linkages and habitats, and the fragmentation of agricultural land holdings. These result in a loss of food production and ecosystems, as well as limiting the opportunities for sensitive infill development and coordinated development of rural villages and small towns, many of which are in long-term decline. At the same time, the key reasons why the housing needs of rural communities are not being met in smaller rural towns and villages include a lack of physical infrastructure, such as water service infrastructure, as well as affordable access to self-build options, such as low-cost local authority individual sites. 116