Any non-government planning application will be assessed against any Local Area Plan, where one exists, and against the County Development Plan [i]

Thus it is vitally important that development plans are well drafted and comprehensive.  An Taisce members are encouraged to actively participate in this process.  This would help to ensure that issues of concern to us are dealt with in the Plan in a way that would help us in future to appeal local authority decisions that might compromise the integrity of the built and natural heritage.

What is in a development plan?[ii]

The matters to be covered in a County Development Plan and Local Area Plan are defined in the Planning and Development Act 2000.[iii] Essentially a County Development Plan contains a zoning and settlement strategy, the provision of infrastructure, and the protection of the built and natural environment and the conservation of landscape.

Plans are more sophisticated now than a decade ago when they were not much more that a statement of intent prepared by the county officials.  Now the adoption of a development plan is probably the most important role of a county council and the place where our political representatives, the councillors, exert their greatest power in deciding the values by which we run our lives.  Zoning land for a variety of uses has a major impact on our quality of life and our failure to understand this has led to spatial strategies that result in uneven development of the nation, congestions and long commutes around Dublin and damage to our natural resources.

How to participate[iv]

It is in the adoption of a development plan that we can make the most political impact on our lives.  Generally the process is announced in the local press with invitations to make pre-draft submissions.  This scoping phase is where we can inform the local authority planners or consultants of the issues which we consider to be important.  It is also the stage where landowners will inform the planners of their hopes and aspirations for development.

Once a draft has been prepared it will be accepted or amended by local councillors before being put out for public consultation for three months.  This is the time to read and assess the plan, however it is VITAL that submissions are very specific or they will carry no weight.  If you wish the plan to be changed or improved it is essential that you propose SPECIFIC amendments in the form of deletions or additions.

After the public consultation period the local authority Manager prepares a report listing and summarizing the key points in submissions together with his recommendations.  This report is circulated to the councillors[v] who will then meet at a public Council Meeting to propose amendments to the plan. 

This is the ONLY way that a plan can be changed.[vi]  Although the Planning and Development Act 2000 of requires that Councillors are restricted to considering proper planning (i.e. not personal circumstances) the adoption of a plan is essentially a political act, a matter of negotiating the interests of different stakeholders, and if you, as a member of the community, wish to participate in your own governance it is necessary to lobby your councillors.  It is also helpful to attend those council meetings where a plan is to be adopted.  If there are any plans to rezone land inappropriately it is likely to happen here and it is better that this is not done out of the gaze of public scrutiny.[vii]

If, as usual, there are significant changes, the plan must go back out for public consultation for one more month after which time the Council will meet again to vote on the amendments.

There are many opportunities for An Taisce members to make a contribution in this process and with the help and support of HQ staff it should be possible to campaign for examples of best practice to be incorporated into development plans.  For example standards for low-energy demand housing, policies for the control of light and noise pollution, identification, protection and enhancement of natural resources in your area. However possibly the most important aspect is to develop a clear, strong vision for the area where you live.  Currently vision statements are general platitudes however it is from the vision statement that all other objectives and strategies evolve.  A vision statement that depicts clearly a unique and distinctive character for the County, creating the least possible ecological footprint and the best possible amenities would be a very good starting point.

Links to:  - Planning and Development Act 2000

             - Planning and Development Regulations 2001
             - Guidelines to Local Authorities on the Preparation of Development Plans, DOEHLG 2006