Regulator takes issue with county plan

Councillors accused of ignoring national policy

PAUL MURPHY

The Office of the Planning Regulator has thrown a heavy spanner into the works of the County Development Plan, accusing Meath county councillors of ignoring regulations on flood risk planning and national policy objectives.

The independent regulator says that material amendments to the Meath County Development Plan 2021-2027 adopted by the councillors did not support compact growth of certain towns and villages and therefore the plan failed to set out an overall strategy for the proper planning and sustainable development of the areas concerned.

Councillors had voted through 92 proposed material amendments to the objectives for the zoning of land in particular areas for particular purposes. The regulator had no problem with the majority of proposed amendments but had raised concern about 12 proposed amendments on the grounds of inconsistency with regional and national planning guidelines and, or proportional growth around the consolidation of rural villages. There were also flood risk questions raised.

In June this year the regulator had warned that some amendments to the proposed plan had the potential to lead to “substantial breaches of strategic planning” and that the minister should not allow them.

Councillors were told they should omit the following material alterations to zoning in the plan – Ashbourne Material Amendment 08 (Change from Rural Area to New Residential A2); Athboy MA 03 (Change from Rural Area to New Residential A2); Clonard MA 01 (Relatively extensive change from minor commercial/ town village centre B1 and Rural Area RA to Community G1, open F1 and New Residential A2 on the periphery); East Meath MA 05 (Change from Rural Area RA to Tourism D1 and Open Spabe (buffer) – site within a flood zone); East Meath MA 06 (Change from Rural Area MA to Open Spane F1 and New Residential A2 – site in flood zone); East Meath MA 11 Change from Open Spane F1 to New Residential A2 – flood risk zone); Moynalty MA 01 (Change of use from Rural Area RA to New Residential A2 – located at a distance from village); Navan MA 05 (Change from Rural Area RA to New Residential A2 Phasing 2027); Navan MA 07 (Change from Mixed Use C1 to New Residential A2 - flood risk zone); Slane MA 04 (Change from Rural Area RA to Tourism D1 – site may encroach on Special Protection Area); Summerhill MA2 (Change from Rural to Community G1 – flood risk zone); Trim MA 06 (Rural Area to Community G1 and Tourism).

In an update on the progress of the development plan this week, Chief Executive Jackie Maguire said that there was a draft direction to the minister’s office from the planning regulator on 20th October.

Council officlal Des Foley said that correspondence was being considered by the minister who has until this Wednesday to respond to it. The council is presuming the minister will issue a draft directive. If the minister issues this in full, the council expected it would be issued in the terms set out by the regulator. The council then has to place a public notice to invite submissions and this will be done by 10th November. Members of the public and councillors will have two weeks to submit their views to the regulator, the minister, or to the public notice.

The chief executive will make a report on the public’s views and this will be circulated in time for the December public meeting.