Plan to almost double land zoned for urban housing in Monaghan

The amount of land zoned for urban housing development in County Monaghan will increase by 84% if a proposed variation to the County Development Plan takes full effect.

The members of Monaghan County Council voted on Monday to allow the amendment of the plan adopted last year, and which will apply until 2031, to proceed to public consultation.

Senior Planner Adrian Hughes told the May meeting of the local authority that the variation relates to new housing growth requirements imposed on local authorities by the Government’s revised National Planning Framework. An 84% increase in the amount of land zoned for residential use in the county’s five towns is being proposed.

Stating that the elected members will be familiar with the variation from workshops held in November and February, Mr Hughes asked the councillors to allow the revised plan to proceed to a four-week public consultation. The plan will then come back before the local authority in July for submissions to be considered – if changes are made at that stage, a further period of public consultation must be held, he pointed out.

Cllrs Noel Keelan (SF) and Alan Johnston (FG) absented themselves from debate on the proposals in accordance with declaration of interest rules.

Cllr Aidan Campbell (Fine Gael) proposed that the revised plan go to public consultation stage, stating that he wanted to “push on” with the proposals and noting that they have already been discussed at Municipal District level.

Seconding, Cllr Seamus Coyle (FF) said: “Let’s hear what the people have to say.”

Cllr Niamh McCooey (SF) joined the previous speakers in thanking the Council’s planning section for the “Trojan work” done in relation to the material contravention, a sentiment unanimously endorsed in the debate.

“Not only are we going to see the development and activation of housing lands in all towns in the county,” Cllr McCooey said, “but in Monaghan Town we will see the development of the southern link road through the Development Plan.”

Cllr Pat Treanor (SF) emphasised the need to monitor how the new plan progresses. He pointed out that a housing needs survey in the county two years ago found that the level of demand isn’t being catered for by supply.

“In addition to zoning extra land, we need a way of monitoring how this is working out over a period of time,” Cllr Treanor stated.

“We receive information on planning commencement notices regularly but these don’t always result in completions. We need to find a way to evaluate how we are doing.”

The Senior Planner highlighted how there is also a policy in the revised plan relaxing planning constraints on housing development in the county’s 14 largest villages.

Mr Hughes agreed with Cllr P. Treanor that it is important to look at implementation. Regulation requires that the Council come back to the elected members with regular progress reports, he clarified.

Cllr Seán Conlon (SF) proposed that the Council’s Strategic Policy Committee on Housing examine the issue of visibility space which, he stated, can create significant legal and financial burdens on housing applicants in rural areas. He said that young couples wishing to develop a house on what might be a family holding off the road have to reach legal agreements with roadside landowners which can sometimes lead to “extortionate levels of money being sought”.

The Cathaoirleach, Cllr P.J. O’Hanlon (FF) said he didn’t think there will be any problem with this being examined by the SPC as all members are aware of the relevant issues.

Cllr S. Conlon’s proposal was seconded by Cllr P. Treanor and agreed.

Cllr Seamus Treanor said some years ago his fellow Independent, former councillor Paudge Connolly, suggested that the visibility issue be looked at but SF opposed this very strongly at the time.

Accusing SF of doing “a handstand” on the issue, Cllr Treanor said it is outrageous that a legal document has to be put in place and Independent councillors fought vigorously against this from 2004 on.

A show of hands vote approved the Development Plan variation going forward for public consultation.