Tag Archives: Clare County Development Plan 2022-2028

THE people of Clare are being reminded that the closing date is nearing for submissions to the Draft County Development Plan. The deadline for making submissions closes on Monday, March 28 at 4pm, writes Jessica Quinn. The Draft Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029 was placed on public display by Clare County Council in December, while a series of nine public consultation events took place during January and February. Once adopted, the County Development Plan will set out the overall strategy for the proper planning and sustainable development of County Clare over a six-year period. This St Patrick’s Day, March 17, planning staff will provide an information stand at the Ennis St Patrick’s Day parade, which will offer information on the Draft County Development Plan and where planning staff will be available to speak with. According to Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, Councillor PJ Ryan, “The public consultation process presents members of the public with a valuable opportunity to have their …

THE Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR) has moved to clarify its role in the creation of the forthcoming Clare County Development Plan for 2023 to 2029, writes Fiona McGarry. It follows criticism at a recent meeting of the council’s Rural Development committee where concern was expressed about outside influence on the local planning process. A number of elected representatives expressed concern over the implications of national policy, including the National Planning Framework and the Rural Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES). All plans created at local authority level must take account of their guidelines. Particular alarm was expressed about the geographical distribution of 4,5000 new housing units permitted under the lifetime of the plan, given that they will largely be located on serviced lands in urban areas. In response, the OPR said its aim is to work with Clare County Council to ensure the new plan is consistent with Government policy. In a statement to The Champion, the OPR explained …

THE possible negative impact of the deferral the new County Development Plan (2022-2028) for seven months has been played down by the councillor who proposed the move. Councillor Cillian Murphy, who tabled the motion to invoke a new law that takes account of the impact of Covid-19, said that the net delay will be just three months. He added that the deferral is an opportunity to final alternatives to national policies that many fear will do irrevocable damage to rural areas. Last week, the deferral secured unanimous support, with some concerns raised about the potential impact on the county town, which will see both its Local Area Plan (LAP) and Ennis 2040 strategy deferred. “Because the Forward Planning team had actually started the County Development Plan process early, what we’re looking at, in real terms, is a delay of around three months,” Councillor Murphy told The Champion. “I respect the concerns of Ennis members but I don’t believe this will …

ENNIS has been described as “a ship without a captain” in terms of its development, due to the ongoing lack of an updated Local Area Plan (LAP). It follows the decision by county councillors to defer the County Development Plan (2022-2028) for seven months. The move has implications for the creation of the Ennis LAP, a process that started in 2015, but which was paused pending the finalisation of the county-wide plan. It also delays placing the Ennis 2040 plan on a statutory footing. Prominent Clare-based chartered building surveyor, Fergus Merriman voiced frustration saying he believes opportunities are being lost. “An Ennis LAP would be a field-by-field plan with clarity about acceptable development,” he said. “Ennis 2040 is a welcome long-term plan, but we cannot lose sight of day-to-day development. In the absence of a local plan, the risks are too high for many developers.” Mr Merriman noted that the Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR) wrote to the council …

AN online consultation portal alongside videos, webinars and public events are just some of the measures Clare County Council has developed in a bid to encourage public engagement with the preparation of the Clare County Development Plan 2022-2028. Details of the communication methods, which will also include traditional and social media, were released at a meeting of Clare County Council, at which Councillor PJ Ryan stressed the importance of keeping the public informed on changes to the plan. The councillor urged the Council to “put in place a robust communication system to inform people whose property status changes in the new county development plan and also communicate with communities where alternative energy zoning is under consideration”. He stated that he has met members of the public after the completion of development plans who were not aware of changes that would affect their properties. “I think the traditional way of conveying to people is just not working, we need to come …

CLARE is faced with “a premeditated depopulation of the countryside” unless pressure is put on organisations including Irish Water to provide essential services, according to a member of the local authority. Councillor Cillian Murphy made his remarks at the January meeting of Clare County Council after warning that tracts of land are at risk of being de-zoned under a new National Planning Framework (NPF), if services are not provided within the next seven years. The Fianna Fáil member tabled a series of detailed questions about the forthcoming development plan for Clare which will be in effect up from 2022 to 2028. He noted that the NPF outlines a tiered approach, whereby lands that are unlikely to be serviced within the period of the plan are recommended to be de-zoned for development. He was sharply critical of “a lack of ambition” for rural Ireland on the part of the State, and said organisations like Irish Water, instead of being instructed to …