Statutory Guidelines on Spatial Planning and National Roads

The Department of the Environment, Communities and Local Government have published the final version of the Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Spatial Planning and National Roads. The guidelines are intended to inform planning policy and development management decisions for lands proximate to National Roads.

Kilmartin Local Area Plan

Fingal County Council have prepared a Strategic Issues Paper for the Kilmartin LAP. This is the first stage in the plan preparation process and sets out the issues that Fingal County Council intend to cover in the LAP document.

Kilmartin is located to the north of Tyrrellstown in west Dublin. A map of the area which will be covered by the LAP is available to download from the Counci'ls website alongside a copy of the Issues Paper.

The Council are currently inviting interested parties to make submissions on the content of the Issues Paper and will take any representations into consideration when preparing the draft document. Submissions will be accepted up to an including 2nd February 2012. Stephen Little & Associates have extensive experience in representing interested parties in the LAP preparation process. Please contact us to see if we can be of assistance

The Mid West Area Strategic Plan

The Mid-west Regional Authority (MWRA) have published the draft version of the Mid West Area Strategic Plan (MWASP). The Plan covers the jurisdictions of Limerick City Council, Clare County Council, Limerick County Council and North Tipperary County Council.  

"The Draft Mid-West Area Strategic Plan (MWASP) was prepared to secure the following overall objectives;

1. Prioritisation of investment in the region;
2. Strengthening The Limerick/Shannon Gateway as the core of the Region. The promotion of the existing city and environs (the metropolitan city) as the economic driver for the region is fundamental;
3. Strengthening the Limerick/Shannon Gateway, Nenagh and Ennis as the Hub in terms of population growth;
4. Create and support a well defined hierarchy of settlement, as defined in the Mid-West Regional Planning Guidelines, which will support the development of a series of rural economic nodes such as Newcastle West, Thurles and Roscrea;
5. Deliver the required transport infrastructure to meet the Plan objectives;
6. Optimise the organisational structure to facilitate the delivery of the Plan objectives;
7. Provide economic review and direction for the region."

Wicklow County Council: Further Matters in relation to Control of Quarries

Wicklow County COuncol have published notice of their intention to examine all quarries within their administrative area. "to determine, in relation to that quarry, whether having regard to the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive and the Habitats Directive,"the quarry operators carried out the necessary studies and assessments. The Council have set out their intended course of action and it is to be noted that they intended that "The examination and determination by the Planning Authority of every quarry shall be made not later than the 23rd of August 2012. The examination and determination shall be carried out in accordance with Section 261A (2), (3),(4) and (5) of the Planning and Development Act 2000(as amended)." The Council are inviting comments on this from interested parties, on or before 19th January 2012.

Full details of the Council's intended actions are available from their website.

Proposed Examination of Quarries by Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council

Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council are proposing to examine existing quarries within their administrative area under Section 261a of the Planning & Development Act 2010. The Council have published a list of actions whereby they will examine every quarry to determine compliance with the Planning & Development legislation as it relates to quarries. Interested parties are invited to make submissions or obersvations on the Council's intended course of action on or before 25th January 2012. Full information is available from the Council's website.

Dublin City Council Draft Outdoor Advertising Strategy

Dublin City Council have published a draft outdoor advertising strategy, and are inviting comments from interested parties.  Comments can be made in writing to the City Council before 4.30pm on 25th January 2012.  The City Council are proposing the strategy "In order to manage an effective programme of outdoor advertising." The policy is based on geographical zones. "These zones cover all parts of the city, ranging from areas of architectural, historical and cultural sensitivity, to residential areas, to areas of little architectural or historic significance."

The proposed strategy, which contains a map of the geographical zones, can be downloaded from the City Council website