Oiliúint

In 2018, the Government published the National Planning Framework (NPF) as part of Project Ireland 2040. It is the overarching policy and planning framework for Ireland’s:

• • Social,
  • Economic,
  • Environmental, and
  • Cultural development.

The NPF replaced the National Spatial Strategy as Ireland’s planning framework. The policies in the NPF must be taken into account when preparing Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies (RSES) and development plans.

Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies (RSES) have replaced the Regional Planning Guidelines. The objective of each RSES is to support the NPF and the economic policies and objectives of the government. Each strategy is a long-term planning and economic framework for the development of each region. Ireland is split into three strategic planning areas:

• • Eastern and Midland Region,
  • Southern Region, and
  • Northern and Western Region.

These regions are governed by regional assemblies. Regional assemblies consist of members of the local authorities within the region. The regional assembly adopts the RSES.

The development plan is the main public statement of planning policies for your local community. It sets out the land use, amenity and development objectives and policies of the planning authority, for a six-year period. The plan consists of a written statement of objectives and includes maps that give a graphic representation of how your city/county will develop and improve in a sustainable way in the six-year period. The core strategy of the plan shows that the plan is consistent with the National Planning Framework (NPF) and Regional Spatial Economic Strategy (RSES) policies.

Elected members (councillors) are responsible for making, reviewing and varying the development plan. It is their duty to adopt the plan with the technical help of their officials (the chief executive, planners, etc.). Public consultation on the plan must also be carried out.

A Local Area Plan (LAP) provides more detailed planning policies for areas where significant development and change is anticipated. A LAP must be compatible with national and regional guidance documents and the core strategy and policies of the development plan. A LAP is valid for six years from the date it is adopted by the planning authority.