Amendments to Planning and Development Act will provide Tipperary communities influence

A county council representative stated that amendments to the Planning and Development Act will provide Tipperary communities with greater influence over the development of their local areas.

The Government announced that reforms to the Planning and Development Act, which took effect on December 31, are intended to strengthen Ireland’s planning system.

Under the Act, county development plans now span a longer period, and key land-use decisions must be made earlier in the process. While the changes also affect housing plans and the Office of the Planning Regulator, their impact in Tipperary is expected to be minimal.

In Tipperary, these changes are set to spark greater public involvement and help the council craft a stronger, more responsive plan for the county’s future.

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Brian Beck, Tipperary County Council’s Director of Service for Planning and Placemaking, stated that the changes are designed to ensure public involvement in shaping the future of County Tipperary.
County development plans will now guide progress for a full decade, with a review at the halfway mark to keep them on track.

"A longer period for the development plan will set out a more strategic vision for the county,” Mr Beck said.
"Given the extended duration of the plan, communities will be encouraged to engage in detail and articulate their vision for the county and their localities through the development of the county development plan,” he said.

Mr Beck also explained that land use decisions will now be made as part of the county plan process, ensuring a consistent approach throughout Tipperary.

"Land use zoning will be determined at the county development plan stage rather than through the local plan. "The intent is to establish a coherent and unified strategy for the entire county and its settlements through the development of the county development plan. 

"This will require all citizens, including those in urban communities, to participate in the development plan process. Previously, some land use zoning decisions were determined at a later stage,” he explained.

The reforms introduce Urban Area Plans, or UAPs, which will replace local area plans, alongside new Coordinated Area Plans known as CAPs. Coordinated area plans are meant to help communities grow and make life better by providing parks, better transport, safe homes, and more jobs.

These new plans will identify which towns or villages need a UAP, and for the first time, this process will have legal backing.
Mr Beck stated that these changes will facilitate earlier identification of areas requiring a UAP.

“It will be important to identify any settlements that require a UAP or CAP at an early stage, and citizens and communities must ensure they are involved in the development plan process,” he said.

"Similarly, it will be important for urban communities to participate in the development plan process if they wish to be involved in land use zoning decisions within their towns,” he added.