Bid to have developers brief councillors on major housing projects rejected by Meath council
A proposal to require developers to present large residential projects to local councillors has been rejected by Meath County Council on the grounds that such involvement would breach planning law.
At the February full meeting of the local authority, Sinn Féin councillor Helen Meyer tabled a motion seeking to have developers of Large Residential Developments (LRDs) provide a presentation to elected members when planning applications are submitted.
However, the council responded that the assessment of planning applications is “an executive function that must remain independent of political involvement” under the Planning and Development Act 2000.
“All documentation is already made publicly available under Section 38 of the Act, and elected members, like all citizens, may engage with an application only through the statutory submission process,” the council said in its written reply.
The LRD process which are developments of 100 or more homes involves several steps before an application is lodged, including pre-application consultations, a formal LRD meeting with the planning authority, the issuing of an official ‘LRD Opinion’, and finally the submission of the full application.
Speaking afterwards, Cllr Meyer said she had wished to amend her motion to apply to when LRDs are granted, rather than when they are submitted. She said her proposal was not intended to interfere with the planning process, but to improve communication around the “practical impacts” of large-scale construction on towns and residents.
“When a large-scale development is planned for a town, residents can expect considerable disruptions lasting at least a couple of years,” she said.
“These changes have a substantial impact on the daily lives of those already living in the community. They deserve to be kept informed about what they can expect, so that they can plan accordingly.”
Cllr Meyer cited an ongoing development in Ashbourne of up to 800 residential units, which she said will ultimately bring more than 2,000 new residents to the area.
“While the need for housing is clear, the construction process has caused and will continue to cause significant traffic disruptions that have profoundly affected the town,” she said.
She also raised concerns about knock-on effects for public transport, local businesses and emergency services, noting that the National Transport Authority reserves the right to divert buses during roadworks and that narrow roads can prevent vehicles from moving aside for ambulances or fire services during periods of stop-go traffic management.
“Local businesses may suffer as people avoid the town to escape congestion, and emergency services are impacted as they have no prior information about stop-and-go traffic disruption,” she said.
The Ashbourne councillor said residents and councillors are not kept informed about the stages of LRD developments, what works are planned or how long they are expected to last.
“With timely information, residents can make alternative arrangements — such as working from home, choosing different routes, adjusting commuting times, or scheduling appointments during breaks in the roadworks,” she said.
“The residents look to their local elected representatives to be kept informed when something like a major housing development comes to their town. Currently, councillors and residents alike are left to guess at which road will be dug up, resulting in back-ups the length and breadth of Ashbourne.
“There must be a better way to keep our constituents informed,” Cllr Meyer added.