Planning reforms to give Tipperary communities greater say in local development
Changes to the Planning and Development Act will allow Tipperary communities to get more involved in the future of their areas, according to a county council representative.
Reforms to the Planning and Development Act officially came into force on December 31, which aim to strengthen Ireland’s planning system, according to the Government.
Changes to the act include the length of time that county development plans will last, and that land use zoning for the county will be decided at development plan stage. The reforms will also make changes to housing strategy and the Office of the Planning Regulator, which will have very limited impacts in Tipperary.
In Tipperary, these changes will enable locals and communities to get involved in the future of their areas, as well as enabling the council to set out a more strategic plan for the county.
According to Brian Beck, Tipperary County Council’s director of service for planning and placemaking, the changes will aim to ensure that people can get involved in the future of county Tipperary.
County development plans will now last for 10 years, instead of five years as previously, and development plans will now be reviewed at the five-year mark.
"A longer period for the development plan will set out a more strategic vision for the county,” Mr Beck said.
"Given the longer duration of the plan, communities will be asked to engage in detail and setting out their vision for the county and their communities through the development of the county development plan,” he said.
Land zoning will also be decided when the county development plan is being drawn up, Mr Beck added, saying that this will aim to ensure that there is a coherent approach to land zoning countywide.
"Land use zoning will be determined at the county development plan stage, rather than through the local plan,” Mr Beck said.
"The intent is that a coherent and joined up strategy for all the county and the settlements within it is set out through the development of the county development plan.
"This will require all citizens, including urban communities to engage in the development plan process, whereas previously, some of these decisions around land use zoning would have been determined at a later point,” he explained.
Also as part of the reforms are plans for new urban area plans (UAPs), which will replace local area plans, and co-ordinated area plans (CAPs).
Urban area plans and co-ordinated area plans will ensure growth of communities, and improve the quality of life by ensuring accessible green spaces, efficient transport, safe housing, and foster economic development in their areas.
These new plans will aim to identify any settlements in the county that need an UAP, and these plans will now have a statutory footing.
Mr Beck said that these changes will mean that areas that need an UAP will be identified early.
"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 engage in the development plan process, if they wish to be involved in land use zoning decisions in their towns,” he added.