Page 20 - Donegal CC An Rpt 19

Donegal County Council Annual Report 2019
Planning Division | Manage, maintain and develop physical, social, economic, environmental, community and cultural infrastructure.
Central Planning Unit (CPU)
Overview
In 2018, the CPU completed two major projects namely: the County Development Plan, 2018-2024 (adopted in May) and
the Seven Strategic Towns Local Area
Plans 2018-2024 (adopted in July), the work programme during 2019 was geared more towards the earlier stages of plan preparation work. This approach was consistent with the Minister’s Circular PL03/2019 wherein Planning Authorities were instructed not to enter formal stages of the plan-making process (e.g. publication of Draft) pending adoption of the relevant Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy.
Local Area Plans
Letterkenny: In the above-noted context, the CPU continued to work on a new Local Area Plan for Letterkenny, inclusive of a number of plenary workshops with the Letterkenny Municipal District Members.
As well as the engagements with Members, the work also included engagements with key strategic stakeholders such as LYIT, Irish Water, the Council’s National Road Design Office in relation to the TEN-T Priority Route Improvement Project (Section 2 Letterkenny), as well as private sector developers. There was also further liaison with appointed consultants in relation to Transportation, Flood Risk Assessment and Natural Impact Assessment.
Buncrana: During 2019, the CPU identified the concept and benefits of preparing a high-level strategic analysis of the inherent strengths and weaknesses of Buncrana to inform future decisions around the optimum strategic positioning of the town. This novel approach was supported by Inishowen
MD Members and a procurement process proceeded and work on the report was commenced during the second half of 2019.
The strategic study will form a very solid basis on which to progress the Local Area Plan but will also serve as a key evidential basis for investment decisions of other agencies, the voluntary sector and indeed the private sector.
County Development Plan, 2018-2024
In terms of the CDP, 2018-2024, as
well as Plenary Workshop engagement with Members in relation to policy implementation and interpretation issues, two emerging variations to the County Development Plan (CDP) were the main areas of activity.
TEN-T Variation
A variation is required in relation to the emerging TEN-T Priority Route Improvement Project. The section worked with the Council’s National Road Design Office in relation to the emerging preferred corridors and also the appointment of consultants to prepare the necessary environmental report, Natura Impact Report and strategic flood risk assessment.
Wind Energy Variation
A second variation is also required in relation to wind energy policy following the outcome of a judicial review of the (now deleted) policy contained at the time of adoption in the CDP 2018-2024. Whilst some progress was made on this project, the work is hindered by the absence of updated adopted national Wind Energy Guidelines.