Concerned about an issue? Have your voice heard in the County Development Plan.

What is the County Development Plan (CDP) ?

A County Development Plan (CDP) is a written statement, including  maps that give a graphic representation of how development, under several categories, should be moulded over the next six years.

Why is the CDP important ?

The CDP is important as it sets down a guide as to how development should progress in the area where you live. It is one means of debating your point of view, justifying it in relation to the CDP. A project may not go ahead if it is in contravention of the CDP unless it is changed by the County Manager who holds a veto, or is changed by vote in the county council.

1. You may make submissions to the  pre draft and draft stages in the CDP
2. Part of the CDP is the Local Area Plan (LAP) which is a more localised version of how the over all plan is implemented on a town or village level. Submissions to the LAP are separate from the CDP and advertised at a local level where the public have the ability to comment on a “Strategic Issues Paper”.

Make submissions:

1. Use the public consultation stage to make your (free) observations at the pre draft and draft CDP stages. All submissions received are considered  in the Manager’s Report prepared pursuant to Section 11 (4) of the Planning & Development Act 2000.
2. Canvass a relevant society or one or more of the county councillors/TDs to also make a submission.
3. If unable to submit then reference what the CDP says in your favour for example in relation to , landscape, conservation, development, land zoning and heritage.

Key Considerations:

1. All Development Plans must have regard to national and regional policy.
2. Areas within the county are sub divided into Local Area Plans (LAP)
3. The CDP (in Meath) is influenced by (amongst others); the previous CDP, the National Development Plan, the National Spatial Strategy, the Regional Planning Guidelines for the Greater Dublin Area, Dublin Transportation Office Strategy ‘A Platform for Change’, Planning and Development Act 2000, Transport 21, Retail Planning Guidelines, Sustainable Rural Housing Guidelines, Comhar Principles for Sustainable Development,  EU legislation, County Council strategies and Public submissions.
4. CDP and LAP can be changed by the County Council or County Manager.
5. The CDP is free to down load on the internet from the County Council web site, about €15 to buy on CD and about €500 to buy in paper format.

For Further information

1. Check your county council web site and search for “County Development Plan”
2. The following link is to “Development Plans, a guideline to local Authorities” and indicates ideally what a CDP should feel like.   Special significance is given in the ministers forward in relation to public contribution.  Link

...The process of making development plans must be open, transparent and, most crucially, inclusive. All interested individuals and organisations, at local, regional and national levels, must be given adequate opportunity to comment or make submissions for consideration by the elected members of Council, before the policies, objectives and measures to be included in the plan are decided upon.

.....Crucially, there is an onus on elected members and the executive to fulfil their responsibilities and functions in the common interest, adhering to proper planning principles and facilitating the sustainable development of their area. These guidelines are published under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act. Therefore planning authorities are required to have regard to them when preparing and implementing their development plans. I am confident that they will be of assistance to planning authorities and all interested parties, and help to ensure the highest standards in forward planning across the country."

Development Plans, Guidelines for Planning Authorities DOEHLG 2007
Dick Roche, T.D.

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government
June 2007.