Planning
DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT
During 2008 the planning department received 1,011 planning applications, representing a slight decrease (7%) on the previous year’s intake but consistent with national trends with regard to the construction industry. Applications for single dwellings remain the most popular, amounting to just over 41% of all applications made.
The Development Management Team issued 849 decisions during the year with a refusal rate of 8.8%. Appeals have only been made to An Bord Pleanala in respect of 5% of all decisions made by Sligo County Council. Of those decisions appealed, An Bord Pleanala has reversed the Council’s decision in only 22.5% of cases which is the lowest reversal rate of the 29 County Councils in the state.
CUSTOMER SERVICE
As in previous years, the Development Management Team is committed to continuously improving the standards of the customer service it provides to all the various stakeholders in the planning process. During 2008, Sligo County Council maintained its excellent record for efficiency when 79% of all planning decisions were determined in eight weeks or less. The low number of invalid applications (3.8%) continues to be amongst the best results of Planning Authorities nationally. The low invalidity rates can be attributed to the ongoing commitment of planning staff and the continuous engagement between the Development Management Team and the Planning Agents who submit the majority of all applications. The relatively low rate of refusals is in a large part due to the extensive level of pre-planning consultations which take place between County Council Planning Officials and prospective applicants, primarily in the form of face to face meetings held in County Hall or Teach Laighne, Tubbercurry. A total of 1,262 pre-plannning meetings were held in 2008.
DEVELOPMENT PLANNING UNIT (DPU)
The Development Planning Unit is responsible for drafting planning and development policy for Sligo County and City, in consultation with the public, Members, officials, prescribed bodies and other stakeholders. The Development Planning team also carries out research, advises on development proposals, facilitates plan implementation and participates in a range of initiatives, at both local and regional level.
DRAFT SLIGO AND ENVIRONS DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2010 – 2016 (SEDP)
The Development Planning Unit progressed the review of the Sligo and Environs Development Plan by consulting with infrastructure and service providers and community groups and associations. This entailed sending out 204 letters to service providers and 292 letters to other groups and organisations.
Two public consultation meetings were held to inform the public and elicit views on the development plan review. These meetings took place in the Sligo Park Hotel and in the Clarion Hotel in January 2008.
Submissions were invited from the public and, as a result, 291 submissions were received by that closing date. The First Manager’s Report on pre-draft submissions was issued to the Borough and County Council Members for their consideration. At subsequent meetings of both Local Authorities, the members directed the Manager to prepare a Draft Plan for Sligo and Environs.
Plan preparation work was undertaken by the Development Planning Unit in collaboration with the Borough Planning Section, the Architects’ Department, the Heritage Officer, the Roads Section and the Parks Department. The DPU was assisted by specialist consultants in the production of the Sligo City and County Joint Housing Strategy, Joint Retail Planning Strategy and the undertaking of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). All documentation associated with the Draft Plan was printed in-house.
Following the preparation of the Proposed Draft SEDP, the members of both Local Authorities amended and approved the Draft Plan for publication.
DRAFT NORTH FRINGE LOCAL AREA PLAN
In parallel with drafting the new SEDP, work progressed on the North Fringe Local Area Plan. A public consultation meeting was held on the 24th January 2008 and subsequent submissions were invited. The Draft North Fringe Plan was prepared by the National Building Agency (NBA) in close co-ordination with the Draft SEDP.
DRAFT QUAY QUARTER URBAN DESIGN FRAMEWORK
The National Building Agency was engaged to undertake an urban design study of Sligo’s Quay Quarter, which resulted in an Urban Design Framework (UDF) for this area of the town. The Draft Quay Quarter UDF was incorporated as an integral part of the Draft SEDP.
RECORD OF PROTECTED STRUCTURES (RPS) FOR THE SLIGO AND ENVIRONS AREA
Following the publication (in 2006) of the National Inventory for Architectural Heritage (NIAH) for Sligo, the Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government recommended that all structures on this database be protected. Detailed work was subsequently done to identify which NIAH structures are not currently included on the RPS. A Proposed Draft RPS was eventually compiled and submitted to the Members of the Local Authorities. The approved Draft RPS included 346 structures of regional and national importance. Specialist consultants were employed to assess the structures that warrant listing or otherwise on both the Sligo & Environs and County RPS. On completion of this exercise, additions/deletions will be formally proposed under Section 55 of the Planning & Development Act.
DRAFT CHARLESTOWN-BELLAGHY LOCAL AREA PLAN
Responding to the wishes of local residents and councillors in Bellaghy and Charlestown, the Development Planning Unit of Sligo County Council and the Forward Planning Section of Mayo County Council agreed to undertake the preparation of a joint Local Area Plan for the Charlestown-Bellaghy area, assisted by CAAS (planning and environmental consultants). Pre-draft consultation took place in the form of a public workshop held in Charlestown in October 2008. Work continued on the preparation of a Draft Plan.
SLIGO DOCKLANDS LOCAL AREA PLAN
In advance of commencing consultation on the proposed Docklands Local Area Plan, Sligo County Council decided to send a fact-finding mission to Bilbao in northern Spain, where recent waterside development has attracted worldwide attention. The trip took place in May and the delegation comprised of Council members and Planning staff. It was deemed a worthwhile mission, with valuable insights gained from meetings with local city planning and port officials. Work on the Docklands Plan was progressed by identifying and compiling mailing lists of relevant stakeholders and resident groups. Zoning and general objectives for the area are to be set out in the adopted SEDP 2010-2016.
