FORWARD PLANNING PROCESS GETS IN ON THE ACT

摘要

The new procedures for preparing statutory development plans have posed significant challenges for all involved: for the general puhlic, the various sectors of the development industry and not least for the elected members and officials of town councils, city councils and county councils throughout the country. Cork County Council recently became the first major planning authority in Ireland to complete the process of bringing its development plan entirely under the Act. A whole range of interesting issues were tackled during the process, including settlement policy, land supply and zoning, the planning needs of rural communities, affordable housing, renewable energy and strategic environmental assessment. In this article, however, the focus is on the process that was carried out (rather than the content) and, in particular, on the lessons learned in dealing with the new procedures.