Main Services of Planning Dept.

Making and Review of County Development Plan

Longford County Council like all planning authorities is obliged under the Local Government (Planning and Development) Acts, 2000 to 2006, to undertake a review of its existing Development Plan every five years. The current Development Plan is for the period 2009-2015. The Plan covers County Longford but excludes the Town Council and is a blueprint for Council policies in relation to the use and development of land, and for development within the County.

The Plan is formulated with the following broad aims:

To facilitate orderly and economic development in the light of future development demands
To help secure the optimum utilisation of State and Local Authority resources.
To protect, conserve and enhance the environmental quality of the County.
To provide for the safe and convenient movement of vehicles and people.
To provide infrastructural improvement to meet the future development requirements of both private and public developers.
To inform the public of the likely event of the pattern and form of future development.
To provide specific guidance for control of development.
To encouraged balanced growth within the county by avoiding over-dependence on any one sector.
To encourage developments within the county which are guided by the principles of sustainability.

The review/preparation of the plan is undertaken in accordance with prescribed procedures. The procedure involves the preparation of a draft plan, which is published to allow a period of public consultation. Any observations/objections are then considered by the Council before the formal adoption of the new Development Plan.

In addition to the statutory Development Plan the Council prepares local plans for the development of other areas of the County. While not being statutory plans, they outline the objectives of the Council for such areas and are invaluable in the control of the area’s overall development.

2. Pre-Planning Advice and Consultation

The Council encourages developers to seek pre-planning advice and consultation. All subsequent applications are processed on their merits having regard to the statutory provisions. To initiate this process, applicants should contact the Planning Authority for an application form. The service is provided on a without prejudice basis.

Download a Pre-planning application form here

3. Processing of Planning Applications

The Planning and Development Act 2000 places an obligation to obtain planning permission for development defined under the planning legislation. The application process for planning is set out in the Planning & Development Regulations 2001 and the Planning & Development Regulations 2006. The applications are accepted by post or at the public counter in the Planning Department at Great Water Street, Longford . Applications are assessed in accordance with the statutory provisions and having regard to the proper planning and development of the area and the provisions of the County Development Plan.

Members of the public may inspect an application and make observations or objections to it,within 5 weeks from the date of receipt of the application, subject to the payment of a fee of €20 . The formal decision on applications is a function of the County Manager having regard to reports prepared by the administrative and technical staff of the Council. The applicant or a third party may appeal a decision of the Council or any conditions attached to such decisions to An Bord Pleanála within four weeks. Application forms, site notices and various guidance leaflets are available or can be downloaded from the forms section of this website.

4. Development Levies

Where as part of a grant of planning the Council levies a charge as contribution towards infrastructural development, the Planning Department collects such levies. See: Development Charges 2010. Where permission is granted subject to the provision of a bond by the developers, the Planning Department will require satisfactory evidence of the existence of such a bond before approving the commencement of development.

Before the development is commenced the developer shall lodge with the Planning Authority a Bond in an amount to be stipulated by the Planning Authority, coupled with an agreement to empower the Local Authority to apply such security or part thereof to the satisfactory completion of any part of the development. The Bond shall be from an approved Financial Institution as may be acceptable to the Planning Authority to secure the provision and satisfactory completion and maintenance of roads, footpaths, water supply, septic tank and drainage required in connection with the proposed development. The Bond shall remain in place for a period of 5 years from the date of grant of permission or until such time as the development has been completed to the satisfaction of the Planning Authority in accordance with the conditions of the planning permission granted

5. Taking in Charge private housing developments

Section 180 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 deals with the taking in charge of estates by the local authority. Where the development consists of two or more houses and involved the construction of roads and services to facilitate the houses, then, subject to it being completed to the satisfaction of the Council, it shall be taken in charge when formally requested to do so by the developer. To view our taking in charge policy click here

6. Enforcement of Planning Conditions and control of Unauthorised Developments

The Council investigates complaints in respect of non-compliance with planning permissions and unauthorised developments. The Council is empowered to pursue legal proceedings in such cases and in cases where developments generally do not conform to planning conditions. The legislative provision for enforcement is contained in Part XIII – Sections 151-164 of the Planning and Development Act 2000. The Enforcement Complaint Form is available for download here.

7. Archived Files

All files over 5 years old are held in storage and must be requested 7 working days in advance. There is no retrieval charge for files. The Planning Requisition form can be downloaded here

8. Conservation Grant Scheme for Protected Structures

The Planning Authority operates the Conservation Grant Scheme for Protected Structures, on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The objective of this scheme is to assist the owner or occupier of a structure, which is protected because of its architectural, historical, archaeological, artistic, cultural, scientific, social or technical interest to undertake conservation works on such structure. There is no automatic right to a grant under the scheme. Each local authority is allocated a fixed amount of money for a calendar year to meet grant payments. Accordingly, grant applications are prioritised each year within available resources and in accordance with the terms set out by the Department.
Qualifying works would, among other things, include: -

Works necessary to secure the stability of a structure or part of a structure
Works necessary to make a structure weather-proof or damp-proof

Explanatory Leaflet for Conservation Grants

PL12 A Guide to Architectural Heritage

PL13 - Archaeology in the Planning Process

Record of Protected Structures

Planning