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What is a Development Plan?
The Development Plan is a blueprint for the planning and development of the Galway City for the next six years. For example, it sets out where roads, water supplies, sewage are to be provided and it zones land for a particular purpose (housing, shopping, schools, industry, commercial etc.)
This will affect what type of buildings can be constructed and the use to which land can be put.
It affects many facets of daily economic and social life - where you can live, what services are available and where developments with job opportunities are to be sited.
The Draft City Development Plan includes objectives for:
- Zoning of areas for residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural etc. purposes;
- Preserving, improving and extending amenities;
- Conservation and protection of the environment, including areas of archaeological or natural heritage;
- Preservation of structures or parts of structures, which are of special architectural, archaeological, artistic, cultural, scientific or technical interest.
- The preservation of the character of Architectural Conservation Areas.
- Development and renewal of areas in need of regeneration;
- Provision of water supplies and sewage services, waste recovery and disposal facilities;
- Provision of accommodation for travellers;
- Provision of services for the community
The Draft City Development Plan also includes development objectives relating to the control of use of buildings, reservation of lands, location and pattern of development etc.
View Galway City Council Development Plan 2011-2017 (PDF, 4,551 kb)
View Galway City Council Development Plan 2011-2017 Map (PDF, 3,101 kb)
What is an Environmental Report?
Galway City Council is required to undertake a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the City Development Plan 2011-2017.
SEA is the formal evaluation of the likely significant environmental effects of implementing the Development Plan, and is undertaken before a decision is made to adopt the Plan. It informs the review of the Development Plan and the SEA conclusions are summarised in the Environmental Report.
The SEA has guided the preparation of policies, objectives and development scenarios for the Development Plan, with the overall aim of achieving the sustainable development of the city.
The Environmental Report, any submissions received and consultations with environmental authorities are to be taken into account during the review of the City Development Plan. Following the Plan’s adoption, a statement must be provided outlining how the Environmental Report and consultation process was taken into account.
The significant environmental effects of implementing the Plan are then monitored.
What is a Habitats Directive Assessment (Appropriate Assessment)?
This Habitats Directive Assessment (HDA) of the Galway City Development Plan 2011-2017 is carried out in accordance with Article 6 of the Habitats Directive.
The overall purpose of the assessment is to determine whether development that will take place during the lifetime of the Plan will result in adverse impacts on Natura 2000 sites within the vicinity of the Plan. Natura 2000 sites are made up of candidate Special Areas of Conservation (cSAC) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs).
These sites are part of a European-wide network of legally protected areas designed to protect our most threatened habitats and species.