The High Court has given an order on Monday 19 May 2025 to determine the zoning of 10.5 hectares of land at Coolough, Galway City, following a judicial review brought by the landowner.
The proceedings arose following a recommendation by the Office of the Planning Regulator to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and a subsequent Direction by the Minister, to make changes to the Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029, which was adopted by Elected Members on 24 November 2022.
The direction instructed Galway City Council to change the zoning ‘R2 residential’ to ‘unzoned land’ on 10.5 hectares at Coolough. The landowner challenged this direction through a judicial review.
As a result of the judicial review process, both the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR) conceded the proceedings and consented to an order of the High Court quashing the Ministerial Direction as it related to those lands.
There was no finding of error on the part of Galway City Council. The final order for costs was made against the Minister and the OPR only, with no order as to costs against Galway City Council.
Galway City Council is now required to revise the Galway City Development Plan within 8 weeks of the decision, to reinstate the R2 zoning to the lands in question. The revised documents will be made available on www.GalwayCity.ie and will also be available for inspection at the Planning Department, City Hall, College Road, Galway, H91 X4K8, during usual opening hours.
No other lands are affected by this decision.