The Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029 was adopted at the Full Council Meeting held on Thursday 24 November 2022. The Plan came into effect from Wednesday 4 January 2023 and is expected to remain in force until 2029.
The Plan was subsequently amended by a High Court Order dated 19 May 2025 and Variation No. 1 dated 9 February 2026. Details of the making of the Plan and the subsequent variations are set out below.
The Plan comprises the following:
Volume 1:
Volume 2:
Land Use Zoning and Specific Objectives Map A (as amended by Variation No. 1 date 9 February 2026
Volume 3:
Strategic Flood Risk Assessment
Strategic Environmental Assessment
Supporting Documents:
Galway City Housing Strategy & Housing Need & Demand Assessment 2023-2029
Urban Density and Building Height Study
The City Development Plan and supporting documents are also available for inspection at the Planning Department, Galway City Council, City Hall, College Road, Galway, H91 X4K8, during opening hours.
Variation No. 2
Pursuant to Section 13 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended), Galway City Council prepared Variation No. 2 to the Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029.
Variation No. 2 proposed to apply a land use zoning objective to ten parcels of land which were unzoned as a result of the Ministerial Direction dated 3 May 2023. In each case, the proposed land use zoning objective is either Agricultural (A) or High Amenity Agricultural (G).
Public consultation on Variation No. 2 took place between 28 November 2025 and 5 January 2026. A Chief Executive's Report was prepared and issued to elected members in February 2026, which summarised all submissions received and provided a response and recommendation, where relevant, to issues raised.
Variation No. 1
Pursuant to Section 13 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended), Galway City Council prepared Variation No. 1 to the Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029.
Variation No. 1 proposed to amend the Land Use Zoning and Specific Objectives Map to change the land use zoning of lands located in Roscam, Galway City from Residential (R2) to Agricultural (A), following a request made in respect of the RZLT and subsequent assessment by the Planning Section.
Public consultation on Variation No. 1 took place between 28 November 2025 and 5 January 2026. A Chief Executive's Report was prepared and issued to elected members in January 2026, which summarised all submissions received and provided a response and recommendation, where relevant, to issues raised.
Variation No. 1 was made by the members of the Council on 9 February 2026.
Notice of High Court Order (2023/745 JR)
On 19 May 2025, the High Court made an Order in respect of a Judicial Review entitled Ballindooley Developments Limited v Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (High Court Record No. 2023/745 JR), which comprised a successful challenge to the Planning and Development (Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029) Direction 2023 (the Ministerial Direction) dated 3 May 2023 in respect of the Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029 insofar as same affected the zoning of lands at Coolagh (Coolough), Galway, County Galway (identified as "Figure 11.26 Coolagh Area" in the said Ministerial Direction.
As a consequence of the above Order, the Council amended the Written Statement and Land Use Zoning and Specific Objectives Map of the Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029, as follows:
Amend the text of the Written Statement and amend the Land Use Zoning and Specific Objectives Map of the Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029 to ensure that the zoning and other provisions relating to lands, comprising 10.5 hectares at Coolough, Galway City are reinstated as per the Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029, as initially adopted on 24 November 2022 (i.e. before its amendment by a Direction of the Minister).
Section 31 Ministerial Direction
Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029 - Notice of Draft Direction issued by the Minister pursuant to Section 31 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended)
On 13 January 2023, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage notified Galway City Council of his intention to issue a Draft Direction pursuant to Section 31 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) in relation to a number of matters in the adopted Galway City Development Plan 2023.
The Ministerial Draft Direction was subject to public consultation for a period of two weeks from Friday 20th January 2023 to Friday 3rd February 2023 at 4pm.
The following are attached for your information:
The Draft Direction issued by the Minister
The Notice Letter issued by the Minister
Updated Report – Particulars of Ministerial Draft Direction
Following this public consultation period, the Chief Executive prepared the below CE Report summarising submissions made to the Planning Authority.
Chief Executive's Report on Submissions Received in Relation to the Draft Ministerial Direction
The Minister of State for Local Government and Planning on the 3 May 2023 issued a Direction pursuant to Section 31 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 (as amended) in relation to the Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029. Pursuant to Section 31(17) of the Act, this Direction is deemed to have immediate effect and its terms are considered to be incorporated into the plan from that date.
Galway City Council incorporated the Direction into the City Development Plan 2023-2029.
Making of the Plan (Previous Steps)
Stage One- Pre-Draft Plan
Galway City Council commenced the review of the current Galway City Development Plan 2017-2023 on 7 January 2021 for the preparation of a new City Development Plan for the period 2023 to 2029. To inform this process, a strategic issues paper was prepared. The Strategic Issues Paper – Our City, Our Future – Have your Say was published alongside the public notice of intention to review the current Galway City Development Plan 2017-2023 on January 2021.
The issue paper set out the purpose of the development plan, the stages of plan preparation, the policy context and an overview of eight strategic issues namely population and housing; economic development, employment and enterprise; transport and sustainable mobility; built environment, place making and sustainable neighbourhoods; green network and biodiversity; climate action; community, culture and education; energy and infrastructure and environmental assessments. Each section provided an overview of key policy developments in the area, a series of key questions and links to further information.
A Pre-Draft Plan consultation phase ran for an 8-week period from Thursday 7 January 2021 to Friday 5 March 2021. The public and stakeholders were invited to engage with the process to help develop objectives and policies that see our city develop and grow.
The pre-draft Plan documents remain available to view here:
https://consult.galwaycity.ie/en/consultation/galway-city-development-plan-issues-paper
Stage Two- Draft Plan
A Draft Development Plan was prepared and went on public display from 28 January 2022.
The Draft Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029 set out Galway City Council’s policies and objectives to guide the sustainable development of the City over the lifetime of the Plan to 2029. It provided an integrated, coherent spatial framework which was prepared following extensive consultation with members of the public, statutory bodies and relevant stakeholders.
The Draft Galway City Development Plan consisted of the following:
· Volume 1: Written Statement
· Volume 2: Maps
· Volume 3: Environmental Assessments of the Plan namely the SEA Environmental Report, Natura Impact Report (NIR) and Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA)
Submissions/observations were invited on any aspect of the plan during the public display period.
Draft Development Plan documents:
Draft Development Plan - High Resolution (64 Mb PDF)
Draft Development Plan - Low Resolution (36 Mb PDF)
City Centre Map (high res PDF)
SEA Environmental Report (PDF)
Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (PDF)
Urban Density and Building Heights Strategy
Chief Executive’s Report on Draft Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029 Public Consultation
Public consultation on the Draft Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029 took place from 28 January 2022 to 13 April 2022, during which a total of 230 submissions were received.
A Chief Executive’s Section 12 (8) Report was prepared and issued to Elected Members on 16 June 2022. The Chief Executive’s report summarised all submissions received and provided a response and recommendation, where relevant, to issues raised.
Stage Three- Proposed Material Alterations
A Material Alterations Report was prepared detailing the proposed material alterations to the Draft Galway City Development Plan written statement and maps.
The Proposed Material Alterations and accompanying documents were available for inspection from Thursday 8 September to Thursday 6 October 2022.
1. Proposed Material Alterations to Draft Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029
2. Addendum to Draft Strategic Environmental Assessment Report
3. Draft Natura Impact Statement-Updated
4. Draft Strategic Flood Risk Assessment Report-Updated
5. Addendum Draft Strategic Flood Risk Assessment Report
7. Proposed Material Alterations Map
Outcomes
A Chief Executive’s Report was prepared and issued to Elected Members on 26 October 2022. The Chief Executive’s Report summarised all submissions received and provided a response and recommendation, where relevant, to issues raised.
CE Report Proposed Material Alterations CDP 2023-2029_VOLUME 1.pdf
CE Report Proposed Material Alterations CDP 2023-2029_VOLUME 2.pdf
The Elected Members considered the Chief Executive’s report at Council Meetings held in November 2022. The Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029 was adopted at the Full Council Meeting held on Thursday 24 November 2022.