Donegal County Council are preparing a new County Development Plan and in doing so the Council want your opinions on draft policy in relation to holiday homes.
Why a new policy?
When the Council published the Draft County Development Plan 2005, the public overwhelmingly made their voice heard by writing to the Planning Office to object to the ongoing growth in holiday homes and to state the problems that the public experience as a result of holiday homes. In fact the planning office received 167 letters of objections in relation to holiday homes. As a result, the Council have prepared a new policy in relation to holiday homes and have published this policy for further consultation.
What is the new policy?
The new policy is a structured tiered approach to protecting County Donegal from the negative impact of holiday homes. It gives a high level of protection in areas that currently have too many holiday homes by placing a moratorium on more holiday home developments. In other words, permission will not be granted for holiday homes in places such as Downings, Culdaff, Dunfanaghy, Portnablagh as examples. The full list of moratorium areas can be viewed on www.donegalcoco.ie or in the offices of Donegal County Council.
Then, in areas that have a medium amount of holiday home pressure, new holiday homes will be allowed but in these areas, holiday homes will only be allowed to make up 20% of the total housing stock in the area including existing holiday homes. Therefore, there will always be a balance of holiday homes to permanent homes maintained.
In areas that generally do not have pressure for holiday homes, there will be no restriction and the council will encourage holiday homes so as to harness the benefits of this type of development.
What do you do now?
We are asking you to write to the Council and tell us what you think of these proposals. Write to us if you support the proposals as well as if you are objecting. Do you agree or disagree? Can you suggest changes or alternatives? Its YOUR County so now is the time to have your say.
You can view these details on www.donegalcoco.ie or in the offices of Donegal County Council. To make a submission, you must do so by 31st March 2006. You can write to:
Central Planning Unit
Donegal County Council
County House
Lifford
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For further information contact:
Gerry Richards
Senior Planner
Tel: 074 91 72307
Or
Anne Marie Conlon
Communications Officer
Donegal County Council
Tel: 074 91 72207
Mob: 087 9192275
Email: amconlon@donegalcoco.ie