01/12/17 Have your say on Draft Seven Strategic Towns Local Area Plan

Public consultation events have been taking place on the Draft Local Area Plan for seven towns in Donegal with more events to take place over the next two weeks.

These events have been organised by Donegal County Council following the publishing of a Draft Local Area Plan for the towns of An Clochán Liath (Dungloe), Ballybofey-Stranorlar, Ballyshannon, Bridgend, Carndonagh, Donegal Town and Killybegs.

Paul Christy, Senior Executive Planner with Donegal County Council explains that “these towns are identified as Strategic Towns due to their ’Special Economic Function’, and their potential to play a critical role in driving growth and development in the county and other similarly designated settlements will be the subject of separate plans”. 

The Draft Plan sets out a planning strategy and policy framework to guide development in each of the seven towns for the period 2018-2024 and identifies a range of economic, town centre, residential and other opportunity sites for development to accommodate growth over the lifetime of the Plan.

Publication of the Draft Plan follows earlier public consultation exercises carried out between July and September 2015, and January and February 2016 respectively and have informed the plan making process.

The Council is now inviting the public to have their say on the future of these towns, and these draft Plans in particular.

Public consultation drop in events will take place in Ballybofey/Stranorlar on Tuesday 5th December  and in Bridgend on Thursday 7th December, in Donegal Town on Wednesday 13th December and in Carndonagh on Thursday 14th December and planning staff will be available to deal with any queries.

Submissions or observations may be made in writing between Friday 24th November, 2017 and Wednesday 17th January, 2018, both dates inclusive to the Planning Authority at: The Central Planning Unit, Donegal County Council, County House, Lifford and will be taken into consideration before the making of the Plan.

Submissions or observations may also be emailed to [email protected].

Submissions made via email must include the full name and address of the person making the submission and submissions can be made by one medium only i.e. hard copy or email.

The relevant documents can be viewed online together with details of the drop in events and the network of Council offices and libraries around the county at which the documents may also be inspected.