Plan Strategies

Core Strategy

The development plan shall include a core strategy which shows that the development objectives in the plan are consistent so far as practicable with national and regional development objectives set out in the national planning framework and the regional spatial and economic strategy and with specific planning policy requirements specified in ministerial guidelines.

The core strategy must

• provide relevant information to show that the development plan and housing strategy are consistent with the national planning framework
•  the regional spatial and economic strategy and with specific planning policy guidelines.
• take account of the policy of the Minister in relation to national and regional population targe.
• in relation to areas in the development plan already or proposed to be zoned for residential use partly or completely, provide details of the areas and the proposed number of housing units to be included
• provide information setting out objectives regarding retail development in the plan having regard to ministerial guidelines.

Spatial County Council

In relation to the development plan of a county council, it is to set out

• an assessment hierarchy providing  details of whether  the city a city or town referred to in the hierarchy is designated as a gateway for the purpose of the national planning framework.
• other towns referred to in the hierarchy
• any policies or objectives for the time being of the Government or any Minister of the Government in relation to national and regional population targets that apply to towns and cities referred to in the hierarchy,
• any policies or objectives for the time being of the Government or any Minister of the Government in relation to national and regional population targets that apply to the areas or classes of areas not included in the hierarchy,
• projected population growth of cities and towns in the hierarchy,
• aggregate projected population,in villages and smaller towns with a population of under 1,500 persons, and  open countryside outside of villages and towns,
• relevant roads that have been classified as national primary or secondary roads and relevant regional and local roads,
• relevant inter-urban and commuter rail routes, and
• where appropriate, rural areas in respect of which planning guidelines relating to sustainable rural housing issued by the Minister under section 28 apply

Spatial City Council

The development plan for a City Council shall provide details of

• any policies or objectives for the time being of the Government or any Minister of the Government in relation to national and regional population targets that apply to towns and cities referred to in the hierarchy,
• any policies or objectives for the time being of the Government or any Minister of the Government in relation to national and regional population targets that apply to the areas or classes of areas not included in the hierarchy,
• projected population growth of cities and towns in the hierarchy,
• aggregate projected population, in villages and smaller towns with a population of under 1,500 persons, and open countryside outside of villages and towns,
• roads that have been classified as national primary or secondary roads  and relevant regional and local roads
• relevant inter-urban and commuter rail routes, and
•  where appropriate, rural areas in respect of which planning guidelines relating to sustainable rural housing issued by the Minister under section 28 apply

Infrastructure

A development plan shall include objectives for the provision of infrastructure including transport energy and communication facilities water supplies  and wastewater services waste recovery and disposal facilities and the ancillary facilities or services.

The development plan shall include provision for the development and renewal of areas identified having regard to the core strategy that are in need of regeneration in order to prevent adverse effects on existing amenities, urban blight and antisocial behaviour and a shortage of habitable houses on land suitable for residential use or a mixture of residential or other uses.

Environmental

The development plan shall include a statement which shows that the development objectives are consistent with the conservation and protection of the environment.

The development plan shall provide for

• the management of features of the landscape such as traditional field boundaries
• support for the ecological coherence of the Natura  2000 network essential for the migration dispersal and the genetic exchange of wild species

The development plan shall provide for the promotion of compliance with environmental standards including in particular for surface and groundwater in accordance with EU provisions in that regard

Public Access & Landscape

The development plan shall provide for the preservation of access to rights-of-way which give access to seashore mountain lakeshore and other places of natural beauty or recreational utility.

Public right-of-way shall be identified by marking them on at least one of the maps forming part of the development plan. This does not affect the existence or validity of any right-of-way. It does not affect the power of the local authority to extinguish a right of way.

The development plan shall provide for landscape in accordance with policies and objectives of the Minister in accordance with European Landscape Convention.

Environmental Impact

The Minister may make regulations in relation to the likely effect on the environment of implementing a development plan in pursuance of the EU directive requiring assessment of  impact on the environment. Where required a strategic environmental assessment or appropriate assessment of a draft development plan may be carried out .