From Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
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Darragh O’Brien TD, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and Kieran O'Donnell, TD, Minister of State for Local Government and Planning have published the Draft Sustainable and Compact Settlements Guidelines for Planning Authorities for consultation. The Draft Guidelines set out policy and guidance in relation to the planning and development of urban and rural settlements in Ireland, with a focus on residential development and the creation of sustainable and compact settlements. The Guidelines, when finalised, will constitute Ministerial Guidelines under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended.
In accordance with the European Union Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Directive (2001/42/EC) and the European Communities (Environmental Assessment of Certain Plans and Programmes) Regulations 2004, S.I. No. 435 of 2004 (as amended by S.I. 200 of 2011), the draft guidelines are accompanied by an SEA Environmental Report and Non-Technical Summary, and a public consultation is being carried out in accordance with Regulation 13(1)(b) of these Regulations.
In accordance with the European Union Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) and Birds Directive (2009/147/EC), Appropriate Assessment has been carried under Regulation 42A of the European Union (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2021 (S.I. No. 293 of 2021), and public consultation is being carried out in accordance with Regulation 42(13) of these Regulations.
A copy of the Draft Sustainable and Compact Settlements Guidelines for Planning Authorities; the SEA Environmental Report and Non-Technical Summary; and Natura Impact Statement and other relevant documents, are all available for public inspection on the Government of Ireland website and at the headquarters of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Custom House, Dublin 1, during office hours (9 am to 5.30 pm Monday to Thursday and 9 am to 5.15 pm on Fridays, excluding public holidays) from Thursday 31st August 2023 to 5 pm on Thursday 5th October 2023 (inclusive) .
If you wish to view the documents in person, please email nrupconsultation@housing.gov.ie or call (01) 888 2000 and reference the consultation to make an appointment.
Members of the public are invited to make a submission or observation regarding the draft guidelines; the SEA Environmental Report and Non-Technical Summary; and Natura Impact Statement and other relevant consultation documents, during the period from Thursday 31st August 2023 to 5 pm on Thursday 5th October 2023 .
Submissions or observations in relation to the draft guidelines and the SEA Environmental Report and Non-Technical Summary can be made either by email to nrupconsultation@housing.gov.ie or by post to:
Sustainable and Compact Settlements Guidelines Consultation
National, Regional and Urban Planning Section
Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Custom House
Dublin 1
D01 W6X0.
These submissions and observations will be taken into consideration before the finalisation of the draft guidelines.
Submissions or observations in relation to the Natura Impact Statement and other relevant consultation documents should be made directly to the Ecological Assessment Unit (EAU) of the National Parks and Wildlife Service either by email to EAU@npws.gov.ie or by post to:
Sustainable and Compact Settlements Guidelines Consultation
Natura Impact Assessment
Room 2.23 Ecological Assessment Unit
National Parks and Wildlife Service
90 North King Street
Smithfield, Dublin 7
D07 N7CV.
These submissions will be considered by the Ecological Assessment Unit (EAU) and will inform a determination pursuant to Article 6(3) of the Habitats Directive.
The final date and time for responses in respect of this consultation is 5pm on Thursday 5th October 2023 .
Please note that submissions received may be made available on the Government’s website. See the consultation Privacy Statement under the Documents link for further information.
Draft Sustainable and Compact Settlement Guidelines for Planning Authorities (August 2023)
Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Environmental Report of the Sustainable and Compact Settlements Guidelines for Planning Authorities (August 2023)
Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA): Non-Technical Summary of the Sustainable and Compact Settlements Guidelines for Planning Authorities (August 2023)
Screening for Appropriate Assessment Project Ireland 2040 – National Planning Framework Sustainable & Compact Settlement Guidelines (SCSG) Preliminary Outline (Ecological Assessment Unit (EAU), April 2022)
Screening for Appropriate Assessment Draft Sustainable and Compact Settlement Guidelines (Ecological Assessment Unit (EAU), March 2023)
Natura Impact Statement: Draft Sustainable and Compact Settlements Guidelines for Planning Authorities (August 2023) prepared by Ove Arup and Partners Ireland Ltd (Arup) on behalf of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Natura Impact Statement: Draft Sustainable and Compact Settlements Guidelines for Planning Authorities (August 2023) prepared by the Ecological Assessment Unit (EAU) on behalf of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Draft Sustainable and Compact Settlement Guidelines - Your Questions Answered
Draft Sustainable and Compact Settlement Guidelines - Privacy Statement
All submissions and comments submitted to the Department for this purpose are subject to release under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2014 and the European Communities (Access to Information on the Environment) Regulations 2007-2014. Submissions are also subject to Data Protection legislation.
Personal, confidential or commercially sensitive information should not be included in your submission and it will be presumed that all information contained in your submission is releasable under the Freedom of Information Act 2014.
Please note that submissions received may be made available on the Department’s website, unless otherwise requested. In any event, all submissions received will be subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act and Data Protection legislation. See also the Privacy Statement below.