Drogheda Local Area Plan dropped as planning law changes halts progress

Louth County Council have told councillors the Local Area Plan (LAP) for Drogheda will "not progress any further at this time". 

Louth County Council said it had intended, in conjunction with Meath County Council, to commence a Joint Local Area Plan for Drogheda in 2021, as part of both counties' Development Plans. 

However, Thomas McEvoy, Director of Services with Louth County Council said a judicial review of the Meath County Development Plan relating to lands in the Southern Envrions of Drogheda created uncertainty in progressing the joint Local Area Plan. 

He said Louth County Council chose to progress with the development of the Dundalk LAP as a result. That plan was came into effect in 2025. 

Mr McEvoy said changes to planning laws mean the Drogheda LAP will not progress any further as a result. 

It comes in relation to changes of Chapter II of the Planning and Development Act 2000 which was repealed and replaced by Chapter 6 of Part 3 of the 2024 equivalent.

Mr McEvoy said the legislative changes mean a wider County Development Plan must be prepared prior to area plans. 

Without a Drogheda-specific LAP, all planning applications will be decided by reference to the Louth County Development Plan. 

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The meeting heard that the joint Transport Plan for Drogheda will still continue to be progressed. 

The update came as a result of a motion put forward by Independent councillor Kevin Callan. 

Cllr Callan said this is a problem with national legislation, while fellow Independent councillor Paddy McQuillan said this is a result of "bureaucracy not of the council". 

Fianna Fáil councillor James Byrne said he was encouraged by the joint Transport Plan and called on the Mayor of Drogheda, Michelle Hall to "reignite" meetings with Meath County Council.

Cllr McQuillan supported that idea and said previous meetings with Meath County Council had been "proactive". 

However, Mayor Hall questioned how productive those meetings had actually been, and asked "what outcomes" had come from them. 

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