02. Core Strategy

Dúnta3 Sam, 2021, 8:59am - 3 Sam, 2021, 9:00am

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2.1 Introduction

Consequent upon the Order of the High Court made on the 3rd May 2023 in proceedings 2021 No. 958 JR  the following changes have been made to the Meath County Development Plan 2021-2027:

  1. Removal of Sheet 35(a) Southern Environs of Drogheda, Sheet 35(a) Southern Environs of Drogheda-Combined, and Sheet 35(b) Heritage, but only insofar as relates to the A2 Residential Zoned lands in the Southern Environs of Drogheda (not including any lands that were Zoned A2 Phase I in the previous Meath County Development Plan).  The order provides that these lands will be rezoned WL (White Lands).
  2. Removal of the last three paragraphs of section 2.8.1.1 of Chapter 2 - Core Strategy; and
  3. Removal of the figure “178.70” in the table to section 2.10.4, Column I, Row 1; of Chapter 2 - Core Strategy.

The aforementioned Land Use Zoning Maps and Chapter 2 Core Strategy of the Meath County Development Plan 2021-2027 have been amended to reflect this judgement. The rezoning of these lands and removal of this text from the Meath County Development Plan 2021-2027 shall not affect any existing development consents granted in these areas.

 

The purpose of the Core Strategy1 is to set out an evidence-based strategy for the future spatial development of the Plan area. The Core Strategy is required to demonstrate that the Plan is in accordance with National and Regional planning policy outlined in the National Planning Framework (NPF) and the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES) for the Eastern and Midland Region.

The strategy includes details of the settlement hierarchy and where future growth is to be distributed in the County together with details of population and household projections and the quantum of lands to be zoned for residential and mixed-uses. An overview of the quantum of lands zoned for employment uses is also provided.

2.2 Core Strategy Vision

The Core Strategy Vision of the Meath County Development Plan is:

“To continue to support the creation of socio-economically progressive vibrant, dynamic, and healthy communities throughout the County and ensure that future growth is based on the principles of sustainable development that delivers a high-quality living and working environment that meets the needs of all residents, in accordance with National and Regional Guidance."

2.3 National and Regional Planning Policy

2.3.1 Project Ireland 2040

2.3.1.1 National Planning Framework

The National Planning Framework (NPF) is the successor to the National Spatial Strategy (NSS). It was published in 2018 and is a 20 year strategy setting out the growth strategy for the country up to 2040. The NPF was given a statutory footing under the Planning and Development Amendment Act 2018.2 The objectives of the NPF as set out in the Act are as follows:

  1. To establish a broad national plan in relation to the strategic planning and sustainable development of urban and rural areas.
  2. To secure balanced regional development by maximising the potential of the regions.
  3. To secure the co-ordination of regional spatial and economic strategies and city and county development plans.

The vision/goals of the NPF are expressed as ‘National Strategic Outcomes’ built around the themes of wellbeing, equality, and opportunity.

The strategy set out in the NPF focuses on building ‘centres of scale’ and addressing peripherality.  At a national level Dublin (the National Gateway) will remain the principal economic driver of the country and will continue to develop as an international city of scale. As part of the strategy of promoting regional growth and building ‘centres of scale’ outside of Dublin, ambitious growth targets have been allocated to the cities of Cork, Galway, Limerick, and Waterford. Below these 5 cities the regional roles of Athlone in the Midlands, Sligo and Letterkenny in the North-West and the Letterkenny-Derry and Drogheda-Dundalk-Newry cross border networks are also identified. The importance of the Dublin-Belfast economic corridor in harnessing future economic growth, supporting regional development, and strengthening the urban structure in the northern and eastern parts of the country is also acknowledged.

The regional growth strategy set out in the NPF represents a significant change to current trends and growth patterns, referred to in the document as ‘business as usual’. In order to implement this strategy population growth in the Eastern and Midland Region will be curtailed by implementing a policy of ‘regional parity’ whereby the projected growth of the Eastern and Midland Region must be at least matched by the combined growth of the Northern and Western and Southern Regions.3 The population target for the Eastern and Midland Region is for an additional 490,000-540,000 people to be living in the region by 2040.

The NPF strategy is required to be ambitious and to succeed it will require a significant up-scaling of growth in the other regions. Based on their current growth levels, it is clear that the challenges presented by this task should not be underestimated.

 

Growing Our Region

Building Accessible Centres of Scale

Compact Smart Growth

Eastern and Midland Region

+490,000-540,000 people

Dublin City and Suburbs– +235,000-290,000 people

30% of new housing to be delivered on infill/brownfield lands

  +320,000 jobs Growth of other towns to be determined by Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies within overall National Framework  
Table 2.1: Targeted Pattern of growth in the Eastern and Midland Region to 2040

Securing compact and sustainable growth is an important element of the growth strategy. This will be achieved by concentrating on delivering growth within the existing built-up footprint of settlements by focusing on the re-use of previously developed ‘brownfield’ land, the development of infill sites, and the re-use and redevelopment of existing sites and buildings. It is an objective that at least 30% of all new homes in settlements outside the 5 cities and suburbs will be within the existing built-up footprint.4

2.3.2 Implementation Roadmap for the NPF

In recognition of the time it will take for Development Plans and current growth patterns to shift from the ‘business as usual’ approach towards a pattern of more compact growth, the NPF Implementation Roadmap, published in July 2018 has factored in a ‘transition period’ that takes account of current land use zonings and extant permissions. This period of transition is to operate until 2026 with the intention that growth would slow in the Eastern and Midland Region post 2026. At this time, it is intended that a comprehensive assessment of the first full round of City/County Development Plans prepared under the NPF and RSESs will be carried out to identify if the National and Regional Policy Objectives are being successfully implemented.

As part of the process of bridging the gap between what City and County Plans have made provision for and the growth trajectory set out in the NPF, a transitional set of population projections for 2026 and 2031 were published. It is anticipated that these projections will assist in facilitating a smoother transition to the growth strategy set out in the NPF.5 Consequently the outer parameter of growth trends for this plan period will be to 2031 as set out in the RSES, where it is indicated that in instances where there are excess residential lands consideration should be given to the prioritisation/sequential development of lands which may not be forthcoming in the plan period, having regard to the 2031 roadmap targets.6

County

2016

2026

2031

Meath

195,000

216,000-221,000

225,500-231,500

Table 2.2: Transitional Population Projections to 2031 

2.3.2.1 Headroom7

The transitional population projections set out in Appendix 2 of the Implementation Roadmap for the NPF includes ‘headroom’ provision. Further ‘headroom’ not exceeding 25% can be considered in counties where population growth is projected to be at or above the national average baseline. Meath is included in the list of counties where this additional ‘headroom’ can be applied. The Roadmap indicates that this headroom can only be considered in the 2026 projection.

County

2016

2026

2026 population including 25% headroom

20318

Meath

195,000

216,000-221,000

221,250-227,500

225,500-231,500

Table 2.3: Transitional Population Projections including headroom

2.4 Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy

As part of the changes to Regional Government structures introduced under the Local Government Reform Act 2014 the 8 Regional Authorities in the country were dissolved and replaced with 3 Regional Assemblies. The Regional Assemblies were established in January 2015. Meath is located in the Eastern and Midland Region.

One of the principal functions of the Regional Assembly is to prepare and oversee the implementation of a Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES). The RSES provides the link between the NPF and the City/County Development Plans and the Local Economic and Community Plans.9 The RSES has replaced the Regional Planning Guidelines.

Within the Eastern and Midland Region there are 3 Strategic Planning Areas; Dublin, Eastern, and Midland Strategic Planning Areas. 

The objective of the RSES as set out in the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2018 is to support the implementation of the NPF and the economic policies and objectives of the Government.10

2.4.1 Profile of the Eastern and Midland Region

The Eastern and Midland Region has a diverse and varied settlement structure consisting of densely populated urban areas around Dublin and a more rural, dispersed pattern of development in the Midlands.

The region had a population of over 2.3 million people in 2016, which equates to 49% of the population of the country. Population growth in the region is not evenly distributed, with over 2 million people or 87% of the total population living in the Dublin and Eastern Strategic Planning Areas.

The highest population growth in the region between 2006-16 was recorded in the Eastern Strategic Planning Area, where the population increased by 17.4% or 102,000 people.

The regional economy is continuing to perform strongly, with 830,000 jobs located in the region in 2016. Approximately 70% (578,000) of these jobs were located in Dublin, reflecting the dominance and strength of the capital for economic growth and investment.

The success of the Dublin economy can also be attributed to the interdependent relationship between the capital and surrounding counties, particularly in the Eastern SPA where a significant number of people working in Dublin reside, in part due to historic and ongoing residential availability and affordability issues. The combined population of these Strategic Planning Areas has assisted in creating a critical mass of population that is required to support the growth of the Dublin economy and wider region.

Fig 2.1: Strategic Planning Areas Eastern and Midland Region

2.4.2 Overview of the RSES for the Eastern and Midland Region

The RSES sets out the strategic framework for the economic and spatial development of the Eastern and Midland Region up to 2031.

The primary objective of the RSES is to support more sustainable settlement patterns that focus on compact growth, makes the most efficient use of land and infrastructure, and takes an integrated approach to development that provides employment opportunities and improvements to services alongside population and residential growth.

The Growth Strategy builds on the policy direction taken in the Regional Planning Guidelines of directing growth to a number of designated settlements across the region.

There are 3 policy zones identified in the strategy as follows:

  • Dublin City and Metropolitan Area
  • Core Region
  • Gateway Region

2.4.2.1.Dublin City and Metropolitan Area


Map 2.1: Dublin Metropolitan Area Strategic Plan Area


Dublin City and Suburbs consists of the continuous built-up area of Dublin and transcends across all 4 Local Authority Areas in County Dublin. It includes settlements such as Blanchardstown, Ballymun, and Howth in Fingal, Clondalkin and Tallaght in South Dublin and Dundrum and Dun Laoghaire in Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.

The NPF projects that there will be an additional 235,000-290,000 people living in Dublin City and Suburbs by 2040. This will be achieved by concentrating growth within the existing built-up footprint of the City and Suburbs area.11

The Metropolitan Area extends beyond the City and Suburbs to include major settlements that have strong connections and synergy with the city such as Swords, Dunboyne, Maynooth, Leixlip, Bray, and Greystones. 1.4 million people lived in the Metropolitan Area in 2016, which was 60% of the population in the Eastern and Midland Region.

As part of the strategy of concentrating development towards the city area, the NPF included provision for the preparation of a Metropolitan Area Strategic Plan (MASP) that sets out a high level and long-term strategic vision for the Metropolitan Area. This MASP was prepared as part of the RSES.

The Dublin MASP identifies strategic growth corridors based on their capacity to deliver compact, sustainable, and sequential growth and their proximity to existing and proposed public transport. There is a strong emphasis on aligning land use and transportation planning in order to co-ordinate policy making and investment and create more compact, sustainable communities. In addition, the requisite infrastructure requirements needed to release these lands for development have been identified.

2.4.2.2 Core Area

The Core Area consists of the peri-urban areas in the commuter catchment around Dublin, which extends into Louth, Meath, Westmeath, Kildare, and Wicklow. Key settlements include Drogheda, Balbriggan, Navan, Naas, Newbridge, and Wicklow Town.

Future growth in the Core Area is to be focused on consolidated, compact growth in key employment and service centres, with smaller settlements to grow at a more sustainable rate. There will also be a focus on improvements to services and amenities in settlements that have experienced significant population growth in order to improve the quality of the living and working environment.

2.4.2.3 Gateway Region

The Gateway Region comprises the remainder of the Eastern and Midland Region beyond the Metropolitan and Core Areas. Settlements in this part of the Region are more dispersed and rural. There is a focus on Athlone and Dundalk functioning as regional drivers for the economic growth of this part of the region. Other key settlements include Longford, Mullingar, Portlaoise, Carlow/Graiguecullen and Tullamore.

2.4.2.4 Economic Strategy

Map 2.1

Map 2.2: Policy Areas in the Eastern and Midland Region

The Economic Strategy is positive in outlook and is focused on continuing to build on the progress made in the economy in recent years. Whilst Dublin is the primary driver of the national economy, the strategy also acknowledges the capacity of key settlements throughout the region to support and deliver economic growth. The importance of the Dublin-Belfast Economic Corridor in harnessing and driving economic growth is also recognised.

As part of the cross-cutting theme in the RSES of ‘place making’ and creating quality urban environments, there is an emphasis on improving the alignment between population and employment growth in order to create more sustainable settlements where people can enjoy a better quality of life. This will be delivered by integrating land use and transport planning and supporting high density, compact growth, particularly along high-quality public transport corridors where more sustainable travel patterns can be encouraged. The strategy also acknowledges the importance of improving connectivity and planning for and anticipating future infrastructure demands in order to maintain the competitiveness and attractiveness of the region as a place to invest, thereby stimulating economic growth and the continued delivery of targeted employment.
 


2.4.3 The influence of the RSES on shaping future growth in Meath

It is a mandatory requirement that there is consistency in the spatial planning hierarchy between national, regional, and local plans. This Development Plan will therefore, be consistent, in so far as is practicable, with the national and regional policy objectives set out in the NPF and RSES.

The key elements of the growth strategy of the RSES that will influence future growth and development in Meath are as follows:

  • Metropolitan Growth – the MASP has identified strategic development areas in Dunboyne and Maynooth (along the north-western corridor of the Metropolitan Area) that have the capacity to deliver significant residential and employment growth. The build out of these lands will increase the critical mass of population in the Metropolitan Area, creating more compact and sustainable patterns of growth. Kilcock has been identified as a Self-Sustaining town by Kildare County Council. Given that Kildare is the lead Local Authority in relation to the town, it is necessary that the Meath CDP aligns with that of the Kildare CDP.
  • Outside of the Metropolitan Area, future growth will be directed towards key designated settlements including the Regional Growth centre of Drogheda and the Key Town of Navan. The RSES recognises the level and range of services and amenities available in these settlements and their potential to continue their development as important residential, employment, and service centres in the County and wider region.
  • Below the designated settlements there are a number of small-medium sized towns that play an important role in providing employment and services to the settlement and their wider catchment. There will be a greater focus on sustainable growth in these settlements including infill and brownfield development in addition to support for an improvement in the provision of amenities and services. The growth in employment provision is a key objective for these settlements in order to create “live work” communities.
  • There will be a focus on investment in rural towns, villages and rural nodes to combat the decline of rural areas. The regeneration of vacant and under-utilised sites alongside the roll out of a ‘New Homes in Small Towns and Villages’ initiative between local authorities, infrastructure agencies, and local communities will provide opportunities to boost economic development and rejuvenate rural communities.12 In the open countryside a distinction is made between areas under urban influence i.e. within the commuter catchment of cities and large towns and centres of employment, and areas outside of these catchments.13 This is reflected in an updated Rural Development Pressure Map and updated rural housing policy.

The settlement hierarchy as set out in the RSES is as follows:

Settlement Typology

Description

Location

RSES Settlement Typology

Dublin City and Metropolitan Area

International business core with a highly concentrated and diversified employment base and higher order retail, arts, culture and leisure offer. Acts as national transport hub with strong inter and intra-regional connections and an extensive commuter catchment.

Dublin City and suburbs
Dunboyne/Dunboyne North/Clonee
Maynooth
Kilcock

Settlement Hierarchy for Meath

Regional Growth Centres

These are large towns with a high level of self-sustaining employment and services that act as regional economic drivers and play a significant role for a wide catchment area.

Drogheda

Key Towns

Large economically active service and/or county towns that provide employment for their surrounding areas and with high-quality transport links and the capacity to act as growth drivers to complement the Regional Growth Centres.

Navan, Maynooth

Self-Sustaining Growth Towns

Towns with a moderate level of jobs and services – includes sub-county market and commuter towns with good transport links and capacity for continued commensurate growth to become more self-sustaining.

Ashbourne, Dunshaughlin, Kells, Trim, Dunboyne/Dunboyne North

Self-Sustaining Towns

Towns with high levels of population growth and a weak employment base which are reliant with other areas for employment and/or services and which require targeted ‘catch-up’ investment to become more self-sustaining.

Laytown, Bettystown-Mornington-Donacarney, Ratoath, Enfield, Stamullen, Kilcock, Duleek.

Towns and Villages

Towns and villages with local service and employment functions

Towns – Athboy, Oldcastle, Ballivor, Longwood.

Rural

Rural villages less than 1,500 and the wider rural region

Baile Ghib, Carlanstown, Carnaross, Clonard, Clonee, Crossakiel, Donore, Drumconrath, Gormanstown, Julianstown, Kentstown, Kilbride, Kildalkey, Kilmainhamwood, Kilmessan, Moynalty, Nobber, Rathcairn, Rathmolyon, Slane, Summerhill

Table 2.4 Settlement hierarchy for Meath 

2.5 Core Strategy Map

The Core Strategy Map (Map 2.3) set out overleaf provides a conceptual overview of the spatial planning strategy for the County. This map illustrates the designated growth centres and strategic transport corridors in the county, set within the context of the wider region.

Map 2.3

Map 2.3: Core Strategy Map                            

2.6 Short-Medium Term Outlook of the Plan

The preparation of this Plan comes at a time when growth has returned to the Irish economy. This has followed a prolonged period of stagnation and uncertainty during which the economy experienced volatility and change.

Associated with this economic growth is an increased demand for housing. Whilst the output of housing has increased, it remains substantially below that required in a normally functioning market. This has resulted in demand for housing continuing to outstrip supply, particularly in the Greater Dublin Area, and has led to rising house prices and rents and unprecedented levels of homelessness across the region and the State.

In recent years, inward migration has been a continuous trend in County Meath,14 placing further pressures on the demand for housing. It is, therefore, essential that there is an adequate supply of suitable housing of various types available to facilitate the growth in the economy and to ensure that the output of housing is maintained at a sustainable level that meets the needs of a growing population whilst also addressing the ‘pent up’ demand for housing following a prolonged period of inactivity.

Whilst this Development Plan is based on the assumption that there will be a continuation of positive economic growth consideration must also be given to the potential impact of Brexit on the Irish economy. It is widely accepted that whatever form of Brexit that is eventually agreed there will be considerable economic implications for the entire country. This impact will be particularly prevalent in the border counties. There are many Meath based companies that will also be exposed to these risks including agri-food, fisheries, haulage companies, the pharma-chemical industry, and retail businesses. The tourism sector is also exposed to additional risks.

Taking this into account it is important that this Plan is sufficiently It is proposed to include a reserve of residential lands that will not be available for development until after to allow flexibility that would facilitate businesses to respond to future challenges surrounding Brexit, as well as the Covid-19 pandemic and the uncertainties it would have on the local, national and international economy.

2.7 Objectives of the Core Strategy

As part of the approach of achieving consistency with the NPF and the RSES the objectives of the Core Strategy are as follows:

  • To demonstrate how the Meath County Development Plan is consistent with national and regional planning strategies, guidelines and policies including national and regional population projections.
  • To provide the policy framework for the settlement strategy and Local Area Plans, particularly in relation to land use zoning and population distribution.
  • To ensure the co-ordination of infrastructural investment with settlements identified for future growth.
  • To facilitate the population growth of Meath up to a projected population of 228,300 in the plan period and ensure the distribution of this population is targeted towards the growth centres identified in the RSES.

2.8 Layout/Content of the Core Strategy

The Core Strategy is required to address the following 3 areas:

  • Population Targets
  • Future Household targets and land requirements
  • Settlement hierarchy/Population and household distribution

The legislative requirements in respect of the content of Core Strategies15 are clearly set out and require an evidence-based approach with regard to population and household allocation and distribution and land use requirements. 

2.8.1 Guiding principles for Core Strategies

In its ‘Guiding Principles for Core Strategies’ the RSES requires Local Authorities to have regard to the settlement hierarchy in the preparation of the Core Strategy.16 There is also a recognition that the implementation of the Growth Strategy of the NPF at a regional and county level will result in inconsistencies with existing plans, particularly with regard to the quantum of land zoned for residential use.

The RSES provides the following options17 to address the issue of excess residential lands:

  • Apply prioritisation measures which takes account of the sequential development of lands which are suitable for housing but may not be forthcoming in the plan period
  • De-zone the land

There is also an acknowledgement that there are instances where there are settlements with long-term development potential that are not being brought forward for development. Rather than being dependent on the release of these lands for residential development, the RSES indicates that Local Authorities should consider other suitable lands with better prospects for delivery in the short term whilst also pursuing the more strategic lands through an Active Land Management Strategy.

In identifying the residential land requirement for this Plan and addressing the issue of excess lands consideration will be given to both options set out above. An evaluation of all undeveloped residential lands in each settlement has been carried out. The prioritisation/phasing of residential lands will only be utilised in the larger settlements where population growth is to be concentrated i.e. Regional Growth Centre, Key Town, or Self-Sustaining Growth Towns and only where there are fundamental reasons which support the requirement to phase such lands.

It is proposed to include a reserve of residential lands that will not be available for development until after 2027 only in the following settlements:

Settlement

Reason for including a reserve of residential land

Dunboyne

To ensure there is a long-term strategy for the future development of this Metropolitan Town.

Navan

As the Key Town and the largest settlement in the County, it is important to have clarity and direction for the medium and long-term growth of the town. In addition, the delivery of a rail line to Navan is a cross-cutting theme of this Plan. It is therefore integral to have a development strategy that demonstrates the town has the capacity to support the population increase associated with a rail based settlement.

Dunshaughlin

To demonstrate the town has the capacity to accommodate a critical mass of population associated with a rail link delivered as part of Phase II of the Navan Rail Project.

Kilcock Environs To provide clarity in regard to the long-term growth of this Metropolitan settlement.
Enfield To provide clarity in regard to the long-term growth of this multi-modal settlement.
Table 2.5: List of settlements where a ‘reserve’ of residential lands is to be retained 

2.8.1.1 Joint Urban Area Plan for Drogheda

In recognition of the requirement for a co- ordinated strategy to maximise the growth potential of Drogheda, which is designated as a Regional Growth Centre in the NPF, Regional Policy Objective (RPO) 4.11 in the RSES sets out the requirement for the preparation of a Joint Urban Area Plan for the town between Meath and Louth County Council.

It is acknowledged that any amendments to the land use zoning strategy for the Southern Environs of Drogheda would be premature pending the preparation of this Joint Plan. However, the Council also recognises that Drogheda is one of the principle areas for population and economic growth in the Eastern and Midland Region outside Dublin.

Taking this into account it is important that land use availability is reflective of its position in the settlement hierarchy and its anticipated role in the future growth and development of the Region, which is to act as a regional driver of economic growth. The ‘Residential Phase II’ designation on the A2 ‘New Residential’ lands in the Southern Environs of Drogheda has, therefore, been removed with these A2 ‘New Residential’ land retained and being made available for development.

This will ensure there is sufficient land available to facilitate population growth and economic development based on its designation as a Regional Growth Centre. As part of the Joint Urban Area Plan process a more detailed examination of the quantum of residential and employment zoned lands, in addition to open space and community infrastructure, will be carried out. Pending the completion of this process the Council will closely monitor development activity in the area.

2.8.2 Population Projections

The RSES includes population projections for each Strategic Planning and Local Authority area in the region for 2026 and 2031. These projections were set out in the Implementation Roadmap for the NPF and were based on a demographic and econometric model developed by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) as part of the preparation of the NPF. A headroom factor of 25% of projected population was also incorporated into the 2026 projections to facilitate the transition towards the implementation of the growth strategy set out in the NPF.

 

Census 2011

Census 2016

Projected
population 2026

Projected
population 2031

Eastern Strategic Planning Area

653,984

689,000

759,000-777,000

789,000-813,500

Eastern and Midland Region

2,209,463

2,328,517

2,566,500-2,619,000

2,668,000-2,740,500

Meath

184,135

195,044

216,000-221,000

225,500-231,500

Table 2.6: Regional and County population projections for 2026 and 2031

The Implementation Roadmap also recognises that there are parts of the country where projected population growth is at or above the national average. Meath is included in this list of counties. Provision is made for the allocation of an additional 25% headroom up to 2026 in these counties.

There is no allowance for this additional 25% headroom to be applied to the 2031 projection.

The population figures from Census 2016 indicate that population growth in Meath was broadly in line with that projected in the RPGs with the county experiencing a 5.9% increase in population over the five-year period 2011-2016. The population of Meath is growing at a slightly faster rate than both the region as a whole and the Eastern Strategic Planning Area where the increase was 5.4% and 5.3% during the same period.

Further analysis of the population figures for Census 2016 reveals that Meath and Fingal were the only Local Authority Areas that met the 2016 population targets set out in the RPGs.

Taking account of the recent pattern of population growth in Meath it would be prudent to utilise this additional headroom available in order to provide flexibility in a scenario where population growth would be higher than that projected. This is particularly relevant when consideration is given to the level of immigration presently being experienced in comparison to that projected in the research and projections that informed the National Planning Framework. This Research Paper projected an average net-immigration of 8,000 persons per year between 2017-2021 and 12,500 persons per year from 2021 to 2040. In comparison figures published by the CSO estimate a net immigration of 34,000 persons in 2018 and 33,700 persons in 2019. These figures indicate that the country’s population is increasing at a faster rate than anticipated in the NPF.18

Inclusive of this additional headroom, the population projection up to 2026 is as follows:

 

Census 2011

Census 2016

Projected
population 2026

Projected
population 203119

Meath

184,135

195,044

221,250-227,500

225,500- 231,500

Table 2.7: Population projection for Meath to 2031 including headroom 

The population projection for Meath is therefore 227,500 in 2026. The difference between the projected 2026 population for the county and the projected 2031 population is 4,000. When this growth is divided across the five-year period, it results in an annual increase of 800 people per year. This results in the population projection for Meath being 228,300 in 2027 (with population figures tobe reviewed on the publication of the 2022 census). The consequent additional population for 2027 has been directed into Navan as this reflects the County Town and Key Town status of this settlement.

Taking account of the fact that the RSES is a 12 year strategy, the NPF Implementation Roadmap also included population projections for 2031. The RSES refers to the period 2026-2031 as the medium term and provides a population projection of between 225,500 and 231,500 for Meath by 2031. This figure does not, however take account of the additional 25% headroom allocated up to 2026.

2.8.3 Analysis of existing and projected growth rates

There was a rapid growth in population in Meath between 2006-11 when the population increased by 13%. During the following 5-year period (2011-16) a more moderate increase of 5.9% was recorded. This growth was reflective of the prevailing economic circumstances at the time whereby the national economy was performing strongly up to 2008, following which there was a curtailment of growth due to the global recession. Over the 10-year period between 2006-16 the total population increase was 20%. This equated to an annual average population increase of 3,221 persons.

 

Population
increase 2006-16

Average annual
increase 2006-16

Projected
increase 2016-27

Projected annual
average increase 2016-27

Meath

32,206

3,221

33,256

3,023

Table 2.8: Population growth in Meath 2006-2027

Fig 2.2: Meath Population 2006-2026

Between 2016-2027 it is projected that the population of Meath will increase by 17.3%. This equates to an annual average population increase of 3,023 persons, which is equivalent to the annual average increase between 2006-16.

The graph above sets out the projected growth in the County up to 2027 and confirms that the pattern of growth will be along a similar trajectory as that experienced between 2006-16.

2.9 Housing

2.9.1 Introduction

The collapse of the property market in 2008 and the associated economic fallout resulted in the stagnation of household construction in the County and across the State. Housing figures published as part of census 2016 indicate that in the period 2011-16 just 952 residential units were constructed in Meath. This represented a 1.4% increase in the housing stock, with the total housing stock in the 2016 Census recorded at 70,649 units, rising from 69,697 in 2011. This slow-down in house building followed a sustained period of unprecedented growth in the housing stock in the County. The charts below highlight the contrasting trends in the housing market in Meath over the past 20 years with a rapid acceleration in house building from 1996-2006 followed by an equally rapid decrease from 2006-2015. From 2014 when the economy began to recover house building slowly began to increase, albeit from a very low base.

Fig 2.3: Total Housing Stock in Meath 1991-2016

Fig 2.4: New dwelling completions Meath 1996-2018

The lack of any significant residential development over the past decade resulted in residential construction lagging behind population growth. This has placed pressure on the existing housing stock, with increased rents, house prices, and homelessness evident within the County and across the region. As the economy continues to recover the demand for additional housing in the County and wider region will continue.

The Government has responded to this challenge by publishing a number of initiatives including the following:

  • Rebuilding Ireland: An Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, published in July 2016, committed to increasing housing supply to a baseline level of 25,000 units per annum by 2020.
  • Housing has been identified as one of the priority areas for investment in the National Development Plan, with a capital investment of €4.2 billion available for social housing in the period 2018-2021. This funding will support the delivery of 40,000 new social housing units.20
  • A €200 million Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) was announced by the Department of Housing, Planning, Community, and Local Government in 2017. This funding will provide critical infrastructure that would facilitate an accelerated delivery of housing in key development sites where there is a high demand for housing.
  • In locations with above average rental increases over a consistent period Rent Pressure Zones have been designated. Annual rent increases within Rent Pressure Zones are limited to 4%. At the time of writing the entire County was designated a rent pressure zone.
  • The Land Development Agency was established in 2018. This Agency will have an initial capital budget of €1.25 billion and has an objective to deliver 150,000 homes over the next 20 years. The functions of the Agency are as follows:
    1. Co-ordinating appropriate State lands for regeneration and development and opening up key sites which are not being used effectively for the delivery of housing.
    2. Driving strategic land assembly, working with both public and private sector land owners to smooth out peaks and troughs of land supply, stabilising land values and delivering increased affordability.

40% of all housing delivered by the agency must be social/affordable with 10% to be social housing and 30% to be affordable.

The immediate focus of the agency is on managing the regeneration and delivery of housing on under-utilised State-owned lands. In the longer term the Agency will assemble strategic land banks from a mix of public and private lands and make them available for residential use in a controlled manner. This represents an exciting opportunity for dynamic partnerships with Local Authorities to address housing and regeneration issues. There are a number of land parcels in State-Ownership in Meath with potential to deliver housing. The Department of Education lands in Ashbourne, (where part of this landholding was acquired by Meath County Council for the development of social housing) is an example of such lands.

This section of the Core Strategy will focus on the projected housing demand in Meath up to 2026 and will be divided into the following sub-sections:

  • The housing targets for 2016 and 2022 set out in the Regional Planning Guidelines.
  • Current activity in residential construction.
  • Projected housing demand for the County up to 2026.

2.9.2 Housing allocation in Regional Planning Guidelines 2016-2022

The RPGs included a housing allocation for each Local Authority in 2016 and 2022. This allocation was calculated on the basis of projected population growth and the average household occupancy in each Local Authority, with a vacancy rate of 6.5% also factored in to the calculation.

 

Census
2002

Census
2006

Census
2011

Census
2016

RPG Target
2016

RPG Target
2022

Population

134,005

162,831

184,135

195,044

195,898

210,260

Housing

44,972

61,257

69,697

70,649

79,729

95,458

Occupancy rate

 

2.66

2.8921

2.96

2.6222

2.35

Table 2.9: RPG Population and Housing Targets up to 2022 

The stagnation in household construction following the collapse of the construction sector during the recession resulted in the output of housing being significantly below that anticipated in the RPGs. Between 2006-11 the housing stock in Meath increased by 8,440 units. This level of output fell dramatically between 2011-16 when the increase was just 952 units. During this period the vacancy rate decreased by 2% (1,300 units) to 6.9%, indicating that existing properties in the County’s housing stock were brought back into use.

The RPGs projected there would be 79,729 households in Meath in 2016. The actual figure was 70,649 units, which was 9,080 units below the allocation. The 2022 projection was 95,458 units, which would represent an increase of 24,809 units above the number of households in 2016. Taking account of the current levels of output this projection will not be achieved.

Fig 2.5: Comparison of actual household with projected output per annum 2006-22

Figure 2.5 clearly indicates household completions in Meath since 2008 have been significantly below that projected in the RPGs and is further evidence of an abnormal/dysfunctional housing market. The signs of recovery are also evident with year on year increases in the number of units completed since 2014.

2.9.3 Recent Activity in Residential Construction

The continuation of the economic recovery, the associated increase in employment, and improved consumer confidence has resulted in increased activity in residential construction, particularly in the southern and eastern parts of the County.

This has been particularly evident from 2014, with year on year increases in the number of Commencement Notices received for multi-unit residential developments. These Commencement Notices are being translated into completed units. The CSO Report ‘New Dwelling Completions’ 2011-18 recorded that there were 1,512 residential units completed in Meath in 2018. This represents an increase of almost 40% on 2017 when 1,091 units were completed. In comparison to other parts of the region Meath is one of the most active counties behind Fingal (2,140 units), Dublin City (1,843 units), and South Dublin (1,654 units).

2.9.4 Household growth and the RSES

The RSES acknowledges the need to increase the delivery of housing across the country and projects that at least half of all new homes to be built nationally up to 2040 will be required in the Eastern and Midland Region.23

The RSES is a much broader strategy than the RPGs in that it is less specific at a County and settlement level with regard to household growth. No household allocation or projected occupancy rates have been provided at County/Local Authority level with the document focusing primarily on population growth.

The Strategy builds on the policy of delivering more compact and consolidated growth established in the RPGs by including an objective requiring that 30% of all new homes will be within the existing built-up area of settlements.24

The absence of any household projections or occupancy rates presents a challenge in preparing an evidence-based strategy. This is particularly pertinent given the ‘pent up’ demand for housing in the County following a prolonged period of undersupply. The RSES indicates that the updated Development Plan Guidelines to be published by the DHPLG will provide guidance with regard to future household provision. These Guidelines were not published at the time of writing and consequently the calculation/projection of future household requirements is based on the interpretation of existing available data in the absence of said national guidance.

In addition to the Development Plan Guidelines reference is also made to the preparation of Housing Need Demand Assessments (HNDA) in the RSES. The requirement to prepare a HNDA stems from National Policy Objective 37 in the NPF.25 A HNDA estimates the number of additional housing units required to meet existing and future demand. Its purpose is to provide an evidence-based rationale for housing policy and allow Local Authorities take a strategic approach to housing need and demand across all tenures. In the absence of the publication of any guidance documents and associated data and supporting material regarding the preparation of a HNDA it is not considered appropriate or practicable to prepare a HNDA at this time. In the interim period the Housing Strategy will continue to inform Housing Policy in the County.

2.9.5 Projecting Housing Demand up to 2027

As previously indicated, the absence of guidance at a national and regional level regarding projected household requirements and occupancy rates presents a significant challenge with regard to quantifying the total number of households and land required to meet the housing needs of the County during the Plan period.

For example, it is unclear as to whether or not it is anticipated that future occupancy rates will decline over the next decade following an increase between 2011-16. In addition, it is difficult to quantify the additional housing required in the County to ‘catch up’ with demand.

The average occupancy rate gradually declined between 1996-2006 and began to increase during the recession. The improving economic conditions will facilitate in time a return to lower occupancy rates. For the purposes of this Core Strategy it is assumed that the average occupancy rate will decrease from 3 in 2016 to 2.5 in 2027.

Based on an average occupancy rate of 2.5 persons per household in 2027 and a population of 228,300 persons living in Meath in the same year, it is projected that the total housing stock in the County in 2027 would be 91,320 units.  Vacancy rate of has been factored in to this occupancy rate. This projection would result in a requirement for an additional 20,671 residential units in Meath over the 11 year period 2016-27. This would equate to an annual average output of approximately 1,880 units per annum. This is not considered to be an unrealistic figure, particularly in the context of the anticipated housing requirements set out in the NPF and Rebuilding Ireland.26

Year

2016

2027

Population

195,044

228,300

Housing stock

70,649

91,320

Increase from 2016

  +20,671
Table 2.10: Projected household requirement in Meath up to 2027

2.9.6 Securing Compact Growth

One of the underlying principles of the growth strategy in the NPF and RSES is securing more compact development. This is a continuation of the policy approach set out in the National Spatial Strategy and the Regional Planning Guidelines where there was a requirement for a sequential approach to be taken to the delivery of housing with priority given to the regeneration of infill/brownfield sites.

There is a target in the NPF and RSES to deliver at least 30% of all new homes in towns outside of the cities to be located ‘within and close to the existing built-up area’ of settlements.27

This Plan recognises the social and economic benefits of the redevelopment of brownfield lands, particularly in relation to urban regeneration, and will continue to support the delivery of compact growth and the regeneration of under-utilised sites in towns and villages throughout the County.

An analysis of the potential capacity of infill and brownfield lands zoned for residential, town centre, or mixed-use developments in all settlements indicates that approximately 6,272 units could be delivered on these lands. This equates to 31% of the household allocation for the County. The development of these lands will make an important contribution to the creation of more sustainable communities in the County and will support the implementation of the national and regional policy objectives of creating more compact settlements.

 

Potential capacity
of lands

Brownfield/Infill28

6,272

Greenfield

14,309

Table 2.11: Brownfield and Infill development targets 

2.10 Population and Household Distribution

The distribution of future population and household growth in this Plan is based on the key principles of the NPF and RSES of delivering more compact growth, improving the alignment of population and employment growth, and concentrating growth in the large urban centres that have a comprehensive range of services and public transport provision with the capacity to support growth.

Development therefore will be primarily concentrated in the Metropolitan Area (Dunboyne and Maynooth), the Regional Growth Centre of Drogheda and the Key Town of Navan, with more sustainable localised growth to take place in the remaining identified growth settlements.

The growth strategy of this Plan is also closely aligned with the Meath Economic Development Strategy 2014-2022, which supports the consolidation of development in the larger settlements  in order to facilitate the economic growth of the County and broaden its employment base thereby reversing the continuing trend of outbound commuting to Dublin.

The distribution of future population and housing growth in the County has taken the following into account:

  • Compliance with the RSES.
  • The settlement hierarchy for the County as detailed in Table 2.3, which advocates an emphasis on:
    1. Dunboyne and Maynooth as centres within the Dublin Metropolitian area with capacity to deliver sustainable “live work” communities.
    2. Promoting sustainable growth in Drogheda as a designated Regional Growth Centre,
    3. Supporting employment and residential growth in Navan as the County’s designated Key Town.
  • The need to address employment creation in existing urban areas which have experienced substantial levels of residential growth to address significant outbound commuting.
  • Climate Change and sustainability, particularly the availability of public transport.
  • In small towns and villages accommodating local growth at a scale appropriate to the settlement size and function.
  • In rural nodes and the open countryside accommodating locally generated housing needs.
  • The delivery of Phase II of the Dublin-Navan Rail line
  • The availability of social and physical infrastructure.

As mandated by the NPF and RSES, the growth strategy for the County will focus less on ‘targets’ and ‘numbers’ and more on identifying settlements that have the capacity and greatest potential for growth on a sustainable platform. In addition, there will be greater co-ordination between land use zoning and infrastructure availability through the implementation of the ‘Tiered Approach to Land Use Zoning’ set out in the NPF.29  The development and implementation of this ‘Tiered Land Use Zoning’ will require a close working relationship with various agencies including Irish Water, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, and the National Transport Authority, in identifying any deficits in infrastructure and the availability of funding to carry out the necessary investments and upgrades.

The delivery of housing will be supported through the implementation of the Active Land Management Strategy for the County in addition to the promotion and identification of infill and brownfield sites for redevelopment and strategically located green field sites that would support the principles of consolidated growth.

2.10.1 Focus of Growth in the Metropolitan Area

The primary focus of future growth in the Metropolitan Area of Meath will be in Dunboyne30 and Maynooth. Dunboyne is located along the North-West Strategic Residential and Employment Corridor as set out in the Dublin Metropolitan Area Strategic Plan (MASP). It is a strategically located multi-modal settlement that has benefitted from substantial investment in road and rail infrastructure over the last decade.

The strategic location of the town makes it one of the most important settlements in the County for economic growth. This has been endorsed through high profile developments of significant FDI employment in the area by Facebook, Takeda and Aramark (Avoca). It is an objective of this Plan to build on these recent investments and continue to attract economic investment to the town.

The Dublin MASP has identified the potential for the Strategic Development Areas in Dunboyne to deliver significant residential and economic/employment generating development. It is a vision of this Plan that the development of these lands will create a sustainable "live-work" community in Dunboyne where there are jobs close to where people live and people can enjoy a balanced and healthy lifestyle in an attractive environment.

Maynooth is identified as a Key Town in the Metropolitan area in the RSES. The RSES recognises the northern environs of Maynooth, which are located in Meath, as an important location for economic and residential development that will support the future development of the town and the delivery of the Maynooth Outer Relief Road, which is a key piece of infrastructure in the sustainable growth of the town. A Joint Local Area Plan for Maynooth is to be prepared by Meath and Kildare County Councils. This Plan will provide a co-ordinated framework for the future development of Maynooth.

The RSES includes provision for the redistribution of up to 20% of the population growth targeted for Dublin City and Suburbs to the Metropolitan Key Towns of Bray, Maynooth, and Swords.31 These allocations will be determined by the MASP Steering Group comprising of representatives of the Metropolitian Local Authorities, independent of the projection provided for each County in the NPF Implementation Roadmap. At the time of writing this Group had not been established, however in order to factor a potential allocation for Maynooth Environs into this Plan, a preliminary population allocation of 1,000 persons has been allocated to the area. This will be subject to review and change when the MASP Steering Group has been established and is fully operational.

2.10.2 Focus of Growth in the Core Area

As part of the policy of promoting consolidation and compact growth, future growth in the Core Area will be concentrated in the higher tier settlements in the hierarchy. Drogheda has been identified as  a Regional Growth Centre in the RSES, with the Southern Environs identified as having an integral role in the development of Drogheda as a Regional Growth Centre, with these lands having the capacity to deliver residential and economic development in strategic locations.

The designated Key Town of Navan is the largest settlement and primary growth centre in the County. A key corporate priority for the Council over the plan period is to secure the delivery of the rail to Navan. This Plan will continue to support the economic development of the town which will strengthen its position as a centre of regional enterprise and employment. Alongside the economic growth of the town, residential lands will be released for development which will increase the critical mass of the population required to support the delivery of a rail line to the town.

In the Self-Sustaining Growth Towns of Ashbourne, Kells, Trim, Dunboyne and Dunshaughlin there will be a focus on consolidation and the provision of employment opportunities in tandem with population growth in order to allow these centres to become more self-sufficient. The availability of infrastructural services and community infrastructure will also be an important factor in determining the quantum of new housing and population growth that these settlements could absorb.

The focus of growth in the Self-Sustaining Towns of Laytown-Bettystown-Mornington-Donacarney, Ratoath, Enfield, Kilcock, Duleek and Stamullen will be on attracting employment and investment in services alongside a limited population growth and a more balanced delivery of housing. As a core economic policy response which will allow “economic catch-up” as envisaged in the RSES, strategic employment zones have been identified in a number of these towns.

The remaining allocation will be directed to the Small Towns, Villages, Rural Nodes, and Open Countryside. Any growth in these centres will primarily be locally based with a shift away from commuter led development with greater emphasis on the creation of sustainable communities whereby the expansion of the settlements is proportionate to the availability of services. Development in rural nodes will be assessed on a case by case basis while also ensuring compliance with the Core Strategy.

2.10.3 Rural Areas

The NPF and RSES recognise the economic and social contribution that rural areas make at a local, national, and regional level in providing employment, access to high-quality amenity areas, delivering high-quality agricultural produce, and providing raw materials and aggregates used in the construction of our urban centres. The challenges facing these areas, which include urban generated pressures, an ageing population, connectivity, and access to infrastructure and new technologies are also recognised.

In recognition of these challenges national and regional policy has placed an emphasis on creating more sustainable rural communities by focusing on the regeneration of rural towns and villages particularly in locations that have experienced decline. Support is also provided for the development of a ‘New Homes in Small Towns and Villages’ initiative to provide services and serviced sites in rural settlements.32

The NPF and RSES make a distinction between rural areas under urban influence i.e. within the commuter catchment of cities and large towns and centres of employment, and rural areas outside these catchments.33 There is a requirement in the RSES for Local Authorities to identify areas of strong urban influence in the hinterlands of settlements on this basis.34

This Plan supports the strengthening of rural communities and the sustainable development of rural areas in accordance with national and regional policy. Full details of the Rural Development Strategy are set out in Chapter 9 of this Plan.

2.10.4 Distribution of Population and Households in the County

Table 2.12, the ‘Core Strategy Table’, sets out the population projections and household allocation for each settlement up to 2027. This table provides details of the most recent population, population projections, the development activity in each settlement between 2016-2019, the number of unbuilt permitted units, and the household allocation for each settlement between 2020-2027.

The multi-faceted nature of settlement growth and the various socio-economic factors associated with the growth of towns and villages makes it extremely challenging to provide an exact figure for a population to grow to at a specific time. Rather than focusing on the population projection as a ‘target’ the figures provided in Table 2.12 should be regarded as a guide as to the level of growth anticipated in that settlement during the plan period. The emphasis will instead be on the delivery of the objectives of the NPF and RSES, and in particular the creation of balanced, sustainable growth.

It is acknowledged that due to various circumstances there are some settlements that may grow at a rate faster than anticipated and others which will develop at a slower rate. As part of the monitoring and implementation process of this Plan the Council will analyse settlement growth within the County, particularly following the publication of data from the next census. This exercise will form a significant element of the formal 2-year statutory review.

As part of the strategy of securing compact growth, an analysis of the potential number of units that could be delivered in the built-up area of each settlement was carried out. This figure is set out in column H of the table. This includes lands zoned as ‘New Residential’, ‘Existing Residential’, Mixed-Use’, or ‘Town Centre’ uses. The quantum of lands zoned ‘New Residential’ in each settlement has also been provided.

The total household allocation for the County between 2016-2027 is 20,671 units. Approximately 3,713 units were constructed between 2016-2019 (see column E), leaving an allocation of 16,958 units to be built during the Plan period 2020-2026 (column G).

Volume 2 of this Plan includes a Written Statement and zoning map for each settlement in the County. These Written Statements set out the strategy as to how the core strategy will be implemented in each of these settlements.35

Chapter 9 sets out the relevant policies and objectives in respect of residential development in rural nodes and the open countryside.

Figure 2

Fig 2.6: Distribution of Population in the County to 2027

It is noteworthy that the yield from mixed-use developments over the 2013-2019 plan period is relatively small at approximately 128 units. It is not anticipated that the quantum of lands zoned mixed-use as part of the Draft Plan will lead to a significantly higher yield of housing outside of that provided for in Table 2.12. An assessment of the existing residential lands in the 2013-2019 plan period resulted in a yield from the existing residential lands of c.949 units. It is considered that the delivery of residential units on lands zoned existing residential will be low as development will be restricted to backlands and gap sites in existing residential areas. The expected number of units to be delivered has been accounted for as part of Table 2.12 and is consistent with the figures above. 

Column A

Column B

Column C

Column D

Column E

Column F

Column G

Column H

Column I

Column J Column K

Settlement

Population
2016

Projected
population
increase to
2027

Projected
population
2027

Approximate households
completed
2016-2019

Extant units
not yet built

Household
allocation
2020-202736

Potential units
to be delivered on
infill/brownfield
lands37

Quantum of land zoned for residential use (ha)

Quantum of land zoned for existing residential use (ha) Quantum of land zoned for mix of uses (ha)

Regional Growth Centre      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

Drogheda

6,527

3,300

9,827

113

572

1,631

0

178.70

57.09

118.59 5.00

 

   

Key Town

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

Navan

30,173

5,900

36,073

781

924

3,204

1,936

79.8438

570.83 96.03

Maynooth

0

1,00039

1,000

0

0

500

0

21.36

0.19 0

 

   

Self-Sustaining Growth Town

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

Dunboyne

7,272

3,300

10,572

48

119

2,002

1,180

72.89

116.97 26.65

Ashbourne

12,679

3,200

15,879

632

209

1,349

351

31.48

218.27 18.62

Trim

9,194

2,250

11,444

31

437

1,333

812

41.92

177.94 36.65

Kells

6,135

1,000

7,135

48

391

452

400

19.67 135.20 24.07

Dunshaughlin

4,035

2,200

6,235

470

1,15640

1,003

82

33.09

110.33 15.26

 

   

Self-Sustaining Towns

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

Bettystown-Laytown-Mornington East

11,872

 

1,500

 

13,372

 

689

518

74641

264

19.59 288.6 23.47

Ratoath

9,533

1,500

11,033

175

72

803

101

27.37

187.12 14.34
Duleek 4,219 500 4,719 36 85 336 250 10.9 96.33 6.14

Enfield

3,239

1,000

4,239

45

135

474

84

16.13

49.27 16.64

Stamullen

3,361

500

3,861

1

215

290

58

11.8

56.07 8.72

Kilcock

93

500

593

100

180

180

0

8.79

15.5 0

 

   

Small Towns

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

Athboy

2,445

350

2,795

34

127

200

100

16.37

56.6 15.12

Oldcastle

1,383

350

1,733

16

0

166

110

9.75 34.51 13.23
Ballivor 1,809 100 1,909 0 0 40 40 1.93 39.63 7.09
Longwood 1,581 200 1,781 16 68 104 20

1.24

 

28.81 4.89

 

   

Villages

10,540

2,025

12,565

178

318

840

484

51.21 280.18 53.34

Rural nodes and open countryside

68,948

3,125

72,079

300

c.300

1,336

N/A

N/A

N/A N/A

Total

195,044

33,800

228,800

3,713

5,820

16,958

6,272

654.03

532.42

2,580.93 378.71
Table 2.12: Core Strategy Table, Population and Household distribution to 2027

Settlement

Projected population
increase to 2027

% of total
population growth

Approximate
households
completed 2016-2019

Household allocation
2020-202742

Quantum of land
zoned for residential
use (ha)

Regional Growth Centre      

3,300

9.76%

113

1,631

178.70

Key Towns

6,900

20.41%

781

3,704

102.92

Self-Sustaining Growth Towns

11,950

35.36%

1,278

6,139

199.05

Self-Sustaining Towns

5,500

16.27%

910

2,829

94.58

Small Towns

1,000

2.96%

86

510

29.29

Villages, Rural Nodes, and Open Countryside

5,150

15.24%

494

2,176

51.21
Table 2.13: Summary of population and household distribution in each settlement category 

2.11 Economic Development

The Council set out an ambitious framework for economic development in the County in the Economic Development Strategy for Meath 2014-22.43 The overriding objective of this Strategy is to facilitate more jobs within the County thereby improving the jobs ratio and reducing the volume of outbound commuting. This Plan will continue the implementation of this Strategy and will seek to build on the successes achieved to date.

The direction and underlying principles of this Core Strategy are consistent with the national and regional economic policy set out in the NPF and RSES in that it advocates that future growth should take place on a sustainable platform that concentrates development in local and regional centres of growth that have the capacity to accommodate significant development in a consolidated urban environment.

The concept of the ‘live-work’ community model also emerged from the spatial implementation phase of the Strategy and will continue to be promoted as a model of best practice in place making and the creation of balanced and healthy communities. This concept is strongly endorsed in both the NPF and the RSES.

The 5 strategic centres of employment were identified for growth in the Economic Strategy are Navan, South Drogheda, Dunboyne North, Ashbourne, and Kells. Having regard to the need to generate employment opportunities in centres which have experienced high levels of population growth without commensurate employment development and high levels of outbound commuting it is proposed to identify further 7 strategic employment sites as follows: Kells, Ratoath, Dunshaughlin, Laytown, Maynooth, Navan and Enfield.

Full details of the Economy and Employment Strategy are set out in Chapter 4 of this Plan.

2.12 Retail Development

A Retail Strategy for the County has been prepared as part of this Plan. This Strategy is consistent with the Retail Hierarchy for Meath as set out in the Regional Retail Strategy for the GDA 2008-2016. It has also been informed by the DECLG Retail Planning Guidelines (2012).

The aim of this Strategy is to sustain and improve the retail competitiveness of the County, address expenditure leakage, and ensure an equitable and sustainable distribution of retail floorspace across the County. An evidence-based approach has been taken to the requirement of any additional lands for convenience or comparison floorspace and has been based on projected changes to the local population, consumer spending, and turnover potential.

Full details of the Retail Strategy are set out in Chapter 4: Economy and Employment and Appendix 4 Retail Strategy.

2.13 Climate Change

Whilst Climate Change policies and mitigation measures are set out at a National and International level Local Authorities have a central role in the implementation of these policies and in promoting behavioural and attitude change towards climate change.

A Climate Change Adaptation Strategy has been prepared for this Plan as part of the requirements of the National Climate Change Adaptation Framework (2012). This Strategy will ensure that this Plan will appropriately address adaptation to climate change.

Climate change is a cross cutting theme of the Plan, however, climate change is specifically addressed in detail as part of Chapter 10 Climate Change.

2.14 Core Strategy and SEA/AA

A Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment has been prepared in tandem with the Core Strategy. The Core Strategy has had regard to both assessments with any changes/recommendations incorporated into the strategy. All subsequent land use plans arising from Meath County Development Plan 2021-2027 will be subject to full environmental assessment such as Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment in compliance with existing legislation. 

2.14.1 Policies

It is the policy of the Council:

CS POL 1

To promote and facilitate the development of sustainable communities in the   County by managing the level of growth in each settlement to ensure future growth is in accordance with the Core Strategy and County Settlement Hierarchy in order to deliver compact urban areas and sustainable rural communities.

2.14.2 Objectives

It is an objective of the Council:

CS OBJ 1

To secure the implementation of the Core Strategy and Settlement Strategy, in so far as practicable, by directing growth towards designated settlements, subject to the availability of infrastructure and services.

CS OBJ 2

To ensure that sufficient zoned lands are available to satisfy the housing requirements of the County in designated settlements over the lifetime of the Plan.

CS OBJ 3

To ensure the implementation of the population and housing growth household allocation set out in the Core Strategy and Settlement Strategy, in so far as practicable. Meath County Council will monitor the number of units that are permitted and under construction/built as part of the implementation of this objective.

CS OBJ 4

To achieve more compact growth by promoting the development of infill and brownfield/ regeneration sites and the redevelopment of underutilised land within and close to the existing built-up footprint of existing settlements in preference to edge of centre locations.

CS OBJ 5

To deliver at least 30% of all new homes in urban areas within the existing built-up footprint of settlements.

CS OBJ 6

To strengthen the social and economic structure of rural towns and villages by supporting the re-use of existing buildings and the regeneration of under-utilised buildings and lands.

CS OBJ 7

To operate an Order of Priority for the release and development of residential lands with any lands identified as being ‘Post 2027’ not being available for residential development during the lifetime of the subject development plan and consequently planning permission for residential dwellings will not be granted on these lands by Meath County Council.

CS OBJ 8

The existing Southern Environs of Drogheda Local Area Plan 2009 (The LAP) shall remain the statutory plan for the Southern Environs of Drogheda until such a time as it is replaced with a Joint Urban Plan for Drogheda in conjunction with Louth County Council having regard to the requirements of the Report of the Drogheda Boundary Review Committee (February 2017), the National Planning Framework, and the  Eastern and Midland Region Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy. This plan shall be read together with the County Development Plan 2020-2026.  The County Development Plan 2020-2026 shall take precedence if a conflict arises between the Plans and the conflicting provision of the LAP shall cease to have effect.

CS OBJ 9

To prepare new local area plans for the following settlements within the lifetime of this Plan: Navan, Dunboyne, Ashbourne, Trim, Kells, Dunshaughlin, Ratoath, Bettystown-Laytown-Mornington East-Donacarney, Duleek, Enfield, Athboy, Oldcastle, Stamullen.

CS OBJ 10

To prepare, as a priority, a Joint Vision and Urban Area Plan for Drogheda in partnership with Louth County Council within the lifetime of this Plan in accordance with the requirements of Regional Policy Objective 4.8 of the RSES for the Eastern and Midland Region and the recommendations set out in the Report of the Drogheda Boundary Review Committee published in February 2017. As part of the preparation of this Plan, a detailed infrastructure assessment, consistent with the methodology for a Tiered Approach to Zoning under Appendix 3 of the NPF will be undertaken.

CS OBJ 11

To prepare, as a priority, a Joint Vision and Local Area Plan for Maynooth in partnership with Kildare County Council within the lifetime of this Plan in accordance with the requirements of Regional Policy Objective 4.35 of the RSES for the Eastern and Midland Region. As part of the preparation of this Plan, a detailed infrastructure assessment, consistent with the methodology for a Tiered Approach to Zoning under Appendix 3 of the NPF will be undertaken.

CS OBJ 12

To ensure that all settlements, in as far as practicable, develop in a self-sufficient manner with population growth occurring in tandem with the provision of physical and social infrastructure.

CS OBJ 13

Support the implementation of the National Climate Change Strategy and the National Climate Change Adaption Framework Building Resilience to Climate Change 2012 through the County Development Plan and through the preparation of a Climate Change Adaptation Plan in conjunction with all relevant stakeholders.

CS OBJ 14

To support the economic growth of Meath as set out in the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy and the Economic Development Strategy for County Meath 2014-2022.

CS OBJ 15

To continue to promote economic development of the Dublin-Belfast Economic Corridor.

CS OBJ 16

To support the creation of ‘live work’ communities, in which employment and residential accommodation are located in close proximity to each other and strategic multi-modal transport corridors, and to reduce long distance commuter trends and congestion.

CS OBJ 17

To work closely with government departments and agencies to assist in the delivery of critical infrastructure that would facilitate the economic growth of the county with particular reference to the development of the rail to Navan.

CS OBJ 18

To incorporate the relevant housing needs for 2027 into the Housing Strategy over the lifetime of the Development Plan.

CS OBJ 19

To implement an Active Land Management Strategy in relation to vacant land in settlements within County Meath and to maintain and update as required a Vacant Sites Register to ensure efficient and sustainable use of the County’s land resources in accordance with the provisions of the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015 as well as the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended.

CS OBJ 20

To undertake a review during the lifetime of the Plan so as to ensure compliance with Climate Change requirements as outlined in the forthcoming Updated Development Plan Guidelines for Planning Authorities as per section 10(2)(n) of the Act.

CS OBJ 21

To undertake, over the lifetime of the Plan, the measures outlined in Appendix 15 relating to the Implementation & Monitoring of the Plan.

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