Notice of Intention to review the Louth County Development Plan 2021-2027 and to prepare a new Louth County Development Plan 2027-2033
Notice is hereby given pursuant to Section 11(1) of the Planning & Development Act 2000 (as amended) of the intention of Louth County Council to commence its review of the existing Louth County Development Plan 2021-2027 and to prepare a new Louth County Development Plan for the period 2027-2033. The preparation of the new County Development Plan shall be strategic in nature for the purposes of developing objectives and policies to deliver an overall strategy for the proper planning and sustainable development of the area of the Development Plan and the Core Strategy.
Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Appropriate Assessment (AA)
The Planning Authority will carry out a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) as part of the review process, pursuant to Article 13B of the Planning and Development (SEA) Regulations 2004 (S.I. No. 436 of 2004), as amended by the Planning and Development (SEA) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 201 of 2011). For this purpose, the Planning Authority will prepare an environmental report of the likely significant effects on the environment of implementing the new plan.
The provisions of Articles 13C to 13J of the SEA Regulations (as amended) shall apply while undertaking the SEA. Stage One Appropriate Assessment (AA) Screening (and Stage Two AA, if required), pursuant to Article 6 of the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC and the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended), and Strategic Flood Risk Assessment, in compliance with “The Planning System and Flood Risk Management Guidelines for Planning Authorities” (2009), will also be carried out as part of the review process.
Public Consultation and Strategic Issues Paper
Members of the public are invited to make submissions/observations during the public consultation period for the review of the Louth County Development Plan 2021-2027 and the preparation of the NEW Louth County Development Plan 2027-2033 from Tuesday 23rd September to 4.00pm on Friday 21st November 2025 (both days inclusive).
In order to stimulate debate and encourage participation in this process, a Strategic Issues Paper will be available for inspection to view or download during normal opening hours from Tuesday 23rd October to 4.00pm Friday 21st November 2025 (both dates inclusive) at the following locations:
Louth County Council, County Hall, Millennium Centre, Dundalk A91 KFW6
Louth County Council Offices, Town Hall, Crowe Street, Dundalk A91 W20C
Louth County Council Offices, Fair Street, Drogheda A92 P440
Louth County Council Offices, Fairgreen, Ardee A92 RYT2
All libraries in County Louth (Dundalk, Drogheda, Ardee, Dunleer and Carlingford) and also on our website at www.louthcoco.ie (please check your local library for opening times).
A series of public consultation meetings shall be held across the County. Here the public will have the opportunity to discuss, with Planning Officers, relevant issues relating to the Development Plan Review.
Venues, Dates and Times of Public Consultations are as follows:
Carlingford Library, Newry Street, Carlingford A91 N226
Tuesday 14th October, 2025 6pm – 8pm
Dunleer Library, Station Road, Dunleer A92 DRV0
Tuesday 21st October, 2025 6pm – 8pm
Dundalk Library, Roden Place, Dundalk A91 RC44
Wednesday 22nd October, 2025 5pm – 7.30pm
Drogheda Library, Stockwell Lane, Drogheda A92 PY20
Wednesday 5th November, 2025 5pm – 7.30pm
Ardee Library, Market Square, Ardee A92 XH22
Thursday 6th November, 2025 5pm – 7.30pm
Making a Submission
Submissions and observations in relation to the review of the Louth County Development Plan 2021-2027 and the preparation of the new Louth County Development Plan 2027-2037 are invited during the initial public consultation period, from Tuesday 23rd September to 4.00pm on Friday 21st November 2025 (both dates inclusive). Submissions/Observations must include the name and address of the person/organisation making the submission/observation and may be made in the following ways:
- Consultation Portal: https://consult.louthcoco.ie or
- In writing to Development Plan Review, Forward Planning Unit, Town Hall, Crowe Street, Dundalk, Co Louth A91 W20C
Submissions should be clearly marked “Development Plan Review”. Please note that late submissions cannot be accepted. All such submissions lodged within the above period will be taken into consideration prior to the preparation of the Draft County Development Plan.
In respect of making a submission please note the following:
- Submissions/observations should include your name and may include address, a map (for identification purposes) and, where relevant, details of any organisation, community group or company etc., which you represent.
- Submissions/observations regarding objectives and policies to deliver an overall strategy for the proper planning and sustainable development of County Louth may be made within the specified period. Submissions/observations at this stage of the overall Plan-making process should be strategic in nature and focus on ‘big picture’ issues.
- Children, or groups or associations representing the interests of children, are particularly encouraged to make submissions or observations regarding the foregoing.
- As the overall Plan-making process advances the Planning Authority intends to review the zoning of the area of the Development Plan, for the purposes of developing objectives and policies to deliver an overall strategy for the proper planning and sustainable development of (i) the area of the Development Plan, and (ii) the Core Strategy.
- Requests or proposals for the zoning of particular land, for any purpose, cannot be considered at this Pre-Draft stage of the County Development Plan. These matters will be considered during the Draft Plan stage of the overall process.
- Please be advised that all submissions received will be published online in accordance with the requirements of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, and will be summarised in the Chief Executive’s Report, which will be published. You should ensure that no vexatious, libellous or confidential information, including confidential information relating to a third party (in respect of which the third party has not, expressly, or impliedly in the circumstances, consented to its disclosure) is included in your submission. The Planning Authority reserves the right to redact any submission or part thereof that does not comply with this requirement. Please be advised that the submission will be published in full.
- Please make your submission by one medium only i.e. in writing or online. This will avoid the duplication of submission reference numbers and will streamline the process.
- Louth County Council is subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act (as amended). If you consider that any of the information supplied by you is either commercially sensitive or confidential in nature, this should be highlighted and the reasons for its sensitivity specified. In such cases, the relevant material will, in response to FOI requests, be examined in light of exemptions provided for in the FOI Act.
- Louth County Council is subject to the provisions of the Data Protection Act (as amended) and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). In order to assist us in complying with Data Protection and GDPR please include your name and contact details on a separate sheet to the content of your submission/observation.
THOMAS MCEVOY
DIRECTOR OF SERVICES
LOUTH COUNTY COUNCIL
Dated 23rd September 2025
