Donegal County has commenced the preparation of new area plans for An Clochán Liath (Dungloe), Ballyshannon, Bridgend, Carndonagh, Donegal Town and Killybegs.
The new Area Plans will set out a range of planning policies, objectives and a spatial development framework for these towns to, support housing delivery, revitalise town centres, provide transport/sustainable mobility solutions, support employment growth, deliver new community facilities, protect the built and natural heritage and aid climate mitigation/adaption.
The area plans will replace the current plans in the Seven Strategic Towns Local Area Plan 2018-2024.
The plans are currently at pre-draft preparation stage and community input into the plan making process is vital.
It is important to note that the Area Plans are being prepared as part of a wider proposed change/variation to the County Development Plan 2024-2030 which also intends to:
Amend the zoning of site NR2.16 at Cockhill, Buncrana – from ‘New Residential Phase 2’ to ‘New Residential Phase 1’.
Amend land use zonings on foot of Residential Zoned Land Tax (RZLT) related landowner submissions, where appropriate, within affected settlements throughout Donegal.
The Council is therefore undertaking pre-draft public consultation between the 7th and the 28th of February 2025 where the public can have their say on the New Area Plans and the proposed rezoning at Cockhill Buncrana by attending the following Drop-In events and by making written submissions.
For more information on how to get involved see https://consult.donegal.ie/en/consultation/pre-draft-public-consultation-proposed-variation-no-1-county-donegal-development-plan-2024-2030
Public Drop-In Events
Separately landowners can make Residential Zoned Land Tax related rezoning requests by the 1st of April 2025 see https://consult.donegal.ie/en/consultation/publication-final-residential-zoned-land-tax-map-2025-and-publication-draft-residential-zoned-land for more details.
