Call for hold on County Development Plan

The numbers of people now working remotely has prompted local councillors to seek a delay in adopting the new Tipperary County Development Plan.

Members of Nenagh Municipal District last week agreed to make their own submission on the draft plan, which is due to go on public display for a 12-week period this summer. But with the National Planning Framework presently under review, several speakers at the district's February meeting suggested that the Tipperary plan should be put on hold pending the outcome of the review.

Cllr Joe Hannigan said the local plan would be “dictated to” by the national framework, which was devised before the onset of Covid-19. He predicted great changes in rural areas with so many people working from home or in centres away from the cities, and he said this should be reflected in whatever plan shapes the development of the county for years to come.

“We're going to be in situation where ‘remote working’ is the buzz-word,” said Cllr Hannigan, adding that a lot of offices would remain empty or with greatly reduced staff numbers present on site.

Cllr Séamie Morris was of a similar view and believed the plan in its present format should be “scrapped”. “Covid has blown the National Planning Framework out of the water,” he said.

Cllr Morris feared the present review would not take sight of new population trends. “It's not fit for purpose,” he said. “There will be more people working at home rather than getting in cars.” He noted that other local authorities had sought to delay the process of adopting their new development plan.

Cllr Michael O'Meara said Nenagh Municipal District should put “our own stamp” on the County Development Plan. He agreed with Cllr Phyll Bugler that the cluster development scheme is not working locally and more needs to be done to attract people to live in rural areas.

Cllr Ger Darcy said there should be greater emphasis on one-off housing in rural areas and agreed that local councillors should have their say in shaping the district for the years ahead. “I've seen it used as a stick to beat people with,” he warned of the adopted development plan.