Planning and Development

Planning Control
A total of 1107 applications for planning permission were lodged with the Council in 2001, in comparison to 1305 received in 2000.

79% of applications were granted in 2001 and of that 75% were decided in two months. The most common reason for refusal relates to conformity with the Development Plan and suitability of sites for treatment of effluent

Other relevant statistics

Applications decided during 2001 - 946  
Permission granted  - 748 - 79%
Permission refused  - 198 - 21%
Appeals lodged with Bord Pleanala  - 47 - 5%

Planning and Development Act 2002
The year 2001 saw the commencement of additional provisions under the Planning & Development Act 2000, including those relating to Plans & Guidelines, Events & Funfairs and Land Acquisition. The year also marked the re-organisation of Sligo County Council’s planning functions, with the creation of a new Enforcement Unit and the re-establishment of the Development Planning Unit, each with their own dedicated staff. Together with the existing Development Control Section, these Units will enable the Planning Authority to respond more efficiently and effectively to the planning and development needs of the county. Re-organisation has also been necessary to facilitate compliance with the requirements of the new planning legislation, all of which will be in force by Spring 2002.

Development Planning
Review of the Sligo City and Environs Development Plan In recent years, development pressure on Sligo Town has extended to the outskirts of the Borough and to towns and villages throughout its hinterland. As a co-ordinated response was clearly required, Sligo Corporation and Sligo County Council jointly engaged the National Building Agency (NBA) on a consultancy basis to review the existing Development Plan for the Borough and to prepare a new ‘Sligo City & Environs Development Plan’. The study area extends to the wider environs of Sligo Town, from Grange in the north to Collooney in the south, and in due course it is intended to prepare Local Area Plans for more than a dozen settlements within this sub-region. 

The NBA team works closely with the Development Planning Unit and is overseen by a Steering Group representing both Planning Authorities. In the course of 2001, survey work for the Development Plan was advanced, consultations with relevant bodies/organisations were held and a preliminary framework for the development of the sub-region over a 20-year period was prepared. To comply with the requirements of the Planning & Development Act 2000, public notice of the intended Development Plan review/preparation was given at the end of December 2001, thereby formally commencing the new 2-year statutory period for this process. In addition, a Draft Local Area Plan for the Hazelwood-Ballinode area of Sligo Borough/Environs was produced: this was publicised in November and generated considerable local interest

Development	Applications Received 2001	Applications Received 2000	Applications Received 1999
Dwelling Houses	792 (72%)	977	751
Domestic Extensions	174 (16%)	203	222
Agricultural	19 (2%)	17	13
Industrial/Commercial	50 (4%)	66	75
Telecommunications	17 (1%)	-	-
Other Developments	55 (5%)	42	47
Total	1107	1305	1108

- Table A.
Applications received in 2001 and a comparison with previous years.

Input into the National Spatial Strategy
To address the future spatial structure of Ireland in the context of sustainable development, the Government has mandated the Department of the Environment and Local Government (DoELG) to prepare a National Spatial Strategy (NSS). Within the NSS framework, an essential concept is that of "gateways", i.e. urban centres that are able to maximise national performance by employing local potential to full advantage.

In response to the ”National Spatial Strategy – Indications for the Way Ahead“ public consultation paper issued by the DoELG in September 2001, a co-ordinated submission to the NSS Working Group was prepared jointly by Sligo Corporation, Sligo County Council and Sligo County Development Board. This submission articulated a clear vision for Sligo, contending that as "capital of the north-west", it self-selects as a new gateway for the region. The submission was supported by numerous local and cross-border organisations and followed a special public meeting, organised by the Sligo Local Authorities, to which a wide range of interests was invited.  

The map opposite represents the West Border Functional Area. It is based on an extract from the National Spatial strategy submission.