Proposed Variation to the County Donegal Development Plan 2024-2030 (Proposed Variation No. 1)

An overview of Proposed Variation and links to the key documents are also available on www.donegaldevplan.ie/proposed-variation

Take Notice that:

1.  Donegal County Council intends to make a Variation in accordance with Section 58 of the Planning and Development Act 2024 (as amended) to the County Donegal Development Plan 2024-2030 (hereinafter referred to as “Proposed Variation No.1”) for the following reasons

• To insert new Area Plans for An Clochán Liath (Dungloe), Ballyshannon, Bridgend, Carndonagh, Donegal Town and Killybegs into the Development Plan to replace the current ‘Seven Strategic Towns Local Area Plan 2018-2024 which is due to expire in August 2026 and to make amendments to Chapter 17 – General Introduction to Area Plans and Table 3.7 Core Strategy Table. 

• To amend the zoning of site NR2.16 at Cockhill, Buncrana – from ‘New Residential Phase 2’ to ‘New Residential Phase 1’ within the Buncrana Area Plan Land Use Zoning Map. 

• To amend land use zonings on foot of Residential Zoned Land Tax (RZLT) related landowner submissions, where appropriate, within affected settlements throughout Donegal to accord with the Residential Zoned Land Tax Change in zoning of land subject to existing economic activity Section 28 Ministerial Guidelines (DoHLGH December 2024) and otherwise to take into account the proper planning and development of an area.  

• To replace ‘proposed Natural Heritage Area (pNHA)’ designations with a zoning of ‘Local Environment’ within the Letterkenny Plan Land Use Zoning Map, as pNHAs are not in fact a statutory designation/do not constitute a land use zoning and should be replaced by an appropriate zoning to effectively guide development.    

• To rezone an area of land at Mullindrait, Stranorlar – from part ‘Opportunity Site’ and Part ‘Open Space and Recreation’ to ‘New Residential Phase 1’.  

The proposed variation necessitates amendment of the existing area plans for An Clochán Liath (Dungloe), Ballyshannon, Bridgend, Carndonagh, Donegal Town, Killybegs, Letterkenny, Ballybofey-Stranorlar and Buncrana. The proposed variation further seeks to meet the requirements of  the ‘Section 28 - NPF Implementation: Housing Growth Requirements Guidelines for Planning Authorities’ which provided updated ‘housing growth requirements’ to local authorities in order to facilitate the review and variation of county development plans.  A draft of the proposed amendments to the relevant area plans will be included with the documents available for inspection and on which submissions may be made within the period specified in the notice.

2.  The Proposed Variation is accompanied by:

• An Appropriate Assessment screening determination in respect of Proposed Variation No. 1, to the effect that the likelihood of the Proposed Variation (either individually or in combination with any project or other plan) having significant effects on 72 European sites cannot be excluded (the potential effects that could arise from the Proposed Variation were examined in the context of several factors that could result in likely significant effects, if unmitigated, to any European site) and that, as a consequence and having regard to the conservation objectives relating to relevant European sites, an appropriate assessment of the proposed variation is required to be carried out;
• A Strategic Environmental Assessment screening determination in respect of Proposed Variation No. 1, to the effect that a Strategic Environmental Assessment of the proposed Variation is required and shall be carried out;
• A Natura Impact Report in respect of the Appropriate Assessment of Proposed Variation No.1, in accordance with the requirements of Article 6(3) of the EU Habitats Directive (92/443/EEC) and Part 6 of the Planning and Development Act 2024 (as amended);
• An Environmental Report in respect of the Strategic Environmental Assessment of Proposed Variation No.1, prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Strategic Environmental Assessment Regulations; and
• A Strategic Flood Risk Assessment of Proposed Variation No.1 in accordance with the requirements of “The Planning System and Flood Risk Management Guidelines for Planning Authorities”, November 2009 (Office of Public Works, Department of Environment, Heritage & Local Government).
• Local Transport Plans for An Clochán Liath, Ballyshannon, Bridgend, Carndonagh, Donegal Town and Killybegs.

3.  A copy of Proposed Variation No.1 and the associated documents listed above may be inspected between Friday 16th January 2026 and Friday 13th February 2026 at the following locations:

• on the Council’s website at consult.donegal.ie and www.donegaldevplan.ie 
• at the following Council offices during normal office hours (9am-4.30pm):
  •          Reception, Donegal County Council, County House, Lifford.
  •          Letterkenny Public Services Centre, Neil T. Blaney Road, Letterkenny.
  •          Milford Public Services Centre, Main St., Milford.
  •          An Clochán Liath Public Services Centre, Gweedore Road, An Clochán Liath.
  •          Carndonagh Public Services Centre, Malin Road, Carndonagh.
  •          Donegal Town Public Services Centre, Drumlonagher, Donegal Town and
• at the library facilities in the County during their respective opening hours.

4.  Hard copies of the documents are also available for purchase from the Planning Department’s Forward Planning Team (please contact 074 9153900 or email planningcpu@donegalcoco.ie).

5.  Written submissions or observations with respect to the proposed variation and any strategic environmental assessment or appropriate assessment of the proposed variation, made to the Planning Authority between Friday 16th January 2026 and Friday 13th February 2026 will be taken into consideration before the making of the variation. Submissions may be made in one of the following ways:

• Via the Consultation portal at consult.donegal.ie
• By email to:  planningcpu@donegalcoco.ie (please insert following in Subject Title bar: “CDP Variation No.1”) 
• By post addressed to: CDP Variation No.1, Central Planning Unit, Donegal County Council, County House, Lifford, Co. Donegal, F93 Y622.

Note: Please make your submission by one medium only i.e. hard copy, email or via the consultation portal.   The final date for the receipt of submissions is Friday 13th February 2026.  Written submissions or observations (redacted for privacy and legal purposes) shall, save in exceptional circumstances, be published on the website of the planning authority within 10 working days of its receipt by that authority.

6.  A series of Public Drop-In Events will be hosted at the following locations:

Notice of Determination in Respect of the Appropriate Assessment of Proposed Variation No. 1 to the County Development Plan 2024-2030

On the basis of a screening for appropriate assessment, the planning authority has determined that the likelihood of Proposed Variation No. 1 to the County Development Plan 2024-2030 (either individually or in combination with any project or other plan) having significant effects on 72 European sites cannot be excluded (the potential effects that could arise from the Proposed Variation were examined in the context of several factors that could result in likely significant effects, if unmitigated, to any European site) and that, as a consequence and having regard to the conservation objectives relating to relevant European sites, an Appropriate Assessment of the Proposed Variation is required to be carried out. The Determination in relation to the need for Appropriate Assessment can be accessed at consult.donegal.ie.

Eamonn Brown,

Acting Director of Service,

Directorate of Planning, Communities & Culture,

Donegal County Council,

County House,

Lifford,

County Donegal. F93 Y622