Planning - Introduction

Goal

“To provide for proper and effective planning, balancing the need for sustainable development, the rights of individuals, the protection of the environment and the social and economic needs of each area”.

Development Management

Development Management is the general term used to describe the functions relating to the processing of planning applications.

If a person wishes to carry out a development, an application for permission must be made to the Planning Authority, unless the development is an exempted development.

Forward Planning

Forward Planning is the area of planning that deals with the preparation and review of the County Development Plan, Local Area Plans, Town Plans, Heritage and Protected Structures.

Enforcement

The functions of the Enforcement Section within the Planning and Development Department include:

Implementation of Part VIII (Enforcement) of the Planning and Development Act 2000.
Monitoring the development of residential projects in compliance with Section 180 of the above Act for the purposes of taking in charge of such developments by Wicklow County Council.
The management of commencement notices in accordance with the Building Control Act 1990 and the associated Building Regulations.

Unauthorised development may be defined as development, which being carried out without or not in accordance with the required planning permission. All complaints relating to unauthorised development must be made in writing and addressed to the Enforcement Officer. All complaints are kept confidential.

All complaints must be dealt with in accordance with Part VIII of the Planning and Development Act 2000. A letter must issue within six weeks of the complaint being received, advising the person carrying out the development that the development is unauthorised. As soon as may be after the issuing of the letter, the Planning Authority must carry out an inspection/investigation and determine whether or not to serve an Enforcement Notice. This decision must be taken within 12 weeks of the issue of the Warning Letter. If the development being carried out is serious, the Planning Authority can decide to issue an Enforcement Notice initially rather than issuing the letter.

Copies of correspondence which issues, will be sent to the person making the complaint in order to keep them informed.