Development plan · Monaghan County Council
Monaghan County Development Plan 2025–2031
The council's development plan written statement: its strategy, policies, objectives and development standards.
Monaghan County Council · 2025–2031 · 376 pages
Ask this document
Answers come only from the text of Monaghan County Development Plan 2025–2031, each claim linked to its page. They are not advice; check the page itself.
Free, with a daily limit.
- DEVELOPMENT TYPE TC ER PR SR IE EC CS RA LPC Enterprise Centre ✓ X X X ✓ O X X X Factory Outlet ✓ X X X O O X X X Farm Shop ✓ X X X O O X X X Fire/Ambulance Station X X X X ✓ ✓ X X X Fuel Filling Station O X X X O O X X X Fuel Depot/Distributor X X X X ✓ O X X X Funeral Home/Mortuary ✓ X X X O O O X X Garden Centre ✓ X X X O O X X X Golf Course X X X X X X X ✓ ✓ Health Centre/Primary Care Centre/Hospital ✓ O O O X O O X X HGV Park/Transport Depot X X X X ✓ O X X X Hostel ✓ X X X X O X X X Hot Food Take Away ✓ X X X X O X X X Hotel ✓ X X O X O X X X Industry (light) X X X X ✓ O X X X Industry (heavy) X X X X ✓ X X X X Offices (non-ancillary) ✓ X X X O O X X X Park/Playground ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ X O ✓ ✓ ✓ Pitch and Putt/Driving Range X X X X X X O ✓ X Playing Fields O O O O X X O ✓ O Public House ✓ X X X X O X X X Public Transport Depot O X X X ✓ ✓ X X X Infrastructure, Services & Utilities O O O O O O O O O Quarrying/Extractive Industry X X X X X X X X X Recreational Facility/Sports Club O O O O O O O O O Recycling Facility/Waste Transfer Site O X X X ✓ O X X X Residential ✓ ✓ ✓ O X X X X X Restaurant/Cafe ✓ X X X O O O X X Retail (Convenience) ✓ O O O X O X X X Retail (Comparison) ✓ X X X X O X X X Retail Warehouse O X X X O O X X X Residential Home/Retirement Home/Nursing Home O O O O X O O X X Science Technology Enterprise ✓ X X X ✓ O X X X Taxi Office ✓ X X X X O X X X Telecommunications ✓ O O O O O O O X Tourist Facilities ✓ X X X O O O O X Traveller Accommodation/Halting Site O O O O X X O X X Vehicle Servicing & Repairs X X X X ✓ O X X X Vehicle Sales X X X X ✓ O X X X Equipment Hire O X X X ✓ O X X X Vehicle Breakers Yard X X X X O X X X X Veterinary Surgery ✓ X X X O O X X X Warehousing O X X X ✓ O X X X Wind Turbine X O O O ✓ ✓ O O X Workshop O X X X ✓ O X X X 239 strategic objectives for settlementschapter 09
- 240 9.3 COMPACT GROWTH, CONSOLIDATION AND URBAN REGENERATION In line with national and regional planning policy, Monaghan County Council will continue to promote the regeneration of the County’s towns and villages by encouraging the revitalisation of underutilised and neglected areas such as, infill, brownfield lands and backlands within the built-up areas of towns and villages. The benefits of such development do not relate solely to the individual site or building but can also result in multiple benefits to the wider area, including enhancement to the public realm, creation of new public open spaces and with good quality architectural design, significant visual improvements to the streetscape. Particularly within the main towns and villages, the repurposing of brownfield, under-utilised or vacant sites can result in additional housing options and types. The introduction of residential use above commercial premises whereby community services, retail provision and public transport are locally accessible, increases the vibrancy of our towns and villages and reflects the thrust of the Town Centre First Policy. Special attention to design and impacts on neighbouring properties should be carefully addressed for all proposed developments, in accordance with Chapter 15, Development Management Standards of this Development Plan. 9.3.1 DERELICT SITES A derelict site is any land, that detracts or is likely to detract, to a material degree from the amenity, character or appearance of land in the neighbourhood of the land in question because of: k The existence on the land in question of structures which are in a ruinous, derelict or dangerous condition, or k The neglected, unsightly or objectionable condition of the land or any structures on the land in question, or k The presence, deposit or collection on the land in question of any litter, rubbish, debris or waste. The Derelict Site Act 1990 affords Local Authorities the power to: k Require owners to clean up their sites, k Prosecute owners who don’t comply with notices served, k Carry out necessary work themselves and charge the owners, k Acquire land by agreement or compulsorily in the functional area, and k Issue an Endangerment Notice in respect of a Protected Structure specifying works to be carried out to prevent a Protected Structure from becoming or continuing to be endangered. Monaghan County Council maintains a register of derelict sites in its area. Owners of urban land entered on the Derelict Sites Register are liable to pay an annual levy to the Local Authority. Monaghan County Council will continue to investigate and prioritise reports of dereliction and take relevant action, in accordance with the Derelict Sites Act 1990, in an effort to have the dereliction abated and ensure the re-use of existing urban lands throughout the County. 9.3.2 DANGEROUS STRUCTURES The Local Government (Sanitary Services) Act 1964 gives powers to Local Authorities to address dangerous structures in their administrative area. A Section 3 Notice can be served on owners of a property, which is considered to be in a dangerous condition requiring them to carry out specific works to make the property safe. 9.3.3 VACANT SITES The commencement of the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015 (which amended Section 10(2)) of the Planning and Development Act (the Act) 2000 (as amended) introduced a new statutory obligation for all Planning Authorities to establish a register of vacant sites and to make provision for a Vacant Site Levy. Monaghan County Council established a Vacant Sites Register on 1st January 2017 for sites in excess of 0.05 hectares in designated areas. Where a site is on the register for a period of 12 months, the County Council may apply a levy at the set national rate of the market valuation of the vacant site. The levy may be applied to all identified and registered regenerated land and residential land in the land use zoning categories set out by this County Development Plan. This site activation measure aims to stimulate the regeneration of vacant, urban sites and to encourage the release of zoned lands to deliver housing at appropriate locations. Tables 9.4 and 9.5 identify the Land Use Zoning Categories and Objectives identified for both regeneration and residential lands in respect of the Vacant Site Levy. Monaghan County Development Plan 2025 – 2031
- 241 LAND USE ZONING CATEGORY LAND USE ZONING OBJECTIVE TOWN CENTRE To provide, protect and enhance town centre facilities and promote town centre strengthening. INDUSTRY, ENTERPRISE AND EMPLOYMENT To provide for new industrial, enterprise and employment generating development and to facilitate expansion of existing industrial and employment generating enterprises. EXISTING COMMERCIAL To provide for established commercial development and facilitate appropriate expansion. COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND SERVICES To protect, provide and improve community, civic and educational facilities. RECREATION AND AMENITY To protect and provide for recreation, open space and amenity. TABLE 9.4 APPLICABLE LAND USE ZONING CATEGORIES IDENTIFIED AS REGENERATION LAND IN RESPECT OF THE VACANT SITE LEVY (URBAN REGENERATION AND HOUSING ACT 2015). LAND USE ZONING CATEGORY LAND USE ZONING OBJECTIVE TOWN CENTRE To provide, protect and enhance town centre facilities and promote town centre strengthening. EXISTING RESIDENTIAL To protect and enhance existing residential amenity, to facilitate residential development on small infill sites within established residential areas, the comprehensive redevelopment of brownfield residential sites for sustainable residential development, and to facilitate and encourage the completion of commenced and not yet completed residential developments. PROPOSED RESIDENTIAL A To provide for new residential development and for new and improved ancillary services. PROPOSED RESIDENTIAL B To facilitate serviced low density residential development and serviced residential sites in a structured and co-ordinated manner. STRATEGIC RESIDENTIAL RESERVE To protect lands that are considered strategic in location for future residential development. TABLE 9.5 APPLICABLE LAND USE ZONING CATEGORIES IDENTIFIED AS RESIDENTIAL LAND IN RESPECT OF THE VACANT SITE LEVY (URBAN REGENERATION AND HOUSING ACT 2015). 9.3.4 RESIDENTIAL ZONED LAND TAX (RZLT) The Residential Zoned Land Tax (RZLT) was introduced in the Finance Act 2021 and was committed to in Housing for All, A New Housing Plan for Ireland 2030. The objective of the tax is to activate land that is serviced and zoned for residential use or mixed use where residential development is permitted, in order to increase housing supply and to ensure the regeneration of vacant and idle lands in urban locations. In accordance with statutory requirements, Monaghan County Council must prepare an annual draft map of the lands considered to be in the scope for RZLT. The RZLT is an annual tax which will be administrated by the Revenue Commissioners from 2025 onwards and will be undertaken on a self-assessment basis. The RZLT will replace the current Vacant Site Levy however in the interim period, the Vacant Sites Levy shall apply. Lands zoned as Strategic Residential Reserve are not currently liable for the RZLT. strategic objectives for settlementschapter 09
- 242 9.3.5 TOWN CENTRE FIRST The Town Centre First (TCF) policy was issued jointly by the Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD) and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) in February 2022. It is the overarching national strategy for the renewal and regeneration of Irish towns which aims to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction, and breathe new life into town centres. The policy advocates for a holistic, place-based approach to sustainable rural development and contains thirty-three actions which gives towns the tools and resources they need to become more viable and attractive places in which to live, work, socialise and run a business. A Town Regeneration Team lead by the Town Regeneration Officer has been established within Monaghan County Council to drive the implementation of the Town Centre First Policy. The Town Regeneration Team acts as a link between Town Teams, the expertise within the Council and other organisations and will facilitate the Town Teams in accessing funding and delivering projects at local level. A key element in the delivery of the Town Centre First Policy at local level is the preparation of Town Centre First Plans. These plans are non-statutory, communitylevel plans, underpinned by surveys and Town Centre Health Check data analysis and will be carried out by the Town Teams. Town Centre First Plans must be informed by the policies and objectives of the County Development Plan and vice versa. Following receipt of funding from the Department of Rural and Community Development, the Carrickmacross Town Centre First Plan was launched on the 22nd March 2024. The Plan maps out a series of transformative projects specifically tailored for Carrickmacross, encompassing a spectrum of scales and ambitions. The Plan is a live document, and will remain responsive to ongoing input and feedback, ensuring its adaptability to the evolving needs and aspirations of Carrickmacross. Subject to further funding, Town Centre First Plans will be prepared for the towns of Ballybay, Clones, Castleblayney and Monaghan. URO 1 To promote the regeneration of the County towns and village centres and foster compact and sustainable growth by encouraging new development on infill sites, brownfield sites or underutilised lands before considering edge-of-town and village sites. URBAN REGENERATION OBJECTIVES URO 2 To identify and secure funding from relevant agencies and Government sources including the Rural and Urban Regeneration and Development Funds (RRDF/URDF) for town and village renewal projects throughout the County. URO 3 To address the impact of derelict site(s)/structure(s) upon the amenity of an area through the application of the statutory mechanisms afforded through the Derelict Sites Act 1990. URO 4 To implement an Active Land Management Strategy in relation to vacant land in the Tier 1-4 settlements within County Monaghan in conjunction with the Town Regeneration Officer to ensure efficient and sustainable use of the County’s land resources. URO 5 To support the preparation and implementation of Town Centre First Plans in accordance with the Town Centre First Policy which promotes sustainable development and positive environmental benefits. URO 6 To encourage collaboration with the Land Development Agency to accelerate regeneration and provide a sustainable supply of housing during the lifetime of the Development Plan, where appropriate. Monaghan County Development Plan 2025 – 2031
- 243 9.4 POPULATION Population trends are central to the planning process. Changes in population, household patterns and spatial distribution form the basis on which decisions on land use, service provision, housing, employment, retail, community and recreational needs are determined. The Core Strategy set out in Chapter 2 indicates, how the development objectives set out in this Development Plan are consistent with national and regional objectives. As a consequence, the quantum of residential land use zonings must be commensurate with population growth targets set out within Chapter 2 Core Strategy of this Development Plan. Strong population centres become self-generating in terms of employment, attracting inward investment in industry and commerce and supporting a wider range and quality of infrastructure, services and facilities. However, the rural areas immediately surrounding the four larger towns have been designated as Rural Areas Under Strong Urban Influence to protect these areas from sustained urban pressure. Therefore, achieving development which will consolidate the urban areas and ensure sustainable management of the environment and heritage of the urban areas is fundamental. An evidence-based approach that underpins the preparation of the Core Strategy and the land use zoning maps for each of the towns, has identified suitable lands that will provide for the projected population growth of County Monaghan over the plan period. 9.5 URBAN RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS It is important to ensure that new housing is provided for all sectors of the community including older people, families and single persons. A high standard in terms of aesthetics and functionality will be required in all new residential developments within the settlements, with particular consideration to the range of potential occupiers and the surrounding urban form. All new residential developments should fully integrate with established settlement patterns and provide for the establishment of neighbourhoods as opposed to housing estates. UDO 1 To promote the towns as residential centres and encourage the development of new residential accommodation on zoned residential lands. URBAN RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS OBJECTIVES UDO 2 To ensure there is sufficient zoned, serviceable land to meet the future housing needs of the towns as set out in Chapter 2, Core Strategy, of the Monaghan County Development Plan 2025-2031. UDO 3 To provide directly, or in partnership with the voluntary or private sector, sufficient social and affordable housing to meet the needs of the area. UDO 4 To encourage social integration and a mixture of tenures in all residential developments. UDO 5 To encourage the refurbishment and reuse of derelict buildings and development on derelict lands and infill sites in the towns for residential developments which will result in the renewal and regeneration of towns. UDO 6 To comply with Chapter 3, Housing Strategy, of the Monaghan County Development Plan 2025-2031. UDO 7 To promote compact forms of residential development such as infill and back land development and ensure, through the development management process, that access points to backland areas are reserved or that adequate frontage is reserved to provide future road access, to enable comprehensive backland development. UDO 8 To encourage and support proposals for new residential development that will result in the regeneration/renewal of town centre areas and/or a reduction in vacancy/dereliction in the context of the proper planning and sustainable development of the area. strategic objectives for settlementschapter 09
- 244 9.6 TOWN CENTRES The town centres consist of a mixture of land uses, many of which are interdependent. While retailing underpins the function of a town centre, it also acts as an employment and service centre for the town and the wider rural hinterland. New development within town centres shall be compliant with the relevant objectives and policies of the Monaghan County Development Plan 2025-2031. 9.7 RETAILING The County Monaghan Retail Development Strategy 2016-2022 was prepared in accordance with the provisions set out in the Retail Planning Guidelines for Planning Authorities 2012. The overriding aim of the strategy is to create the appropriate conditions necessary to foster a healthy and vibrant retailing environment over the period of the strategy. Any new retail development should be located within the town centres and if no sites are available, consideration may be given to retail development on edge of town centre sites. All retail development proposals shall comply with the sequential approach and may also require the submission of a Retail Impact Assessment and/or a Traffic Impact Assessment, depending on the nature, size and scale of the proposed development. TCO 1 To promote and develop the town centres as the principal location for retail, office, leisure, entertainment, cultural and service uses and to encourage the refurbishment, renewal and re-use of existing buildings and derelict sites within it. TOWN CENTRE OBJECTIVES TCO 2 To protect the vitality and viability of the town centres by promoting a diversity of uses within them, with a presumption in favour of development that would make a positive contribution to ensuring that the town centres continue to provide a focus for shopping. TCO 3 To promote the vitality and viability of the town centres by prohibiting, except in exceptional circumstances, the location of town centre uses such as financial institutions, offices, etc outside the designated town centres. TCO 4 To use statutory legislation to discourage and prevent dereliction and encourage regeneration and development in the town centres. TCO 5 To ensure that sufficient parking is available for town centre uses. TCO 6 To continue to provide public investment directly and in partnership with the voluntary and private sector to support the vibrancy of the town centres. TCO 7 To encourage the principal of living over the shop within the town centres. TCO 8 To encourage and facilitate the undergrounding of utility cables in the town centres. TCO 9 To continue to encourage and accommodate the regeneration of backlands in the town centres where appropriate, including the construction of new urban streets to provide access to inaccessible lands. Monaghan County Development Plan 2025 – 2031
- 245 9.8 INDUSTRY, ENTERPRISE AND EMPLOYMENT It is recognised that there is a need for greater employment opportunities within the towns in order to sustain and retain the growing population of both the towns and the wider rural hinterland. The population of County Monaghan primarily works within the County but there is a significant cohort of County Monaghan’s population that commutes to larger urban areas and across the border for employment opportunities. Due to their strategic location, a higher proportion of the population of Carrickmacross and Castleblayney are attracted to job opportunities outside of the County, primarily due to their close proximity to the key transport corridor (Dublin to Belfast) and large urban centres such as Dundalk and Dublin. The priority for the large towns is to cater for economic growth to provide secure and sustainable jobs. Business growth and development will be encouraged to provide secure, sustainable jobs and promote economic development including tourism and rural diversification. The provision of sufficient zoned industrial and employment lands provides an indicator to potential employment generating uses as well as encouraging the location of new industries into the towns. This Development Plan sets out to assist anyone who wishes to establish or expand industrial, commercial or other such endeavours that will provide increased employment opportunities in the County, subject to normal development management requirements and technical criteria. RTO 1 To protect the vitality and viability of the town centres as the principal shopping area by encouraging development that would maintain and consolidate the retail core (as defined by the town centre zoning) of the towns. RETAILING OBJECTIVES IEO 1 To ensure that sufficient and suitable land is reserved for new industrial development at appropriate locations, where there are existing infrastructural facilities, services and good communications, or where they can be provided at a reasonable cost. INDUSTRY, ENTERPRISE AND EMPLOYMENT OBJECTIVES IEO 2 To facilitate the growth and/or expansion of existing industrial enterprises where appropriate, subject to the Development Management Standards in Chapter 15, of the Monaghan County Development Plan 2025-2031. Such developments should not unduly impact on the residential amenity of existing residential properties. IEO 3 To encourage and promote the sustainable development of industry within the towns over the plan period. IEO 4 To co-operate with Industrial Development Agency (IDA) Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, community groups and other relevant bodies to ensure a co-ordinated approach to the provision of necessary infrastructure and services to support industrial development. RTO 2 To prohibit the location of retail development outside the town centres unless the development is compliant with the policies contained in the County Monaghan Retail Strategy 2016-2022 and the DECLG Retail Planning Guidelines for Planning Authorities (and any new or updated/subsequent versions). RTO 3 To encourage the provision of a wider range of convenience and comparison goods, and size of retail units in the town centres. strategic objectives for settlementschapter 09
- 246 IEO 5 To ensure that a high standard of design, layout and amenity is provided and maintained in all new industrial developments. IEO 6 To continue to support and facilitate cross-border co-operation and trade between County Monaghan and Northern Ireland. IEO 7 To consider proposals for industrial and commercial development on sites located in close proximity to the edge of towns, where it has been demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Planning Authority that the proposed development cannot be accommodated within the town settlement envelope due to lack of available suitably zoned lands, or on the grounds of amenity or environmental considerations. 9.9 INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES County Monaghan’s national and regional road network ensures strong connectivity with the larger towns of Dundalk, Cavan, Enniskillen, Armagh and Omagh. Improvements to this road network including the by-passes of Castleblayney and Carrickmacross, have strengthened the County’s position and its future development potential. ISO 1 To construct new roads and improve the existing road network in, around and through the towns, to open up development lands and improve traffic safety. INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES OBJECTIVES ISO 2 To reduce traffic congestion and improve access and traffic flow throughout the towns. ISO 3 To construct and maintain pedestrian and traffic safety measures, and implement traffic control measures, where required, throughout the towns. ISO 4 To regulate and manage car-parking facilities throughout the towns in accordance with Chapter 15 Development Management Standards, of the Monaghan County Development Plan 2025-2031 and ensure that adequate off-street car parking and servicing space is provided in all new developments. ISO 5 To strengthen and reconstruct all deficient sections of road pavement and footpath and provide additional pavements and footpaths in residential areas when resources become available. ISO 6 To co-operate with developers in the provision of access points, roads, footpaths and services where it is deemed necessary. ISO 7 To ensure that, where appropriate, adequate space is provided in all new developments for off-street car parking and the provision of loading space within the curtilage of new developments, having due regard to any current National Guidelines aimed at reducing congestion. ISO 8 To control and restrict any new direct access points or intensification of use of existing accesses onto the national road network within the general speed limit areas in accordance with the Spatial Planning and National Planning Guidelines (2012) or any new or updated/subsequent versions, and all relevant policies contained within the Monaghan County Development Plan 2025-2031. Monaghan County Development Plan 2025 – 2031
- 247 9.10 NATURAL AND BUILT HERITAGE County Monaghan has a rich heritage, both natural and built, and the setting of County Monaghan’s towns is shaped by the natural topography which provides the County with a unique character. There are fine examples of built heritage within all five towns which enhance the appearance and character of each town. Each of the towns enjoy a wealth of natural amenities which include lakes, rivers, woodlands in proximity to them, some of which are designated areas of Primary and Secondary Amenity Areas or proposed Natural Heritage Areas (pNHAs). This Development Plan sets out to protect these amenities from any development that would detrimentally impact on them or their designation. NBHO 1 To promote the value of Monaghan’s natural and built heritage resources as an asset for the local economy and a key benefit to the amenity of the area and the well-being of the community. NATURAL AND BUILT HERITAGE OBJECTIVES NBHO 2 To prohibit development that would detrimentally impact on the value or designation of areas of natural amenity in the towns. NBHO 3 To protect individual trees, groups of trees and woodland areas because of their nature conservation value or their contribution to amenity of the town and require the retention of existing mature trees and hedgerows in all new developments, except in exceptional circumstances. NBHO 4 To prohibit development in Landscape Protection/Conservation (LPC) areas unless in exceptional circumstances, where it has been clearly proven to the Planning Authority that the works would not be contrary to the zoning objective as outlined in Chapter 9 of the Monaghan County Development Plan 2025-2031. NBHO 5 To have regard to nature conservation issues when considering proposals for development which may detrimentally impact on habitats, species, or features worthy of protection. NBHO 6 To protect and preserve the Protected Monuments and Structures located within the towns. NBHO 7 To protect existing Architectural Conservation Areas (ACAs) by ensuring that all developments within them comply with the policies set out in, Chapters 6 and 15 of the Monaghan County Development Plan 2025-2031 and the DEHLG Architectural Heritage Protection Guidelines (2011) or any new or updated/ subsequent versions. In these areas the repair and refurbishment of existing buildings will be favoured over demolition and new build. NBHO 8 To protect the architectural quality of the towns by investigating the potential of designating additional Architectural Conservation Areas (ACAs) in accordance with the DEHLG Architectural Heritage Protection Guidelines (2011) for Planning Authorities during the plan period, subject to resources. NBHO 9 To protect and conserve the streetscape character, architectural quality and heritage of the towns. NBHO 10 To ensure that new developments enhance, respect and compliment the form and scale of the existing town streetscape and architecture. NBHO 11 To preserve features which contribute to the townscape and character of the town (e.g. archways, facades, stonework, iron railings etc). strategic objectives for settlementschapter 09
- 248 9.11 RECREATION AND AMENITY There are a range of existing cultural and civic facilities within each of the five towns including the County Museum, Libraries, the Garage Theatre, the Carrickmacross Workhouse, Ballybay Wetlands Centre, the Peace Campus, Ulster Canal Stores and the Íontas Centre. Natural amenities in close proximity to the towns also provide for walking, angling and golfing. It is therefore recognised that areas of public open space and networks of green areas should be protected. It is also a policy of this Development Plan to provide for essential areas of private and public open space within any new residential developments which are being proposed. The Council will endeavour to protect and preserve areas of high amenity and open space value and restrict overdevelopment of urban areas. 9.12 TOURISM County Monaghan needs to establish itself as a tourism destination by improving the visitor facilities and amenities on offer. This can be achieved by focusing on protecting the built and natural environment and capitalising upon the vibrancy of the towns. It is recommended that the town centres should be developed as attractive places to visit. REO 1 To promote the value of the County’s recreational and amenity resources as a key asset to the local economy and to the health and wellbeing of the community. RECREATION AND AMENITY OBJECTIVES TUO 1 To promote and facilitate the development of County Monaghan as a tourism centre in co-operation with the public and private sector. TOURISM OBJECTIVES TUO 2 To accommodate sustainable tourism related projects related to the natural assets of the towns. TUO 3 To encourage and accommodate the reopening of the Ulster Canal. REO 2 To prohibit development on zoned recreation and amenity/open space lands unless it is clearly demonstrated that it is of compatible amenity value and that there will be no adverse effect on the environment. REO 3 To provide sufficient recreation and amenity/open space areas within the towns for their populations and prevent the loss of existing public or private open space unless alternative facilities are provided in a suitable location elsewhere. REO 4 To support the development of social, recreational, sporting and community facilities in appropriate locations. REO 5 To co-operate with relevant educational authorities in developing additional facilities in the towns with the view of improving the availability of ancillary facilities for education. REO 6 To maintain existing rights of way and investigate the creation of additional public rights of way, either by agreement, or by use of compulsory powers. REO 7 To require recreational facilities such as a cinema or bowling alley to be located within the town centre or on the edge of the town centre. Alternative sites within the settlement limit shall only be considered acceptable where it is clearly demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Planning Authority that there are no town centre or edge of town centre sites that are suitable, viable or available. Monaghan County Development Plan 2025 – 2031
Source Monaghan County Council: Monaghan County Development Plan 2025–2031 (2025–2031) · Licence the publisher's termsText read from the publisher’s PDF; tables, maps and drawings do not survive as text, and page numbers are the PDF’s (its first page is 1). Check the original before relying on a passage.