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Planning Department
The purpose of the Planning Section is to provide for the proper planning and sustainable development of the county, to promote and facilitate the development of sustainable communities and enterprise, and to ensure the protection of the natural and built heritage and amenity of the county.
Clarification on the operation of Planning System during COVID-19 Emergency
Despite the current COVID 19 emergency, Waterford City & County Council continues to provide a range of planning services including the processing and determining of planning applications, as well as associated public submissions/observations.
Applicants can continue to lodge planning applications by post and the public can view those applications online via our Online Planning Enquiries system.
Our public office is open by appointment only to members of the public who wish to inspect a current planning application but who cannot examine it on our website due to their lack of internet access. If you wish to request an appointment to inspect a current application for planning permission which you are unable to view on our website please telephone 0761-102020 from 9:30-1:00 or 2:30-4:00.
Members of the public can continue to make submissions by post or by email using the following email address: planning@waterfordcouncil.ie and should in all instances provide contact telephone numbers to enable the planning authority to verify their submissions and to make arrangements for the payment of any associated fees.
In addition, submissions by applicants for planning permission (such as responses to requests for further information) that would normally be presented at the public counters can now be submitted by email and will then be processed in the normal way.
Face-to-face pre-planning meetings with prospective applicants have been temporarily suspended but our District Planners will continue to engage in pre-planning consultations by email and telephone with those who have completed and submitted the form which is available at this link.
TEMPORARY PLANNING EXEMPTIONS
The Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government has also introduced two specific temporary planning exemptions to deal with issues arising specifically as a result of the current COVID 19 emergency. These are:
- a) For the period of the emergency, the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) and the associated Regulations will not apply to certain classes of development by or on behalf of a State authority. This may include the change of use and repurposing of existing buildings and facilities, and/or the provision of temporary new-build accommodation and structures to address the COVID-19 civil emergency.
- b) A change in use from a premises selling food for consumption on the premises to one providing food for consumption off the premises, during the period of the emergency, will be considered an exempt development.
Development Plans – Extension of Lifetime
On 1st June 2014 Waterford City & County Council was established following the amalgamation of Waterford City Council and Waterford County Council. The three existing development plans within the amalgamated Council area, Waterford City Development Plan 2013 – 2019, Waterford County Development Plan 2011 – 2017, & the Dungarvan Town Development Plan 2012 – 2018, will have their lifetime extended, as per Section 11A of the Planning & Development Act 2000 (as amended) and will remain in effect until the new Regional Spatial & Economic Strategy is made by the Southern Regional Assembly, and thereafter a new City and County Development Plan will be prepared. Please see the Forward Planning section of this website for further information.
Waterford North Quays Planning Scheme
Notice is hereby given pursuant to Section 169 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, (as amended) Article 179 of the Planning and Development (Strategic Environmental Assessment) Regulations 2004 (as amended) and Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC that Waterford City and County Council, at its meeting on the 8th February 2018, having complied with the provisions of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) decided by resolution to make the Waterford North Quays Planning Scheme.
A copy of the Planning Scheme together with accompanying Environmental Report and Natural Impact Report are available for inspection during normal office hours at the following locations:
Documentation
Any person or body who made submissions or observations in relation to the Draft Planning Scheme, may appeal the decision of the planning authority to An Bord Pleanala within 4 weeks from the date of the planning authority’s decision (i.e. 4 weeks from the 8th of February 2018)
Contact the Planning Department
0761 10 20 20
planning@waterfordcouncil.ie
Office Locations
Opening Hours
Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 1:00pm and 2:00pm to 4:00pm.