Planning and Development Act 2024

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Interim report on implementation of development plan

56. (1) A planning authority shall take such steps as may be necessary for securing the objectives of the development plan and to monitor the implementation of those objectives.

(2) The chief executive of a planning authority shall, not earlier than 4 years and not later than 4 years and 9 months after the making of a development plan, give a report on the progress achieved towards securing the implementation of the development plan to the members of the authority (in this section referred to as an “interim implementation report”).

(3) The interim implementation report shall include—

(a) details of any relevant changes, since the making of the development plan, to—

(i) the National Planning Framework,

(ii) where relevant, the National Marine Planning Framework,

(iii) the regional spatial and economic strategy for the region within which the functional area to which the development plan relates is situated,

(iv) National Planning Statements (including details of any new National Planning Statements issued since the making of the development plan),

(v) any relevant transport strategy of the National Transport Authority, and

(vi) in the case of a coastal planning authority, the marine planning policy statement prepared and published under section 6 of the Act of 2021,

(b) a statement of the progress made in implementing the integrated overall strategy for the proper planning and sustainable development of the functional area to which the development plan relates,

(c) a statement of the progress made in implementing each of the strategies and statements prepared under sections 44 to 51 (which, in the case of a housing development strategy, shall measure progress made by reference to the housing strategy, the monitoring objectives included in the housing development strategy and having regard to any regulations made under paragraph (k) of subsection (3) of section 46 or paragraph (k) of subsection (3) of section 47 for the purposes of this paragraph),

(d) an outline of progress made towards the designation as an urban development zone of any area identified in the development plan as a candidate UDZ (within the meaning of Part 22 ) and the preparation and making of any development scheme for any site identified in the development plan, and the implications of such progress or the lack thereof for the implementation of the housing development strategy, and

(e) recommendations for consideration by the members as to proposed variations to the development plan for the purposes of—

(i) making it materially consistent with—

(I) the National Planning Framework,

(II) the National Marine Planning Framework,

(III) the regional spatial and economic strategy for the region within which the functional area to which the development plan relates is situated, and

(IV) any relevant National Planning Policies and Measures,

(ii) progressing the implementation of the integrated overall strategy for the proper planning and sustainable development of the area and the housing development strategy,

(iii) zoning for development, in the light of the contents of the outline of progress referred to in paragraph (d), of all or part of the area of a candidate UDZ (within the meaning of Part 22 ) which has not been designated as an urban development zone where the planning authority considers that the area concerned is required to be made available to accommodate growth, and to remove the area concerned from the area of the candidate UDZ, or remove the designation of the entire candidate UDZ, as appropriate,

(iv) adjusting the housing development strategy or housing strategy, or both, where new or revised housing needs have been identified by the chief executive of the planning authority in accordance with section 57 , and

(v) taking account of such other matters arising from the monitoring of the implementation of the development plan and preparation of the interim implementation report as the chief executive considers appropriate.

(4) Not later than 5 years after the making of the development plan, the members of a planning authority shall consider the interim implementation report from the chief executive and, by resolution, propose to make or not to make any such variation as recommended by the chief executive.

(5) Where, by resolution adopted under subsection (4), the members of a planning authority propose not to make a variation recommended by the chief executive for the purposes set out in subparagraph (i) of paragraph (e) of subsection (3), they shall so inform the Minister and the Office of the Planning Regulator as soon as practicable by notice in writing which notice shall contain a statement of the reasons for the decision not to make the recommended variation concerned.

(6) Where the members of a planning authority adopt a resolution under subsection (4) proposing to make a variation, that resolution shall be deemed to be a resolution adopted under paragraph (c) of subsection (3) of section 58 .