Planning and Development Act 2024

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PART 22

Urban Development Zones

Chapter 1

Preliminary and General

Interpretation

596. In this Part—

“blue infrastructure” means aspects of the natural and built environment relating to water, waterways and waterbodies that provide a range of ecosystem and social benefits, including infrastructure such as flood defences and relating to sustainable water management;

“candidate UDZ” means a suitable site that has been so designated by a planning authority in a development plan;

“critical land” means land which, or any part of which, is situated within—

(a) a candidate UDZ, or

(b) an urban development zone,

that is identified in a planning framework as required for public infrastructure and facilities;

“decision under section 609 ” means—

(a) a decision by the planning authority—

(i) to make, subject to any modifications in accordance with section 610 , a draft development scheme, or

(ii) not to make a draft development scheme,

or

(b) a decision under subsection (3) of section 609 deeming that a draft development scheme has been made;

“development agency” means a local authority, the Land Development Agency, or such other agency or person as may be prescribed for the purposes of this Part;

“draft development scheme” has the meaning given to it by section 606 ;

“green infrastructure” means aspects of the natural and built environment relating to land that provides a range of ecosystem and social benefits, including infrastructure to support decarbonisation and the reduction of greenhouse gases;

“planning framework” shall be construed in accordance with section 603 ;

“public infrastructure and facilities” means any of the following:

(a) open spaces, recreational and community facilities and amenities and landscaping works;

(b) roads, car parks, car parking places, surface water sewers and flood relief work, and ancillary infrastructure;

(c) bus corridors and lanes, bus interchange facilities (including car parks for those facilities), infrastructure to facilitate public transport, cycle and pedestrian facilities, and traffic calming measures;

(d) the refurbishment, upgrading, enlargement or replacement of roads, car parks, car parking places, surface water sewers, flood relief work and ancillary infrastructure;

(e) high-capacity telecommunications infrastructure, such as broadband;

(f) blue infrastructure;

(g) sites for schools and other educational facilities including childcare facilities;

(h) sites for hospitals and other healthcare facilities;

(i) sites for centres for the social, economic, recreational, cultural, environmental, or general development of the community;

(j) sites for facilities for the elderly and for persons with disabilities;

(k) green infrastructure;

(l) any matters which are ancillary to anything which is referred to in paragraphs (a) to (k);

(m) works relating to the character and amenities of public areas, including roads, footpaths, lanes, parks, squares, open spaces and building facades;

(n) such other matters as the Minister may prescribe by regulations;

“suitable site” has the meaning given to it by section 597 .