Notice of Proposed Variation No. 1 to the Cavan County Development Plan 2022-2028 incorporating a Local Area Plan for Cavan Town

Notice is hereby given pursuant to Section 58 of the Planning and Development Act 2024, as amended, that Cavan County Council has prepared proposed Draft Variation No. 1 to the Cavan County Development Plan 2022-2028 incorporating a Local Area Plan for Cavan Town.

Reason for the Proposed Variation

This proposed variation arises from the publication of the National Planning Framework (NPF) First Revision (2025), and the subsequent NPF Implementation: Housing Growth Requirements Guidelines for Planning Authorities (2025). Cavan County Council therefore proposes to align the Cavan County Development Plan 2022-2028 incorporating a Local Area Plan for Cavan Town with the ministerial guidelines published in accordance with Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended). This Variation will also incorporate the Compact Settlement Guidelines into the written text of the County Development Plan. 

To this end it is proposed to amend the text of ‘Volume 1 – Written Statement’ of the Cavan County Development Plan incorporating a Local Area Plan for Cavan Town and to amend land use zoning maps.

Public Consultation on the Proposed Variation No.1

The Proposed Variation No. 1 and accompanying:

  • Screening for Appropriate Assessment (AA) Report and associated Screening for AA Determination pursuant to the EU Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) and the Planning and Development Act 2024, as amended.
  • Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Environmental Report (prepared by the planning authority of the likely significant effects on the environment of implementing the proposed Variation) and associated SEA Screening Determination in accordance with the SEA Directive (2001/42/EC) and pursuant to the European Union (Land Use Planning – SEA) Regulations 2025.
  • An addendum to the Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) Report of the Cavan County Development Plan 2022-2028, pursuant to the provisions of the Guidelines for Planning Authorities (2009) on The Planning System and Flood Risk Management.
  • Settlement Capacity Audit

can be inspected during office hours at the

  • Customer Service Desk, 1st Floor, Johnston Central Library, Farnham Street, Cavan Town, H12 R6V2,
  • Cavan-Belturbet Municipal District Office, Ballyconnell, Co. Cavan
  • Bailieborough-Cootehill Municipal District Office, Cootehill Courthouse, Cootehill,
  • Ballyjamesduff Municipal District, Virginia Courthouse, Virginia, Co. Cavan.

for a period of 4 weeks, from Thursday, 4th June 2026 to Thursday, 2nd July 2026.

Notice of Determination in Respect of the Screening for Appropriate Assessment of Proposed Variation No. 1

Cavan County Council has undertaken Appropriate Assessment Screening and has determined, pursuant to the European Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) and Section 202 of Part 6 of the Planning and Development Act 2024, as amended, that any likelihood of Proposed Variation No. 1, either individually or in combination with any other plan or project, having any significant effect on any European site can be excluded in view of the conservation objectives of the habitats or species for which these sites have been designated. Therefore, Stage 2 AA is not required for Proposed Variation No. 1. The Screening for AA Determination has been informed by a Screening for AA Report – both documents detail the reasons for the determination and accompany the Proposed Variation, including being available alongside Proposed Variation on  https://consult.cavancoco.ie.

How to make submissions

Written submissions or observations in respect of the proposed Variation 1 and the accompanying environmental reports (see list above) may be made to the Planning Authority in the following ways:

Senior Executive Planner,
Forward Planning Section,
Cavan County Council,
Farnham Centre,
Farnham Street,
Cavan Town, H12 C9K1.

Please make your submission by one medium only, i.e. EITHER online OR in hard copy.

Written submissions on the Proposed Variation and the accompanying SEA, AA and SFRA documents (see list above), must include the full name and address of the person(s) making the submission and where relevant, the body or organisation represented. Written submissions, including the name of those making the submission, will be published on Cavan County Council's website within 10 working days of their receipt. Written submissions will be taken into consideration before the making of the variation. Late submissions will not be taken into consideration.

Compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

Please note that any observations or submissions received will be made public on the Council’s website and may also be available for inspection at the offices of Cavan County Council. Submissions will form part of the statutory Chief Executive’s Report to be presented to the elected members of the Council.

Please be advised that the contents of submissions, including the names of those making submissions, may be shared with relevant Council Departments or agents involved in the preparation of the Variation to the Development Plan and may also be included in reports relating to the making of the Variation to the Development Plan.

Personal data provided as part of this process (which may include personal or sensitive data) is collected for the purpose of receiving and considering submissions and will be processed in accordance with applicable data protection legislation. The lawful basis for this processing is Article 6(1)(e) of the General Data Protection Regulation and the Planning and Development Acts.

Further information on how Cavan County Council processes personal data, including details of your rights, is available in the Council’s Privacy Statement at: http://www.cavancoco.ie/privacy-statement.htm or in hard copy from the Council’s offices at Farnham Street, Cavan.