Report Paul Murphy
A plan for a strategic development zone for Clonmagadden in North Navan set up 24 years ago has just been revoked by Meath County Council. The 38 hectare site near Simonstown GFC was designated 24 years ago for high density residential development capable of accommodating up to 1,400 units. While acting as a long-term residential reserve, the area’s development was closely linked to critical infrastructure, including the LDR4 Distributor Road (now completed) and broader North Navan traffic relief initiatives. Meath GAA star and manager Colm O’Rourke was one of the original owners.
The strategic development zone (SDZ) was selected by Government by order for a specified type of development that was of social or economic importance to the State. The Clonmagadden Valley was designated for this purpose in 2001. Meath County Council was to prepare a plan for the designated lands under this scheme and any planning application submitted had to be consistent with this planning scheme. An Bord Pleanala approved a planning scheme for the Clonmagadden Valley SDZ in May 2004.
Senior planner Alan Russell told county councillors that the scheme was now 24 years old and did not comply with current environmental or planning legislation and guidelines. The revocation by the council would allow the landowner to proceed with a residential application. Sinn Fein Cllr Eddie Fennessy said that the site was at one stage owned by multiple landowners but that was now reduced to one landowner “which might make things a little easier”.
He said that in the original plan there was facility for an educational campus. During the last county development plan he had asked that consideration be given for the development of a secondary school on the Clonmagadden site. “It is long overdue. We have three national schools in that part of the town. All of the children from those schools are coming across . town and creating congestion in the mornings and this gives us the perfect opportunity of delivering a secondary school in the North Navan area” .
He wanted to know if there would be still the opening for a secondary school on the site. He said that house density rules had changed over the years and there was a potential for delivering even more houses on the site in any new plans.
Fianna Fail Cllr Padraig Fitzsimons wanted to know if the Clonmagadden Road continues 0on over to the Slane Road.
Alan Russell, replying to Cllr Fennessy, said there were 5-6 landowners in the original plan but that was now down to one. A planning scheme was no longer required or justified because of the fact that there was just one owner so the sequencing of all the infrastructure required is within one landowner’s control and that can be managed under the development management process.
In relation to the education campus, there was a site required to be reserved for that purpose. The single landowner was now continuing to reserve that site, Mr Russell said. There would also be a number of community facilities such as a crèche, playing field and open space. “It is not only houses but a considerable amount of community infrastructure”, he said.
Director of Services Martin Murray said that the original SDZ scheme included a road infrastructure layout that reflected land ownership but that was no longer the case and following with the now- one single owner, there would be more direct access from the current junction with the T-junction Clonmagadden Road to go directly to a four-legged crossroads and link directly over to the Slane Road. The revocation was proposed and seconded and agreed by the council.
