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12. Land Development Agency Mr. Cathal Flynn Director of Economic Development, Planning & Capital Projects Forward Planning Team, Monaghan County Council, Planning Offices, 1 Dublin Street, Monaghan, H18 X982 3/7/2023 RE: Review of the Monaghan County Development Plan, 2019 - 2025 Preparation of the Monaghan County Development Plan, 2025 - 2031 A Chara, The Land Development Agency welcome the opportunity to participate and engage with the Local Authority on the preparations of the Monaghan County Development Plan 2025 - 2031. The LDA is a commercial, state sponsored body that had been set up by Government. The enactment of the Land Development Agency Act 2021 establishing the LDA marks a historic move to identify and use certain relevant public lands to provide for housing and affordability need into the future. A priority focus for the LDA is under ‘Housing for All” and the relevant public lands identified for transfer to the LDA (expected to transfer to the LDA as soon as is practicable). It is imperative that the role, mandate and ability of state lands to deliver residential development forms part of local policy in the Monaghan County Development Plan and it is within this context that the submission is set out. The LDA note the themes and issues highlighted in the issues paper and wish to make a few comments/suggestions particularly regarding the mandate of the LDA and the approach to framing policies and objectives in the Monaghan County Development Plan 2025 – 2031. 1. Growth Strategy The LDA is committed to the concept of compact growth and brownfield development and the LDA primary function is to progress the development and regeneration of largescale, strategic sites to increase the supply of housing in the State particularly affordable and social housing, It is considered that much of new development over the coming years in our cities and towns will be large scale regenerative projects and these areas should be reflected in the objective and policy provisions of the Monaghan County Development Plan. 2. Regeneration and land use planning The LDA support regeneration and play a key role in coordinating appropriate State lands for regeneration and development, opening key sites which are not being used effectively for housing delivery in driving strategic land assembly, working with both public and private sector landowners 2 Public land is a very important asset for the state, allowing it to provide a host of services and functions and to plan for the future of the nation. To the effect of the important of state and public land the LDA considers that the plan should be guided by the potential of regeneration area in state ownership. The register of relevant lands is a public web map showing all relevant public lands. Under the LDA Act it is a requirement of the Agency to maintain a register of all relevant public land. The web map https://lda.ie/public-lands/register-of-relevant-lands could be used as a tool for the Local Authority to identify public land that could potential be used to deliver compact urban development and regeneration. The LDA support an integrated approach to land use and transportation solutions throughout the County and the LDA would welcome consultation and collaboration with the Council and the NTA on the preparation of the local transport plans having regard to redevelopment, compact growth and regeneration of public lands. 3. Quality Homes and Sustainable Communities The LDA recently welcomed the publication of the issues paper on proposed policy approach in relation to density and development standards for housing under the section 28 Compact Sustainable Settlement Guidelines Consultation. The guidelines when finalised will help realise the objectives of the National Planning Framework and will deliver on key actions outlined in the Housing For All 2022 Plan and Climate Action Plan 2023. It is considered that the Monaghan County Development Plan should take account of the guidelines when published. 4. Cost Rental Housing The LDA is committed to delivery of quality cost rental homes at scale. Cost rental is new rental option is supported by the Department of Housing, Local Government, and Heritage and the Affordable Housing Act 2021. Cost Rental is not fully understood as a tenure of housing with decision makers and the public. Cost rental housing and affordable for sale provides affordable rented and units for sale accommodation to people on middle incomes. It is aimed at people who are above the threshold for social housing but have difficulty affording private rented accommodation or purchasing their first home. In cost rental your rent covers the cost of the construction, management, and maintenance of the new home. Cost rental offers you a long-term, secure tenancy that is more affordable. Over the period up to 2026, Housing for All commits to the delivery of 10,000 cost rental homes in urban centres by local authorities, approved housing bodies (AHBs), and the Land Development Agency (LDA). The cost rental model of housing needs to be recognised and supported as a housing tenure in the policies and objectives contained within the County Development Plan. 5. Retailing and Town Centre First The LDA is committing to engaging and working with the Town Centre First Team at a national level and local level. The LDA has a commitment to develop brownfield sites in towns and will actively engage with the Council and other state authorities to identify potential for reuse of vacant and underutilised town sites. In this regard the LDA would draw the Councils attention to action 9 Town Centre First Policy Document which sets out the commitment of the LDA “to support the Town Centre First Objectives in the developments they are involved with in town with a population of over 10,000”. While the population of the towns in Monaghan do not currently reach the population of 10,000 it is considered over the lifetime of the plan the population target may be reached at which stage the LDA 3 is committed to engaging and working with as appropriate the town centre first team in Monaghan. Policies and objectives which support the Town Centre First Plans should be incorporated in the Development Plan. 6. Services to Local Authorities The LDA support the delivery of local authority programme for housing and would draw the attention of the Local Authority to Section 15 of the Land Development Agency Act 2021 which sets out services that the LDA can provide to Local Authorities. It is considered that the Monaghan County Development Plan should recognise the LDA Act 2021, and the service provision provided for in the Act to the Local Authority. The LDA request that the submission is taken into consideration in the drafting of the Monaghan County Development Plan 2025 - 2031, the LDA look forward to working with Monaghan County Council and other stakeholders to progress the development of state land and sustainable residential communities. Yours faithfully, _____________________ Emer O’Callaghan MIPI Planning Manager Mob: +353 86 0841724 Email: eocallaghan@lda.ie Web: lda.ie