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
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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
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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