An Taisce welcomes the opportunity to review the Draft First Revision to the National Planning Framework and has made the following submission. 

This follows on from our engagement with the Planning Advisory Forum on the review of the current version of NPF, the Issues Paper on the key focuses for the revision, and the stakeholder forum on the environmental assessments for the revised NPF. It also follows on from An Taisce’s extensive engagement with the preparation of the original NPF in 2016-2018.

The National Planning Framework (NPF) is the central national planning policy to guide development in Ireland to 2040. It plays a fundamental role in how we shape our communities and our environment and in how we address the crises we currently face in climate, biodiversity loss, housing provision, etc.

The Draft First Revision to the National Planning Framework has made a number of improvements on the original 2018 NPF, however, in An Taisce’s view, there are multiple areas that require significant further revision. We would draw particular attention to two critical and overarching issues that are unresolved:

1. The Draft Revised NPF has not effectively or adequately reconciled most areas of the plan with our climate obligations. There is a very high level of ambition needed for the NPF, Ireland’s apex spatial planning policy, to play its crucial role in achieving compliance with our legally binding emissions reduction obligations. This not evident in the Draft.

2. The Draft Revised NPF has failed to provide a meaningful implementation plan with detailed targets and timelines. As a result, many of its important, though often vague, objectives will likely remain aspirational.

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Read An Taisce’s Submission on the Draft First Revision to the National Planning Framework by clicking here.

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You can read An Taisce’s submission on the original draft NPF back in 2017 here.