This document discusses the interaction between spatial planning and river basin management in Ireland. It outlines the functions of planning authorities, including developing county development plans and managing development applications. It emphasizes that planning must ensure compatibility with River Basin Management Plans to promote sustainable development. Key policies like Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment are used to align plans, policies and projects. The document also discusses stakeholders in the planning process, and how river basin management influences planning policy, guidelines, and development decisions to protect water quality.

1. Interaction of Spatial Planning and
River Basin Management
Clare Lee, Planning Policy and
Projects, Tipperary County Council
October 2019

3. Functions associated with Planning
Authorities
• County/City Development Plan -
settlement & infrastructure,
environmental protection,
landscape management, flood
risk, economy & jobs, climate
change adaptation etc
• Manage new development by
granting or refusing permission
in line with the objectives of the
Development Plan/Planning
Guidelines.
• Manage and process planning
appeals, complaints and
enforcement as necessary.

4. River Basin Management Plan (RBMP)
Must ensure compatibility between planned growth and
objectives of RBMP in Plan-making and Decision making.
Key policy instruments to ensure that plans, policies and
projects are aligned are;
• Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and
Appropriate Assessment (AA), at a strategic plan and
programme making level, and
• Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and AA, at the
project level.

5. The WFD 2000/60/EC is given strong effect in Section 1(A) of
the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended.
Planning Framework

6. Project Ireland 2040
Alignment of Spatial Planning and Investment

7. Regional Spatial & Economic Strategies
National Strategic Outcome –
Sustainable Management of
Water and other Environmental
resources.
Alignment of Infrastructure and
growth (RPO3).
Population growth to have
regard to environment (RPO4).
All to be in place by end 2019.

8. City & County Development Plans
• 6 year frameworks for the sustainable physical development
of Cities & Counties.
• Must incorporate objectives including:
promotion of compliance with environmental standards and
objectives established —
(i) for surface water...;
(ii) for groundwater...;
which standards and objectives are included in RBMPs..
• SEA and AA Screening, Flood Risk Assessment, Section 28
Guidelines etc.
• All must be reviewed after publication of the Regional
Spatial and Economic Strategies.

9. Planning Authorities and Catchments
Each Local Authority prepares its
own Development Plan for its
administrative area.
Reserved Function – Key Role of
Elected Members.
Challenge of consistency i.e. the SE
Catchment encompasses parts of
eleven Local Authorities!
Opportunity to positively influence.

10. Stakeholders and Planning
Statutory Stakeholders
Consulted in both Plan making and Development Management.
Include – Inland Fisheries Ireland, Inland Waterways
Association of Ireland, Minister for Communications, Climate
Action and the Environment etc
Other important stakeholders are:
• The Elected Members (prescribed functions in Plan Making)
• The General Public (non-Statutory Stakeholders)
• Local Authority i.e. Environment.
• Adjoining Local Authorities

11. RBMP and Spatial Planning
Influence of WFD/ RBMP
• Planning Policy i.e. Riparian zones, Flood risk
management, Zoning, Safeguard zones etc.
• Section 28 Guidelines i.e. Flood Risk
Management Guidelines, Strategic
Environmental Assessment etc
• New development influenced by assimilative
capacity of water environment and services,
conditions may be applied, EIA & AA processes
etc.
• Submissions and Referrals.

12. Pressures on at Risk Water Bodies
Wide range of development types.
Wide range of consenting legislation:
i.e. Planning and Development
Regulations, GAP Regulations,
EIA (Agri) Regulations,
Forestry Regulations etc.
All aligned with WFD Objectives
Collaboration between Responsible
Authorities is important.

13. Planning for Planning!
• Development Plans – delivering a standardised approach i.e.
Blue Dot Catchments, Safeguard zones, Riparian zones etc.
• Proposed Departmental Planning Guidelines – timing and
content?
• Tools i.e. Environmental Sensitivity Mapping, GIS Modelling,
Awareness and Training for Planners, Issues Papers etc
• Local Catchment Characterisation & Pressures in SEA
processes.
• All Plans to acknowledge current & next cycle RBMP (2027)
• Collaboration - Planning and Support and Advisory Teams

14. Thank You