Shane Cassells (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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63. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will rescind the ministerial order for the SDZ in Clonmagadden, Navan, County Meath, in view of the fact that the scheme is no longer fit for purpose in its current guise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33107/17]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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A 38-hectare site at Clonmagadden in Navan, County Meath was designated as a Strategic Development Zone by Government Order in 2001. The lands were designated for the purpose of strategic housing development, together with the necessary supporting social and physical infrastructure. A Planning Scheme was subsequently prepared for a total of 1,400 housing units to be developed on the site. This Planning Scheme was approved by An Bord Pleanála in 2004 and this remains in force as the development framework for the subject site.

While the lands have not been developed to date, this largely reflects the downturn in economic conditions since 2007 which impacted on housebuilding nationally.

While section 169(6) of the Planning & Development Act 2000 (as amended) provides that ‘The Government may revoke or amend an order’ in relation to the designation of an SDZ, the suitability of the subject lands for new housing remains valid and accords with the development of Navan as an important regional growth centre and county town. I understand that Meath County Council are pursuing the development of the lands in question, as the designated Development Agency, with the objective of securing construction of the identified housing over a number of phases.

In relation to the appropriateness of the current provisions of the adopted Planning Scheme for Clonmagadden, relevant changes to the SDZ legislation were made in the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2015. These changes specifically facilitate a streamlined procedure in relation to the making of amendments to a SDZ Planning Scheme, where they are considered necessary. The procedure is intended to enable the adaptation of approved Planning Schemes to respond to changed context and circumstances prevailing.

In view of this, I have no plans to rescind the Government Order.