Variation (No. 1) to the County Development Plan 2024-2030

Variation (No. 1) to the County Development Plan 2024-2030 was made by the Elected Members at the Council meeting of the 27th of July 2026, came into effect on the same day, and includes (in summary):

  • New Area Plans for An Clochán Liath, Ballyshannon, Bridgend, Carndonagh, Donegal Town and Killybegs and associated Local Transport Plans.

  • Amendments to the Buncrana Area Plan, the Letterkenny Plan, and the Ballybofey/Stranorlar Area Plan.

  • Amendments to Settlement Frameworks for Laghy, Ardara, Creeslough, Dunfanaghy, Culdaff, Gleneely, Manorcunningham, and Newtowncunningham, a new Clachan for Drumoghill, and various other policy changes.

The finalised Variation (No. 1) documentation is published below. 

The Variation will be reviewed by the Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR) and the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage may in turn decide to issue a Draft Direction regarding changes to the Variation. The Variation was subject to public consultation at both Draft and Proposed Material Alteration (PMA) stages, Strategic Environmental Assessment, Appropriate Assessment, and Strategic Flood Risk Assessment.

Variation (No. 1) Main Document (English) including amendments to Settlement Frameworks and other policy changes

Variation (No. 1) Main Document (Gaeilge) To be published shortly

An Clochán Liath Land Use Zoning Map (Final)

Ballyshannon Land Use Zoning Map (Final)

Bridgend Land Use Zoning Map (Final)

Carndonagh Land Use Zoning Map (Final)

Donegal Town Land Use Zoning Map (Final)

Killybegs Land Use Zoning Map (Final)

Amendments to Buncrana Land Use Zoning Map with Proposed Material Alterations

Amendments to Ballybofey/Stranorlar Land Use Zoning Map with Proposed Material Alterations‍ ‍

Amendments to Letterkenny Land Use Zoning Map (Final)

Variation (No.1) is also accompanied by Local Transport Plans for An Clochán Liath, Ballyshannon, Bridgend, Carndonagh, Donegal Town, and Killybegs.

Proposed Material Alteration (PMA) Stage Documentation

At the Special Plenary meeting of the 27th of April agreed to publish Proposed Material Alterations to the Proposed Variation. 

Said Proposed Material Alterations (PMAs) English and Irish main document, associated land use zoning maps for An Clochán Liath, Ballyshannon, Bridgend, Carndonagh, Donegal Town, Killybegs, Letterkenny,Buncrana, and Ballybofey/Stranorlar and associated revised Natura Impact Report,Environmental Report, and Strategic Flood Risk Report were all published for public consultation between the 5th of June and 3rd July 2026.  

A Chief Executive’s Report and associated addendum on the PMA public consultation was considered by the Elected Members prior to the making of the final Variation.

Draft Stage Documentation

The Proposed Variation (as originally published) at Draft Stage contained a Main Document in English and Irish new Land Use Zonings Maps for An Clochán Liath, Ballyshannon, Bridgend, Carndonagh, Donegal Town and Killybegs and amended Land Use Zoning Maps for Letterkenny, Buncrana, and Ballybofey/Stranorlar. A summary documentwas also published. Statutory notices were also published in English and Irish.

The Proposed Variation (as originally published) was also accompanied by Local Transport Plans for An Clochán Liath, Ballyshannon, Bridgend, Carndonagh, Donegal Town, and Killybegs.‍ ‍‍ ‍

The Proposed Variation (as originally published) was also accompanied by the following environmental assessments and associated screening determinations.

All of the above Draft Stage Documentation was published for public consultation between the 16th of January and the 13th of February 2026. The Elected Members considered a Chief Executive’s Report on the Draft stage consultation prior to agreeing Proposed Material Alterations to the Proposed Variation.