Proposed Variation No.8A to the Kilkenny City & County Development Plan 2021: NPF Implementation: Housing Growth Requirements

 In accordance with Section 58(7)(b) of the Planning & Development Act 2024, as amended, notice is hereby given that Kilkenny County Council is proposing a Variation to the Kilkenny City & County Development Plan 2021.

 The reason for the proposed Variation is to change the zoning of land in Kilkenny City, to reflect the requirements of the Government’s National Planning Framework Implementation Guidelines. 

A copy of the Proposed Variation, including Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Screening report and Appropriate Assessment (AA) Screening Report, may be inspected at the following locations for a 4 week period from 6th March to the 3rd April 2026:  

• Online at http://consult.kilkenny.ie/
• The Planning Department, Kilkenny County Council, John Street, Kilkenny during office opening hours

Written submissions with respect to the proposed Variation, SEA and AA Screening Reports made to the Planning Authority within this period will be taken into consideration before the making of the Variation.  All submissions should be clearly marked ‘Variation No 8A’. 

Submissions can be made

• online at http://consult.kilkenny.ie, or
• addressed in writing to “Senior Planner, Kilkenny County Council, John Street, Kilkenny”.

Please note that all submissions will be made available for public viewing on the Council’s consultation website.  Kilkenny County Council will treat all personal data you give us as confidential. We will retain your data for no longer than is necessary for the purpose of this Variation and in accordance with the Council’s Retention Policy and the relevant Data Protection legislation.

Submissions must be received by the Planning Authority by 3rd April 2026. 

Tim Butler,

Director of Services

4th March 2026

Strategic Environmental Assessment

Determination on Strategic Environmental Assessment of Proposed Variation 8A

SEA-Screening-Report-Proposed-Variation-8A-KCCDP.pdf (size 521 KB)

SEA-Appendix-1-SFRA-Variation-8A.pdf (size 565.4 KB)

Ministerial Guidelines on National Planning Framework Implementation (the Guidelines), were published in July 2025. 

The Guidelines relate to updated housing growth requirements to reflect the National Planning Framework (NPF)  First Revision.  The Guidelines set out the housing demand scenario to 2040 for each local authority by translating the NPF requirements into estimated annual average figures, and require that local authorities take account of these. 

As a first step, planning authorities are required to assess the current City and County Development Plan core strategy and settlement strategy against the objective of the Guidelines.  This comprises a review of the adequacy of existing zoned lands to cater for housing growth requirement figures for the full duration of the Development Plan.  Having reviewed the adopted Development Plan, the Chief Executive is to prepare a report, setting out the capacity of zoned lands, and demonstrating the means by which it is proposed to secure the objectives of the Guidelines. 

The following report fulfils both of these requirements, and was approved at the Council meeting of 17th November 2025. 

Report to Elected Members on NPF Implementation: Housing Growth Requirements  - November 2025