Investment for Dublin `development centres'

Selected towns in the Dublin hinterland can expect significant levels of investment and growth as part of a strategic plan for the greater Dublin area, the planning institute conference was told.

The development strategy identifies Drogheda, Navan, Balbriggan, Naas-Newbridge-Kilcullen and Wicklow as "primary development centres" which are to become self-sufficient in terms of employment and services.

Athy, Arklow and Kildare-Monasterevin are to be "secondary development centres" under the strategic planning guidelines for greater Dublin, which were recently drawn up for a number of local authorities and the Department of the Environment and Local Government.

Mr Michael Grace of consultants Brady Shipman Martin said large areas of "strategic green belt" would separate the selected development centres from each other and from the Dublin metropolitan area. These were essentially rural areas, in which development for rural uses would be permitted, but in which developments to service "overspill" from the metropolitan area would be resisted by local authorities.

The underlying concept was that they would become self-sufficient in terms of employment and services. The centres could expect significant investment and growth and would ultimately become major satellites in the settlement structure of greater Dublin.