The County Council’s work on a plan for the future of the heritage properties in its area, was chosen for the overall national Award for Planning and Economic Development by the Irish Planning Institute (IPI) at the Institute’s biennial awards gala recently

The IPI is the representative body for Irish planners and planners in Ireland. The Planning Awards recognise excellence under four headings – Plan Making, Design, Participation and Engagement and Planning and Economic Development. Fingal County Council has the largest portfolio of heritage properties in Ireland. It commissioned a Heritage Review with SLR Consulting to examine the strategic management and operation performance of these assets. The judges commended this project for its “focus on practical and viable utilisation of the County’s heritage properties, consistent with proper planning and heritage protection obligations.”

IPI President Joe Corr, a native of North County Dublin and previously a member of the Council, noted that the awards “highlight the diversity and wide scope of planning activity in Ireland today.

“The entrants exemplify the scope of planning as a positive discipline. Their work demonstrates how planning contributes to quality of life in urban and rural Ireland and helps all of us meet the challenges we face nationally and locally in managing sustainable growth”.