Online Planning Enquiries

Planning Applications are viewable by Map or Text search below.

In the case of former County Council applications, planning enquiries may be made on all applications received from 1st January 2004. In the case of former City Council and Dungarvan Town Council applications, the same applies from 1st January 2006.

Please note, there may be a delay between the lodgment date of an application and the availability of the scanned application on the Planning Enquiries system.

Planning Applications Map Search

Planning Applications Text Search

Material Contraventions

A Material Contravention refers to a situation where a proposed development or change in land use significantly deviates from the provisions of a local area plan, or the Development Plan.

Waterford City & County Council, as the Planning Authority, has the power to grant planning permission for developments that contravene the local Development Plan, but only under specific circumstances.

When a planning application is made that doesn’t comply with the provisions of the local development plan but is considered desirable by the Council for social, economic, or other reasons, it may be granted permission on the basis of it being a material contravention.

In such cases, the Planning Authority must:

• publish notice of its intentions in a local newspaper. Direct notice is also given to the applicant and to any person who has made written objections to the application. Any person may make objections or representations to the Planning Authority within 4 weeks of the public notice.
• three quarters of the Elected Members must vote in favour of allowing the contravention (24/32).
• provide clear and specific reasons for deciding to permit the contravention. These reasons should outline why the proposed development would be in the public interest, notwithstanding its deviation from the plan.

The idea behind material contraventions is to provide flexibility in planning decisions while still ensuring that there’s significant oversight and transparency whenever deviations from a planning strategy are considered.

Viewing a Planning Application

Planning applications may be viewed above, using the map search or text search facility above.

Please note that for all previous (pre-merger) Waterford County Council applications, electronic versions of all applications received from 1st January 2004 are available to view, whilst for previous Waterford City Council & Dungarvan Town Council applications, electronic versions are available from 1st January 2006 onwards.

If you wish to request an appointment to inspect a current application for planning permission (which you are unable to view/find on our website), please telephone 051-849562 from 9:30-1:00 or 2:30-4:00.

Commenting on a Planning Application

Anyone in Ireland has the right to view and thereafter make a comment (also called an observation) on a planning application made to any local authority.

• Upon payment of a fee of €20, anyone has the right to make a written submission on, or objection to, any application.
• This must be made within 5 weeks of the date of receipt of the planning application by Waterford City & County Council. Submissions received after the 5 week deadline will not be accepted.
• Submissions or observations must be made in writing, must quote the Planning Application’s reference number, as well as the name and address of the observer. All submissions/objections are also made available for viewing on the public file and this website.

Planning Permission applicants must put up a site notice and advertise in a local newspaper so that members of the public are aware of the application. The Planning Department prepares weekly lists of planning applications – available here – and which are also available for inspection in our offices and in the local libraries.

All documents submitted with a planning application are available for viewing and the Planning Authority cannot make a decision on an application until the submission period of 5 weeks has elapsed.

Process

• Submissions/objections should be forwarded to: The Planning Department, Waterford City & County Council, Menapia Building, The Mall, Waterford.
• Please do not send cash through the post.
• All objections are acknowledged in writing and notification of the planning decision is made to all observers within 3 days of the making of a decision. If you made a submission/objection that has been acknowledged by the local authority, you have the right to appeal the subsequent planning decision to An Bord Pleanála. You also have the right to be informed of any other appeals that have been lodged to An Bord Pleanála and to receive a copy of the appeal.
• Submissions can also be made by email to planning@waterfordcouncil.ie Submissions made in this manner must include the senders full postal address and telephone number. Staff of the planning office will telephone the sender to arrange payment of the €20 fee which must be made before the expiry of the 5 week submission period.

Can I withdraw a submission / objection?

There is no mechanism in the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 (as amended) for the withdrawal of a submission/objection.

You may however make a further addition to your submission/objection, instructing the Planning Authority to disregard your original objection. Please note that both the original submission and request for withdrawal of the submission will remain on the planning file but will then not be considered by the Planning Authority when making a decision.