Slump means some Trim plan objectives won’t be met

Some objectives in the Trim Development Plan for 2008 to 2014 won't be met because of the downturn in the economy, councillors were told this week. The plan was adopted in November 2008 and sets out a template for the proper planning and sustainable development of Trim and its environs. Councillors were presented with a report this week on the progress in achieving the objectives of the plan. The report's authors advised that the review period for the preparation of the development plan had taken place in the context of “a more positive economic climateâ€. “However, the current economic downturn has resulted in a significant slowdown in the construction sector and increase in unemployment nationally. The economic downturn has, therefore, had a resultant impact on securing some of the objectives of the Development Plan,†they added. Preliminary consultations on the plan had taken place with the main service providers (providers of energy, telecommunications, transport, education) to discuss objectives and policies which were likely to have a significant bearing on development plan policy. Forty-five submissions had been received at pre-draft stage. The main issues raised at pre-draft stage in the submissions included land use zoning, employment and economic development, infrastructure, built and natural heritage and community infrastructure. Of the 45 submissions received, 16 consisted of proposals seeking the zoning or rezoning of lands for residential purposes. In one of the main chapters in the progress report - Settlement Strategy - it is noted that the housing market had changed fundamentally over the two years since the adoption of the current housing strategy. “Significant over-supply of housing, coupled with a worldwide economic downturn, has led to a major decrease in the value of residential property nationwide. This, in turn, has resulted in a major slowdown in construction activity in the country. The economic downturn has impacted upon the securing of some of the objectives in the Settlement Strategy.†An objective of the plan was to provide sufficient and appropriately located lands for industrial and commercial develoopment and the report says this has been achieved with sufficient lands being zoned for this purpose at locations throughout Trim. Additional lands had been zoned at Scurlockstown Business Park to allow for its future expansion if required over the period of the plan. Lands off the Dunderry Road had also been identified to provide for small and medium-sized industries of a local nature and to allow for the displacement of non-compatible and industrial uses from the town centre and other locations. Adequate lands were also available at Oaktree Business Park to serve future needs, the report added. It also said that Trim's water and sewerage networks had been upgraded to allow for future growth. The current water distribution input is 3,066 cubic metres/day and the scheme has capacity to supply 4,500 cubic emtres/day to Trim and its environs. Waste water needs are also adequate. Dealing with educational/social and community facilities, the review states that lands at Blackfriary had been reserved as part of the Framework Plan requirements - 16 acres in total - for the provision of an integrated multi-school educational campus to accommodate a primary school (four acres) and a secondary school (12 acres). A site to the south-east of the town off the Dublin Road had been reserved for a second multi-school campus to accommodate a primary school and a site to facilitate the relocation of the gaelscoil. A four-acre site has also been reserved for a primary school at Newtown.