Population growth in Meath expected to reach 240,000 by 2027

The population of Meath is still surging forward – in 2016 it was 195,000 and by 2022 it was 220,000, a jump of 13 per cent, county councillors were told in a briefing by senior executive planner Alan Russell.

The official was giving a progress report at the halfway stage of the Meath County Development Plan 2021-2027. The report, which the council is obliged to provide, is meant to outline the number of residential planning permissions and completions in addition to commercial permissions and completions.

The 2027 County Development Plan projected a population of 228,844 and if growth continues at the present rate it will be 240,311 in 2027. The Southern environs of Drogheda within Meath grew by 25 per cent; Ashbourne and Dunshaughlin grew by between 23 to 65 per cent. Dunboyne was the only settlement recording a decrease, however there was a large number of large scale development applications coming on stream. There will be a large population growth in the Dunboyne area as a result of these applications, Mr Russell said.

Details were given of the number of accommodation units permitted in Meath by housing type in year one and year two of the development plan. In 2021 there were 1,178 residential units granted permission on urban zoned land while in 2022 there were 1,304 units allowed permission. There was an 11 per cent increase in the number of units permitted.

With regard to completion figures, Mr Russell said that in 2021 there were 1,347 residential units while in 2022 there were 1,576 units completed. He said there were significant numbers of residential units under either judicial review process, subject to planning appeal or other processes.

In relation to the number of units permitted, he said that three-beds constituted 50 per cent of all and this was followed by two-bed units. In terms of one-off rural housing, Mr Russell said that 737 applications had been made since the start of the development plan – 571 had been permitted and 436 were complete. Fifty six social houses had been delivered in 2021 via Part 18.

The joint urban area plan for Drogheda has commenced and this will be put on display in the coming weeks. He said 2023 had seen the establishment of the Meath Economic Forum and the publication of promotional videos for Co Meath, Dunboyne and Navan.

There was also progress on the establishment of greenway; the Navan 2030 scheme was progressed and park-and-ride facilities provided. The national broadband plan had delivered high-speed broadband to 3,000 premises and work was going on to connect a further 12,000 by 2025.