Summary
What Part 8 is
"Part 8" is the procedure a local authority uses to approve its own developments, named after Part 8 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 and based on section 179 of the Planning and Development Act 2000. Instead of applying for planning permission, the council publishes the proposal, takes public submissions, and its elected members decide whether it goes ahead.
- Typical schemesCouncil housing, roads, greenways, fire stations, libraries, swimming pools and public toilets.
- Who decidesThe council's elected members, on a report from the Chief Executive.
Timeline
The Part 8 timeline
The statutory steps run to about 20 weeks from the public notice to the councillors' decision.
| When | Step | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Week 0 | Public notice | A notice in an approved newspaper and a site notice on the land. |
| Weeks 0 to 4 | Public display | Plans and particulars are available to inspect for 4 weeks. |
| To week 6 | Submissions | Anyone can make a submission until at least 2 weeks after the display ends. |
| By week 14 | Chief Executive's report | After submissions close, the report goes to the members no later than 14 weeks from the public notice. |
| By week 20 | Members' decision | The members consider the report and decide within 6 weeks of receiving it. |
The decision
The Chief Executive's report and the vote
The report lists the people and bodies who made submissions, summarises the issues they raised, gives the Chief Executive's response, and recommends whether the development should go ahead as proposed, with changes, or not at all. The development can then be carried out as the report recommends, unless the members pass a resolution to vary or modify it, or not to proceed.
Exceptions
When Part 8 does not apply
Larger council schemes that need an Environmental Impact Assessment or an Appropriate Assessment do not use Part 8. The council applies instead to An Coimisiún Pleanála for approval (under sections 175 and 177AE of the 2000 Act), so those schemes appear as board cases rather than council Part 8 notices.
What is changing
Part 8 under the Planning and Development Act 2024
The Planning and Development Act 2024 restates the procedure, with changes, in sections 152 to 159: local authority development that needs public notice, a public notification procedure, and confirmation by the elected members on the Chief Executive's report. New Local Authority Own Development Regulations have been published ahead of commencement. Until those provisions commence, the Part 8 procedure in the 2001 Regulations applies, so check the council's notice for the procedure a particular scheme follows.
For contractors
Why Part 8 matters to contractors and suppliers
A Part 8 approval is an early signal of public work. Once the members approve a scheme, the council usually moves to detailed design and public procurement, so housing, roads and amenity schemes approved under Part 8 can reach tender some months later. PlanningBrief follows council schemes and public tenders, so you can watch an approved scheme through to the tender stage.
About PlanningBrief
Which sites are starting near you
PlanningBrief tracks planning applications, decisions and site starts across Ireland, so contractors and suppliers can see work before it reaches site.