Welcome to the Westmeath & Roscommon County Council Athlone Joint Urban Area Plan

Aerial photo of Athlone Catherdal with boats floating up the river Shannon

Introduction

Westmeath County Council and Roscommon County Council are commencing the preparation of a new Joint Urban Area Plan for Athlone. The plan making process will review and build on the progress made under the Athlone Town Development Plan 2014-2020 and Monksland/Bellanamullia Local Area Plan 2016-2022, and in collaboration with local communities and individuals, will set a direction and vision for the future growth of Athlone.

A Joint Urban Area Plan is a functional planning policy document used to guide development and implement a vision for how an urban area should grow and evolve into a sustainable and resilient place.

The Athlone JUAP will comprise a series of chapters that cover the broad aims of Westmeath and Roscommon County Councils, cross-cutting themes drawn from national and regional planning frame works and bespoke policy objectives and management measures.

The JUAP will also set out an overarching land use framework which will form the basis for deciding the appropriate locations for different types of future development of the area.

We are currently at Stage 1 Pre-draft Consultation stage of the Athlone Joint Urban Area Plan and have produced an Issues Paper to stimulate interest and debate in the plan-making process. Submissions are invited on the Issues Paper up until 5pm Thursday 01 February 2024. To make a submission click here.