Meath County Council covers Navan, Ashbourne, Trim, Kells, Dunboyne and Ratoath, the coastal settlements of Laytown and Bettystown, the Boyne Valley and the Meath Gaeltacht at Ráth Chairn and Baile Ghib. Meath is one of the main commuter counties for Dublin, and planning decisions here balance housing growth with heritage of international importance.
Ireland Planning advises homeowners, farmers, landowners, businesses and developers on planning permission in the Meath County Council area. Our work is led by Patrick O’Reilly, a chartered planner and a Full Corporate Member of the Irish Planning Institute (MIPI). We review the planning history, the Meath County Development Plan and any site constraints before you commit to drawings or a purchase.
Planning permission in Meath: local context
Brú na Bóinne, the area around Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Development in its buffer zone and the wider Boyne Valley, including the Hill of Tara and Slane, is assessed very carefully for its effect on archaeology, views and landscape.
Rural areas across east and south Meath are under strong urban influence from Dublin, so Meath County Council applies demanding rural housing criteria based on local need. Towns such as Ashbourne, Dunboyne, Ratoath and Navan are growing quickly, with Local Area Plans and masterplans guiding new housing and employment areas.
Ráth Chairn and Baile Ghib form Ireland's smallest Gaeltacht, with language protection policies. The southern environs of Drogheda are also in Meath, and its coastline at Laytown and Bettystown has flood and erosion considerations.
Key planning considerations in Meath
These are the issues that most often decide applications to Meath County Council:
- Brú na Bóinne World Heritage Site and the Boyne Valley
- Hill of Tara, archaeology and protected views
- Rural housing local need under Dublin commuter pressure
- Growth towns of Navan, Ashbourne, Dunboyne and Ratoath
- Ráth Chairn and Baile Ghib Gaeltacht
- Drogheda southern environs and coastal settlements
Towns and areas we cover
We advise on sites throughout the Meath County Council area, including:
Navan · Ashbourne · Trim · Kells · Dunboyne · Ratoath · Dunshaughlin · Enfield · Laytown · Bettystown · Stamullen · Duleek · Slane · Athboy · Oldcastle · Clonee · Ráth Chairn · Drogheda southern environs
Our planning services for Meath County Council applications
- Planning feasibility reviews and pre-planning (Section 247) consultation with Meath County Council
- House extensions, attic conversions and garage conversions, assessed against the Meath County Development Plan
- One-off rural houses, local need and rural housing policy compliance
- Change of use for shops, offices, clinics, restaurants and other premises
- Commercial to residential conversions and living over the shop
- Commercial, retail and business planning applications
- Retention planning permission for unauthorised works and enforcement issues
- Planning refusals, conditions and appeals to An Coimisiún Pleanála
- Section 5 declarations on whether works are exempted development
- Third-party observations and objections on planning applications
Planning refusals and appeals to An Coimisiún Pleanála
If Meath County Council has refused permission or attached conditions that make a project unworkable, the options include an appeal to An Coimisiún Pleanála, a revised application that addresses the reasons for refusal, or a further information strategy. We review the planner’s report, the reasons for refusal and the relevant policies before recommending a route. See our planning refusals and appeals service.
Frequently asked questions about planning permission in Meath
Can I build near Newgrange or in the Boyne Valley?
Development within the Brú na Bóinne World Heritage Site buffer zone is very tightly controlled, and Meath County Council will look closely at archaeology, visual impact and views. Modest, well-justified proposals have the best prospects, so we review the site and heritage constraints first.
What are the rural housing rules in Meath?
Meath has strict rural housing policies because of commuter pressure from Dublin. Applicants usually need to show a long-standing local connection or rural-based employment. We review your eligibility and the strength of your case before you apply.
How long does Meath County Council take to decide a planning application?
Meath County Council must generally decide a valid planning application within eight weeks of receiving it. If the council requests further information, the decision is usually due within four weeks of that information being received. Invalid applications are returned, so a complete, well-prepared submission saves time.
Can I appeal a decision made by Meath County Council?
Yes. Applicants, and third parties who made a valid submission on the application, can generally appeal a decision by Meath County Council to An Coimisiún Pleanála (formerly An Bord Pleanála) within four weeks of the decision date. The deadline is strict, so get advice as soon as the decision issues.
Information to include with your enquiry
The more accurately we understand the site and proposed development, the more useful an initial response can be.
- Full property address and Eircode, if available
- Existing use and proposed use or works
- Any planning reference numbers, decisions or drawings
- Relevant timescales and known constraints
Neighbouring planning authorities
We also advise on projects in nearby council areas: Fingal County Council, Louth County Council, Kildare County Council, Westmeath County Council, Cavan County Council, Monaghan County Council. See every county and council we cover on our planning permission by county and council page.
Request a planning assessment
Contact Ireland Planning on 01 223 2496 or email info@irelandplanning.ie with the site address and your proposal. We will explain the planning position with Meath County Council and the next practical step for your project.
Request a Planning Assessment →
Planning law and local policy can change. Any general information on this page should be checked against the provisions in force and the specific property circumstances before relying on an exemption or commencing works.