Where’s Drogheda’s local area plan?

It's hard to believe, but 'Ireland's biggest town' has no plan. No vision, no forward planning, no joined-up thinking. Local area plans are critical for future growth and sustainable development in urban areas, covering issues like population, economic growth, housing, facilities, vacancy, water and transportation.

Drogheda has had no area plan for the last 15 years, despite dramatic population growth, steep decline of its urban core and degradation of its heritage buildings, and despite both councils being legally bound to produce a Joint Local Area Plan for Drogheda (as directed by the RSES document created by the Eastern Midlands Regional Authority).



Drogheda's unique geography means that about 20% of its citizens live in Meath, and the other 80% in Louth, so a Local Area Plan needs to be a joint effort between Meath and Louth. However Louth and Meath county councils are refusing to carry the work out. Drogheda is an oversight, an inconvenience, an afterthought.

50,000 people is far too big a population not to have a plan for. Do we want to continue to be ignored, downgraded and passed over? Is this what we want for future generations? It's time to get angry - and vocal - about this. Drogheda needs a plan - urgently. Please contact your local representative and/or authority to demand Drogheda's Joint Local Area Plan. Feel free to bcc us (droghedacitynow@gmail.com).

Louth County Council - 042-9335457 or email info@louthcoco.ie 

Meath County Council - 046-9097000 or email customerservice@meathcoco.ie



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Edit: Here's a template email you could use:

"I am writing as a concerned resident of Drogheda to express serious alarm at the ongoing neglect of our city. With a population of over 50,000, Drogheda is functioning as a city in every practical sense, yet it continues to suffer from dangerous dereliction, inadequate infrastructure, and the absence of any strategic plan.

The recent incident on West Street—where falling masonry from a neglected building brought down the Christmas lights—shows the clear public safety risk posed by derelict structures in our town centre. It was only by luck that no one was injured. Immediate enforcement of the Dangerous Structures Acts and decisive action on unsafe buildings is urgently required.

Drogheda has also gone over 15 years without the Joint Local Area Plan legally required of Louth and Meath County Councils. This has led to poor planning decisions, stalled infrastructure like the PANCR route, and a lack of preparation for essential transport needs, including a second train station for our growing northside.

This neglect is damaging quality of life, investment, and public confidence. I am requesting a written response outlining:

Immediate steps to address dangerous and derelict buildings.
  • A timeline for delivering key infrastructure, including PANCR.
  • The status and completion date of the Joint Local Area Plan.
  • How Drogheda’s funding compares with other towns.

Drogheda deserves proper planning, investment, and accountability. The current situation is unacceptable and requires urgent action."

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