Description

Kildare County Council manages nearly 50 settlements whilst doing some of Ireland's "heavy lifting" on housing delivery—but how do you scale that up when planning legislation transforms around you? 

Amy Granville, Senior Planner leading forward planning and heritage, reveals how a 100-person team including Kildare County Council’s first ecologist and urban designer, tackles revised NPF targets through 290-hectare master plans, joint local area plans with neighbouring counties, and heritage-led regeneration. 

From navigating the Planning and Development Act 2024's transition to winning IPI Planning Authority of the Year, discover what makes Kildare "best in class" and why planners are quietly working across every corner of housing development and infrastructure delivery.

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

• How Kildare County Council expanded from traditional planning roles to 100-person team 
• Why the revised NPF targets require creative measures including a 290-hectare master plan area in Naas
• How the joint Maynooth and Environs Local Area Plan with Meath County Council navigated two different planning teams and Council Chambers.
• Why the Planning and Development Act 2024's 10-year development plan horizon provides genuine opportunity for delivery
• How Kildare's graduate planner programme captures local talent 

GUEST DETAILS

Amy Granville is Senior Planner at Kildare County Council, leading forward planning and heritage for a county with nearly 50 settlements. 

A proud 2005 graduate from DIT's (now TU Dublin) first undergraduate spatial planning and environmental management class, Amy always knew she wanted public service—beginning in Kilkenny County Council before moving to South Tipperary where she experienced the 2014 local authority merger. Joining Kildare in 2016, Amy has been one of the planners overseeing the county's "best in class" housing delivery whilst balancing rural character with metropolitan pressures. 

Under her leadership, Kildare's planning team won Irish Planning Institute's Planning Authority of the Year 2025, was shortlisted in four categories, and delivered transformative projects from the Potato Market regeneration to 50-acre carbon sinks. 

Despite living in Kilkenny, Amy considers herself a "de facto Lily White" after nearly a decade shaping one of Ireland's most complex and dynamic counties.

 QUOTES

• I think the master planning approach will be really, really, really significant over the next number of years. - Amy Granville
•  Kildare has done an awful lot of the heavy lifting in terms of housing delivery. We like to say we're best in class in terms of housing completions. - Amy Granville
• What works well in Irish planning is the planners. We're such an intrinsic part of so many things now  - Amy Granville

PODCAST HOST DETAILS

Dr. Sean O'Leary MIPI is a highly respected Senior Planner at the Irish Planning Institute (IPI) and a key voice in the field of Irish planning. 

With extensive experience and a deep understanding of planning policy and practice, Dr. O'Leary brings a wealth of knowledge to "The Planners' Podcast." 

Professionals and enthusiasts alike seek to navigate the complexities of urban and rural development in Ireland.

As a member of the Irish Planning Institute (MIPI), Dr. O'Leary demonstrates a commitment to the highest standards of the planning profession. 

Find out more: https://ipi.ie/

ABOUT THE IRISH PLANNING INSTITUTE

The Irish Planning Institute (IPI) is the all-island professional body for planners in Ireland, dedicated to advancing the field of physical, spatial, and environmental planning for the common good. Established in 1975, the IPI plays a vital role in shaping sustainable development across both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Through its diverse membership, which includes professionals from public, private, and academic sectors, the IPI offers a unified voice on critical planning issues.

Find out more:

https://ipi.ie/

The Planners Podcast is produced for IPI by dustpod.io

KEYWORDS

#localauthorityplanning #masterplanning #urbanevelopmentzones #graduateplanners #irishplanninginstitute