Quick Guide to Using the PrePlanning Information System

To use the system, simply complete the following steps:

  1. Locate your proposed development site.

    1. How do I locate my site?
    2. You can Restart the process at any time by clicking the Restart link in the upper right corner (beneath the Zoom In/Out control).
  2. Click the "Draw Site"  button.
    1. Where is the button?
  3. Draw your site boundary by clicking around the boundary of your proposed site using your mouse.
    1. How do I draw my site boundary?
  4. To "close" your boundary outline  click the RIGHT MOUSE BUTTON.
    1. How do I draw my site boundary?
  5. Click the "Submit" button.
    1. Where is the Submit button?
  6. Click "Ok" in the pop-up box which asks if you want to create an application.
  7. View your report (we recommend printing a copy for yourself).
    1. Optionally: enter your email address into the report form and click the "Send" button.
  8. To revisit your report, click the link sent to your email or use the search option in the Pre-Planning Options to enter your report number and password.
    1. Click the "Search" button in the Pre-Planning Options, enter the details and click the "Search" button.
    2. How do I revisit my report?
  9. If you're attending a PrePlanning consultation, please bring a copy of your report with you.
    1. What is a PrePlanning consultation?
  10. What other tools are available in the system?
    1. Map features can be turned on and off in the Legend.
    2. Site perimeter and line lengths are shown.
    3. A planning history of the area is generated in the report.
    4. The report links to relevant documentation for plans, policies and other detailed information.

     

How do I locate my Area of Interest?

There are four ways to locate an Area of Interest (see figure below):

 A) zoom in or out

 B) search by townland name

 C) click on the map 

 D) click on the map edge to pan around the map.

 

A): Click on the +/- icons to Zoom in & out. Different maps come on at different zoom levels.

B): To search by Townland, type the townland name into the text box, (circled B ) and click the search button. All townlands that match this name will appear in the results box below the map window. Click on the  Go icon   and the map will zoom and centre on the townland. 

C): Click on a location on the map and the system will zoom in one level and centre on that spot. This is probably one of the quickest ways to zoom into a desired location.

D:) The arrows around the edge of map are used to move the map in that direction, but the map remains at the same zoom level.

Location of the four ways to navigate to your area.

Where is the button to draw my site boundary?

To draw a site boundary, click the "Draw Site"  button (circled in picture below). This option is only availble when you have zoomed into the last level. The button will be outlined in Red to show that the option is available.

Once  selected, the cursor will change and you can draw your site boundary.

How do I draw my site boundary?

Location of the Digitise/Draw site control.

How do I draw my site boundary?

To draw a site boundary, click the "Draw Site"  button (circled in picture below).

Once selected, the cursor will change and you can draw your site boundary.

To draw your site, move your mouse cursor to one of your site "corners" and click the left mouse button. This will create your starting point for your site boundary. Move your mouse cursor to the next corner of your site and click the left mouse button. This will draw a line between your first point and this new point. Continue doing this until you are ready to close your site boundary. Your site can be any shape and can have as many sides as you want.

When you are ready to close your site boundary, click the RIGHT MOUSE BUTTON. This will draw a line between the last point you created and your starting point. Notice that the site outline changed from yellow to blue to indicate that it has closed/finished.

If you have drawn your boundary incorrectly, simply click the "Clear" button and draw your site again.

Now click the "Submit" button 

A pop-up message will ask you to verify if you want to submit this site for a report. Click ok to continue and view your report.

If you have pop-up blocked in Windows XP the report will not show. To change this setting go to Tools> Pop-Up Blocker> Turn off Pop-Up Blocker> on the menu bar of your Internet Explorer Browser. You will have to redraw your site and submit it again to generate the report.

Location of the Digitise/Draw site control.

Where is the "Submit" button to generate my report?

The Submit button is in the circled area in the picture below.

Location of the Submit Button.

How do I revisit my report?

There are two ways to revisit your report. The easiest way is to enter your email address into the box at the top of the report that is generated for you and click the Send button. The system will email a link to you which, when clicked, will take you right back to your report.

At the top of your report, you will notice a "Report Number" and a "Password." To view a previously created report,  click the "Search"  button, (see picture below), in the PrePlanning Options section.   Enter the Report Number and Password off your report into the relevent text boxes. The system will recreate the report and zoom to the site on the map.

We strongly recommend that you print a copy of your report for your records and to bring  with you to any PrePlanning consultation. This will make it easier for the Planner to quickly identify the site you are interested in.

Location of the Search control.

What is a PrePlanning Consultation?

A PrePlanning consultation is an opportunity for members of the public to meet with a planning officer to discuss a site they may wish to develop. The consultations are held on a monthly basis, at a local Public Service Centre and are by appointment only. View Consultation Locations, Schedules and Prerequisites.

What other tools are available?

  1. Map features can be turned on and off in the legend. Tick or untick the desired legend features accordingly.
  2. Site perimeter and line lengths are shown.
    These are shown just above the "Draw Site" button while you are drawing the site.
  3. A Planning History of the area is generated in the report.
    This is listed as part of your report. The planning number in the report is a hyper-link into E-plan, the council's planning database. Here you will find more details about the various planning applications.
  4. The report links to other related documents.
    Some items which appear in your report are too complex to include the full descriptive text. For your convenience, we have linked the item to the relevant documentation.