OPR Planning Review Provides National Validation for County Galway’s Digital Pre-Planning System

The Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR) has published a Planning Review of Galway County Council which identifies the Council’s digital pre-planning enquiry system, delivered using PrePlanning.ie, as a good practice example for the wider planning system. This review was carried out as part of the OPR’s national planning review programme and represents a fully independent audit. Neither PrePlanning.ie nor Galway County Council had any input into the findings of the final report. 

The Office of the Planning Regulator’s Planning Review of Galway County Council provides clear independent validation of the digital pre-planning enquiry system delivered using PrePlanning.ie.The review concluded that planning functions in Galway County Council are:

“being delivered satisfactorily, with some areas of good practice that could provide an example to the wider planning system.”

Within the review, Galway County Council’s implementation of an online pre-planning enquiries system was identified as a good practice example within development management.The report notes that the system provides:

“a structured method for applicants to obtain site-specific planning information”

and supports:

“a more consistent and transparent pre-planning process.”

These findings provide independent confirmation of the value of structured digital pre-planning services for both planning authorities and planning applicants, demonstrating how modern digital tools can support more efficient and consistent pre-planning services across the planning system.

PrePlanning.ie has been supporting local authorities for several years. The system is used to deliver structured pre-planning reports that assist both development management teams and planning applicants in understanding site-specific planning considerations at an early stage. The approach has already received national recognition through Carlow County Council’s Pre-Planning Enquiry Service, which won the Research and Innovation category at the Irish Planning Institute Planning Awards 2025. The Galway Planning Review now provides further independent validation of the model at national level and demonstrates how structured digital reporting can support modern planning services.

The platform allows planning authorities to generate instant geospatial planning reports for any site or planning file, bringing together key planning information in a single structured document. Traditionally, this information would require planners or applicants to manually review multiple GIS layers and datasets, but the report system provides a clear and consistent presentation of relevant planning constraints and policy considerations.

Reports typically include zoning information, planning policy context, environmental constraints, heritage designations, flood risk mapping and infrastructure information. By presenting this information in a structured format, the system helps applicants understand the planning context of a site while also supporting a more efficient and consistent pre-planning process. The OPR review recognised the value of providing applicants with structured site-specific planning information, highlighting how this approach can improve both the efficiency and consistency of pre-planning services.

The system has been designed specifically for local authorities and is straightforward to implement. Each authority can incorporate its own GIS datasets and reporting structure, ensuring that the system reflects local policies and information sources while integrating alongside existing pre-planning services. Because the system works with each authority’s own datasets, councils retain full control over the information included in reports while avoiding disruption to existing workflows. Sensitive or draft GIS layers can also be secured and restricted to a dedicated planners’ area, ensuring that internal datasets remain protected while still allowing planners to benefit from the reporting system.

Galway County Council’s implementation highlights several practical lessons for councils considering enhancements to their pre-planning services:

• Digital pre-planning tools can complement, not replace, existing statutory processes

• Automating access to baseline planning data reduces repetitive enquiries

• Clear, early information improves the overall quality of engagement

• Alignment with OPR guidance strengthens consistency and transparency

As a case study, Galway demonstrates how local authorities can adopt structured digital pre-planning systems that are practical, policy-aligned, and focused on improving outcomes for both applicants and planning teams.

You can try the Galway Pre-Planning Enquiry Service for yourself at Galway.PrePlanning.ie. If you’re interested in exploring how your council could integrate this simple, scalable tool alongside your existing services call us on 056 7820020 or contact us here.