Update December 2023

Progress to date

This project commenced in 2020 when Meath County Council with their appointed consultant Atkins Realis prepared Feasibility and Constraints studies to identify key constraints and opportunities associated with the scheme study area. These studies covered both the greenway and the navigation elements over a very wide area with over 300 landowners.

As part of the route selection process, a single 'corridor' along the Boyne River and Navigation was selected to progress as other corridors remote to the river and canal would not meet overall objectives of a 'Boyne Greenway' or the 5'S' criteria for greenways (see below). The project team then prepared a number of route options and four were brought to a public consultation in February-March 2021. Detailed due consideration of all the submissions was an important and central element in the route assessment and selection process.

Since then, the project team have been developing the Emerging Preferred Route to ensure it is a robust proposal in all aspects - work undertaken includes  

• An independent peer review out which critically judged the assessment of options and appraisals.
• Detailed surveys carried out by specialist conservation experts on the condition of the existing canal and it's locks for the Canal Restoration feasibility.
• Significant and extensive environmental and ecological studies carried out on existing flora, fauna and habitats to ensure the proposed route will integrate into to the Boyne Valley environment with no significant negative impact.
• Significant hydrological (flood) surveys and assessments carried out to ensure the Greenway route will remain open as much as practical during flood events in the future, as well as confirming the greenway will not create additional or exacerbate existing flooding issues.

At the end of 2021, the overseeing authority for greenways was changed from the Department of Transport to Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII).

Current Stage

Meath County Council with their appointed consultant Atkins Realis have identified an Emerging Preferred Route, EPR . The project team believe all things considered this is the optimum route for the Boyne Greenway Navan to Oldbridge. A summary Report on the Options Assessment has been prepared.

The feasibility and assessment of the Navigation Restoration concluded it has it's own environmental and managment considerations as well as being significantly different in nature, scale and complexity compared to the Greenway element . So it is proposed to progress the Boyne Navigation Restoration seprately to the Boyne Greenway. Meath County Council remains committed to progressing the navigation restoration. A summary Feasibility Report on the Canal Restoration has been prepared.

A consultation on the emerging preferred route is now taking place and as wide a range of views and opinions is sought. Please view the consultation materials and if you wish make a submission visit Meath County Council's consultation portal.  After the consultation and submission period closes, the project team will duly consider all the submissions made and decision will be made on whether to proceed with the Emerging Preferred Route.

Next Stage(s)

If approved to proceed, it is anticipated the project will then move to the Preliminary Design stage with further consultations , then followed preparation for the Statutory Process.

Greenway Project Process

The Boyne Greenway project is following the process outlined “Code of Best Practice National and Regional Greenways” published 2021 by the Department of Transport insofar as possible. This national code of practice details the delivery process including consultations. Please also see the image below taken from the code which summarises the principal phases.

The Boyne Greenway project is also compliant with the "Strategy for the Future Development of National and Regional Greenways" published 2018 by the Department of Transport which specifies the 5'S' criteria for greenways : Scenic / Sustainable / Strategic / Segregated / lots to See and do.