The preparation of the Draft Blessington Local Area Plan 2012-2016 took into consideration all submissions received following the publication of the issues booklet and the public consultation held in 2009. While preliminary work and consideration of these submissions was carried out at that time, it was considered premature for the plan to move forward until such time as the National Roads Design Office had significantly progressed and finalised a preferred route option of the N81 upgrade.

The preferred route option was finalised in 2012. The draft plan was then prepared in light of the final route corridor selected and following further consideration of higher order plans, strategies and guidelines and submissions already on file.