The Construction Industry Federation and Irish Home Builders’ Association have welcomed the new Planning and Development Bill. Conor O’Connell, CIF Director of Housing and Planning and Director of the Irish Home Builders’ Association, shares further insight
“The Irish Home Builders Association and the Construction Industry Federation welcome the new Planning and Development Bill as a step towards reforming and resourcing the system of approving construction and house building projects in Ireland.
There have been significant delays in many aspects of the planning process in recent times and we have previously estimated that there are over 30,000 units stuck in An Bord Pleanála, as well as a further 30,000 units subject to
Court proceedings delaying the much-needed supply of homes for people.
Many members report that there are also considerable delays at various stages of the planning process including at Local Authority level and complications arising at planning condition compliance stage post the grant of planning.
Put simply, the Planning and Development Acts are not delivering the necessary infrastructure for Ireland and is a factor in our housing crisis and the many delays in other essential pieces of infrastructure.
Ireland is a small country that has thrived as a place for international business to locate and must be seen as a country that can deliver projects.
We welcome the timelines in the Bill as well as the limitations on spurious objections that can occur.
The Bill is over 700 pages long and we do need to assess the Bill in its totality over the coming weeks from a legal and planning perspective.
We look forward to the resourcing of the planning system to support a modern, dynamic economy. It is essential that the Bill not only delivers proper planning, but also development.”
