‘Bord Pleanála should be allowed veto council plans’

An Bord Pleanála should be allowed review local authority development plans and even veto council decisions on land rezoning, the country’s planning association has said.

The Irish Planning Institute accepted such a move would mean power being taken away from elected councillors. IPI chairman Brendan Allen admitted it could mean planners and councillors being on a “collision course”.

Mr Allen was speaking ahead of an IPI national conference later this month amid continuing concern over elements of the planning process and the issue of unfinished ghost estates around the country.