Limerick councillor challenges officials over planning

A MEMBER of Limerick County Council has thrown down a challenge to the powers which officials hold in granting planning permission for housing.

Cllr Niall Collins is to seek to amend the Limerick County Council Development Plan by deleting any requirement by planning permission applicants to demonstrate a “housing need”.

At present officials have the say in deciding how to apply the definition ‘housing need’ Cllr Collins said the power of officials is total in making decisions as the County Development Plan (CDP) which is the primary reference document when planners are adjudicating on planning applications, does not contain a written working definition of ‘housing need’. He said: “Therefore the policy is being applied by the planners based on their interpretation only.”

To build in more than 90% on the land area of County Limerick applicants must satisfy planners on the ‘need’ requirement.

Cllr Collins said: “I had serious reservations when the CDP was being adopted in the first instance. I felt that we were creating an undefined policy. However, I chose to wait and see how this policy was being applied and interpreted. Having now seen and experienced how it has worked out, I know the public are completely frustrated and in the absence of a clear definition and criteria for “housing need” I am seeking its complete deletion from the CDP.

“As a public representative I find myself unable to advise any potential planning applicants whether their circumstances will satisfy the planners that they have a housing need.”

He said potential applicants are coming away from preplanning meetings very frustrated because of this undefined ‘need’ policy.

Cllr Collins said: “The public want clear defined policies in order that they know where they stand. The members of Limerick County Council make the CDP and it is the members who can amend the plan at any time. Should the Council produce a clear definition in time then I will be happy to write this into the CDP, however in the absence of this any reference to ‘need’ should be deleted.”

He said he will move at the next meeting that Limerick County Council amend the County Development Plan to delete any requirement to demonstrate a housing need in both the Areas of Strong Urban Influence and Strong Agricultural Base.