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.”