33% of bodies’ planning appeals upheld

THE six local authorities being examined as part of Environment Minister John Gormley’s planning review accounted for one in every three successful planning decision appeals in 2008.

The most recent figures available show of the 62,056 decisions made nationally by An Bord Pleanála that year, 5,056 were appealed.

Some 1,648 of the initial decisions were overturned, with 508 (31%), of those directly related to the six local authorities now under examination. These included:

* 836 decisions relating to Carlow County Council, leading to 55 appeals, 30.4% of which were successful.

* 6,658 decisions relating to Cork County Council, with 454 appeals, 31.9% of which were successful.

* 3,467 decisions relating to Galway County Council, leading to 173 appeals; 42.3% were successful.

* 2,654 decisions relating to Meath County Council, leading to 154 appeals; 36.9% were successful.

* 816 decisions relating to Cork City Council, leading to 134 appeals, 31.9% of which were successful.

* 3,686 decisions relating to Dublin City Council, with 596 appeals, 29.1% of which were successful.

A spokesperson for the board said a number of issues could impact on initial planning decisions being overturned, such as some councils working off an out-dated development plan.

Other issues include the fact that planning decisions in built-up areas are subject to a higher rate of appeals as they affect a greater number of people, increasing the chance of a successful submission against a decision.

The highest percentage of successful appeals was in Waterford County Council, where 51.9% of the 93 appeals lodged led to the initial decision being overturned.

Nationally, 32.6% of all appeals were overturned by An Bord Pleanála.

The figures are among the issues being examined by the Department of Environment as part of Mr Gormley’s review of planning systems in six local authorities.

The review is looking at decisions in the past two years, and is primarily focussed on ensuring local authority structures can cope with the requirements of the incoming Planning Bill.

However, it will also examine the involvement of councillors in pre-planning decisions; their relationship with local planning offices; council adherence to existing development plans; and issues surrounding procurement and transparency.

The issue of development levies, which are provided to councils on the basis of construction work being carried out on areas which have been zoned or rezoned for particular work, is also expected to be examined.

The review, to be conducted by a team of international planning experts to prevent any conflict of interest, is initially restricted to the six named local authorities, which have four weeks to respond to the Department of Environment, but may be extended.