Six councils set to face planning probes

The housing minister has ordered a fresh probe into the planning system in six local authorities.

Jan O’Sullivan has asked town planning experts MacCabe Durney Barnes Consultants to undertake an independent review of the performance of the planning functions in Cork, Carlow, Galway, and Meath county councils, as well as in Dublin and Cork city councils, and to report back to her by July.

It will be the third probe into Ireland’s planning system in four years.

On foot of previous complaints, the Government ordered a review of the planning system in seven local authorities, with the findings published in June 2012.

That review assessed the application of planning legislation, policy, and guidance within development plans and the development management systems.

That report and its 12 recommendations were then subjected to an independent review by Henk van der Kamp.

However, a judicial review in relation to one section relating to Donegal County Council meant the van der Kamp report did not cover that section.

Following his review, Mr van der Kamp didn’t concur with three recommendations, including that private landowners or developers be prevented from putting forward local area plans; and that all proposed grants of planning permission that contravene a development plan are automatically referred to An Bord Pleanála for final determination.

He proposed three new actions, including the conducting of a research project to assess the quality of planning decisions; and the enhanced use of graphical representation (visual data and models) to address the high degree of discretion in the written statement of the development plans.

Ms O’Sullivan defended the commissioning of another planning review and said she is committed to building a transparent, democratic planning system fit for the 21st century.

“I am continuing my efforts to restore public confidence in the planning system by opening up the review process and the system to maximum scrutiny,” she said.

The consultants have now begun contacting some of the original complainants whose planning concerns prompted the 2012 probe, asking them to submit their views for the latest review.