Council ‘failing to use powers’ to deny new planning permissions to the developers of ghost estates

The country’s largest local authority has been asked to explain why it has not used its power to deny new planning permissions to the developers of ghost estates.

An independent member of Cork County Council has highlighted that under Section 35 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, local authorities can deny planning permission to those responsible for previous developments if it is satisfied that “a person or company… is not in compliance with the previous permission, or with a condition to which the previous permission is subject”.

Speaking at yesterday’s meeting of the council, councillor Marcia D’Alton queried why the local authority has never exercised its power under the act.