Former HSE chief Paul Reid to head up planning authority

Mr Reid will chair An Comisiún Pleanála which is due to replace An Bord Pleanála

Former HSE chief executive Paul Reid is set to be appointed as chairman of An Comisiún Pleanála, a restructured version of the body it replaces, An Bord Pleanála. File picture: Niall Carson/PA 

Former HSE chief executive Paul Reid is set to be appointed as the new chairman of the Government’s reformed planning authority, An Comisiún Pleanála.

Housing minister James Browne will inform Cabinet today, Tuesday, of the establishment of An Coimisiún Pleanála, which is due to replace An Bord Pleanála as Ireland’s planning authority.

It comes as Cabinet is set to approve emergency legislation to establish a national rent pressure zone, which would prevent landlords from increasing rents beyond 2%.

New structure for An Coimisiún Pleanála

The establishment of An Coimisiún Pleanála has been long anticipated, with the previous government’s mammoth Planning and Development Act providing the legislative basis for the body.

As part of the change, An Coimisiún Pleanála will have a restructured organisation with a new governing body that will be led by Mr Reid.

A new chief planning officer will be appointed alongside 14 other planning commissioners. This will replace the previous board structure of An Bord Pleanála.

Mandatory timelines for planning decisions

A new system of mandatory, statutory timelines for planning decisions will be introduced.

This means An Coimisiún Pleanála will be required to make decisions and adjudicate appeals within 18 to 48 weeks.

It is understood that Mr Browne believes the changes to the planning authority will radically increase the speed of decision-making, while providing more certainty on timelines.

The minister is said to be frustrated with the “lack of efficiency” in the existing planning system, which he believes is delaying the delivery of homes, one government source said. 

Nationwide RPZ

Mr Browne will also bring forward emergency legislation to introduce a nationwide rent pressure zone.

This will expand existing rent pressure zone protections to the approximately 17% of tenancies across the country which are not currently in rent controlled areas.

At present, landlords outside rent pressure zones are not restricted in how much they increase their rent each year.

It is understood the Government intends to pass the legislation urgently, with hopes it can be done before the summer recess in July.

Sources have also indicated that rent pressure zone protections will come into effect on the day after the laws are passed.

Rental reform in 2026

The changes to introduce a national rent pressure zone comes ahead of wider rental reform from the Government that is expected to come into effect on March 1, 2026.

The new proposals will allow for landlords to reset their rents either after six years or if a tenant voluntarily leaves the property.

Private housing on public land

Government ministers are also set to approve an expansion to the remit of the Land Development Agency, which would see legislation amended to allow the body develop private housing on public lands.

The body will also be permitted to increase the amount of private land it acquires, as well as deliver houses outside its existing operating areas.

The agency will also be given stronger land transfer powers for sites owned by commercial State bodies, particularly for sites deemed to be underutilised.

Cabinet will also approve any project-level commitments by the agency, which will no longer be required to be reviewed by NewERA — the Government’s commercial advisory body — to increase approval speeds.

While the Government will approve the changes on Tuesday, it is understood that legislation to give effect to the LDA’s expanded remit will be brought to Cabinet in the “near future”.