One-off housing - Minister must avoid a rural bungalow blitz

THERE is a strong whiff of political expediency about the timing of Environment Minister Martin Cullen’s decision to introduce new planning guidelines aimed at reducing the number of appeals against one-off houses in rural Ireland.

With local elections looming in June, the Government wants to be seen as opening the door for more one-off houses at a time when Fianna Fáil representatives are getting it in the neck from constituents around the country.

But there is also a strong dose of common sense about the initiative, which is basically aimed at making it easier for local people to build homes in their own areas.

Electorally, it is an explosive issue. Intensely emotional and deeply divisive, it has set grassroots politicians and farming bodies on collision course with An Taisce, the national planning watchdog that opposes one-off housing in rural areas.

For both sides, the problem is one of perception. On one hand, the heritage body is determined to prevent the proliferation of sprawling ‘South Fork’ style houses which are a common sight outside towns and villages today. Instead, it wants scarce resources to go into building community-based housing developments rather than one-off projects.

On the other hand, the sons, daughters and relatives of farmers are finding it virtually impossible to build homes in places where they grew up and now want to settle down, rearing families of their own.

What they find most frustrating, especially in scenic coastal regions, is the inexorable spread of blatantly expensive holiday homes. Owned by the so-called Dublin 4 set, many of these are occupied only a few weeks of the year.

But they have the effect of driving prices through the roof, making it virtually impossible for local people to compete in the housing market.

It has to be said, in Mr Cullen’s favour, that there is an alarming trend of local authority permissions being overturned by An Bord Pleanála.

On average, 85% of one-off housing applications are granted planning permission by local authorities. But appeals are regularly lodged against these permissions, mainly by An Taisce.

Two years ago, according to the most up-to-date figures, a whopping 76% of those appeals were upheld by An Bord Pleanála on foot of objections. The minister wants to see the rejection rate cut to 10%. With this in mind, he has introduced a new set of guidelines with the aim of ensuring that people who are born in an area, live in an area and contribute to an area, can build a home there.

Predictably, the minister’s use of such a broad brush is setting alarm bells ringing among concerned planners. Going on past experience, they fear his guidelines could result in a bungalow blitz, leading to ribbon development in sensitive parts of the country.

It is difficult to argue with the minister’s claim that he wants to overcome the frustrations of people who find it increasingly difficult to live in their own area. Given the steady exodus of Ireland’s rural population, it makes sense to facilitate those who want to maintain their roots there.

Doubtless, with candidates fighting for votes, planners will come under enormous pressure to create a housing free-for-all. If the Cullen initiative means abandoning the principles of good planning in rural Ireland, it would be an environmental disaster in the making.