Changes will benefit rural regions

NORMALLY, U-turns executed by a government attract a large measure of criticism, but in the case of having second thoughts in relation to the planning laws affecting rural areas, there would appear to be merit in them on a number of fronts.

Contained in the National Spatial Strategy, to be published in October, the Government intends to remove planning laws which currently outlaw the construction of one-off houses in rural areas.

Importantly, it will be implemented in conjunction with a decentralisation programme which will encourage thousands of civil servants to re-locate outside of Dublin.