Cullen’s new planning strategy decoded
“The Minister for the Environment, Mr Martin Cullen, announced that he was seeking to introduce a standard planning service in an attempt to end regional disparities in the planning system.
While the minister will not seek uniform requirements for planning for developments such as rural one-off houses, this is an area he said he wants to see evened out to bring some coherence to the state’s planning system.” (Read: it will be open season for developers, and farmers selling sites because I’m taking over now.)
He insisted that “a county border should not be the determining factor in the planning process”. (Read: you can build in Donegal even if you happen to live in Kerry).
“Mr Cullen said there was a tendency among planners to behave extremely arrogantly, acting like demi-gods.” (Read: you shaggers won’t interfere with our speculative activities any more).
“The process has to be open, transparent and consistent.” (Read: wide open, rubber-stamped and no refusals).
“It is all about balance. Local authorities themselves have identified unnecessary requirements” (Read: Planners are troublesome, and all these section 140 motions are bad publicity).
“They are processing 80,000 planning applications a year and need a simple administrative process. E-planning, where basic principles are well-established, could bring certainty and coherence to the system.” (Read: you won’t even have to go down to the local county council with troublesome plans and petitions anymore - just e-mail my new one-stop shop for instant permission - and who says I haven’t learned a thing or two about electronic voting!)
John McDermott
56 Martin Savage Park
Castleknock
Dublin 15
