Social housing policy has reverse effect
There are pressures on councils to grant planning applications where, in other circumstances, they would have been refused. Once granted, the developers then try to find ways of absorbing the social housing costs.
In one such case planning has been approved for a development at Malahide in Dublin. Most people would have expected this to be rejected as it involves serious deterioration of the green belt between Malahide and Portmarnock. But it was granted, and the net result is that apartments which are not subject to social housing have had their price increased to absorb the social housing costs.
I could list forever the developments that are occurring in my area which, when completed, will mean that hardly a single blade of grass will be seen between Portmarnock, Malahide and Swords and poor old Donabate where if plans are approved the population will treble in ten years.
The proper sustainable development of housing is consistently put on the long finger and passed off to local councils which have to deal with problems created by legislation. The Government will have to rethink its housing policy.
Richard Ashton,
Gas Yard Lane,
Malahide,
Co Dublin.
