The Irish Planning Institute (IPI) has responded to details of the forthcoming Planning Bill, acknowledging that the Part V process should be quicker to facilitate the timely delivery of housing. It has however expressed concerns about the timing of the legislation and that changes to the planning system and legislation are premature in advance of a new national spatial strategy being published and an office of planning regulation being established.  

IPI President Mary Hughes said “Incorporating social housing into private residential development schemes can support the common good and the development of balanced and sustainable communities, but only where and when there is demand for private housing.  There is a risk that a spatial imbalance of social housing provision will occur and not all needs will be served. Our approach to securing benefits through the Part V process should be grounded in evidence-based policy not knee-jerk, market led development. The IPI believes that more effective forecasting of housing supply and monitoring of the delivery of housing must be developed and heeded”.

Hughes continued “Part V is only applicable to residential and residential mixed zoned land and is effectively an urban based measure. We look forward to working with the Department of the Environment and  ensuring that Part V can promote greater social inclusion in rural areas also. Gaps such as these are why a national spatial planning framework setting out a vision for the development of communities across the whole country is so important.”

Hughes concluded “The planning profession looks forward to working with the Department on the Bill. Streamlining certain elements of the planning system is necessary to support and facilitate plan led development but within the context of maintaining a transparent and accountable planning system and process.  A priority part of which must be an independent office of planning regulation.”