The Irish Planning Institute (IPI) have today welcomed the new measures for Planning Reform outlined by the Government. The Government have brought in a new system for large scale planning applications for housing that retain some of the key advantages of the SHD system yet restore the right for citizens to appeal decisions granted by Planning Authorities to An Bord Pleanála.

Welcoming the General Scheme published by the Government this morning, Dr Conor Norton President of the Irish Planning Institute stated “These new measures announced by Government represent an important and necessary step in rebalancing the Planning System in Ireland. Further measures will have to be looked at now as a matter of urgency to restore the balance between national, regional and local planning, and in particular the central role of the democratically-prepared City and County Development Plans and Local Area Plans in the planning consent process.”

“The IPI has long championed the principle of subsidiarity where local-level planning decisions are made as often as possible at local level and guided primarily by local-level plans.  With robust national and regional level plans now in place to guide City and County Development and Local Area Plans, and with the establishment of the Office of the Planning Regulator, it is now time to look at the role of generic national planning guidelines.  The IPI believes that these guidelines should be based on broad national guidance, best practice and consistent methodologies, rather than specific planning policy requirements set by successive Minister” Dr Norton explained.

“The Irish Planning Institute draws its membership of professional planners from every Local Authority, An Bord Pleanála, Planning Consultants working in Private Practice, Central Government and other semi state organisations. Our members collectively have considerable expertise in the preparation of planning applications, Plan Making, and adjudicating on individual planning applications. The Institute looks forward to supporting the Attorney General in streamlining planning legislation to ensure the Planning System can deliver for its citizens.” Dr Norton added.

Whilst welcoming the new announcements, Dr Norton sounded a note of caution “Chronic under resourcing in Planning Authorities must now be urgently addressed. The Institute is currently undertaking a major capacity review looking at the capacity of Professional Planners, across the Planning System to meet the challenges ahead as we move towards the delivery of critical infrastructure under the National Development Plan. Furthermore, a greater focus from political leaders in clearly articulating changes to the built environment that are necessary for achieving the common good and addressing climate change is now required” he concluded.

ENDS