Wednesday 27 June 2007

Rural housing policies illegal

Over the last two weeks I have received about three calls a day from people asking if the locals only rules in Development Plans in Wexford and Wicklow had been removed. I have also spoken to people who have been refused planning permission on these grounds. All were hoping the rules would be found to be illegal and descriminatory. They have been, but where to next?

Debate about one-off houses is sure to grow to a crescendo now. The basis of how the National Spatial Strategy, Regional Planning Guidelines, Sustainable Rural Housing Guidelines and many Development Plans treat rural housing as a policy issue will now need to be reviewed.

Given the extent to which this is being discussed on the ground illustrates how emotive this issue has become over many years. I look forward to watching this issue unfold.

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