Cian O’Callaghan TD, the Social Democrats spokesperson on Housing and Planning, said today that the decision by the High Court to overturn planning permission for 245 apartments on the former Premier Dairies site in Dublin casts serious doubt over the Strategic Housing Development process.
Deputy O’Callaghan said:
“The High Court quashed the planning permission granted by An Bord Pleanála as it exceeds the heights allowed for under the Dublin City Council Development Plan.
“This is a very significant decision upholding the primacy of development plans which are adopted democratically by local authorities after a long process of consultation with local residents, landowners, communities and developers.
“This judgement calls into serious doubt any SHD planning permissions that materially contravene development plans. The SHD process is failing to deliver the amount of housing that was originally envisaged – it is often used by landowners to increase the value of their sites before flipping them onto another developer.
“The Government has admitted that the SHD process is not fit for purpose and has already committed that it will not be renewed when it expires in 2021. I’m calling on the Government to abolish the SHD process now in the interests of delivering well-planned housing and sustainable communities in line with County and City Development Plans.”
July 23rd, 2020