Councillors agree changes to Clare development plan

A "free for all" approach to housing development in Co Clare has been averted after members of Clare Council yesterday made significant concessions to council management in relation to the Clare County Development Plan.

Last February, councillors went against the advice of Mr Willie Moloney, county manager, and the council's planning department when adopting a draft overhaul of the 1999 plan. The councillors' move came at the end of a series of rows over the plan. After a significant rise in planning refusals, councillors had argued the plan was too restrictive.

In a submission on the draft variation, An Taisce warned of the "free for all" in development that would ensue and of the dangers posed by the revised plan to sensitive areas, such as the Burren.

It also warned that the proposed changes "would not be helpful to the county in seeking additional resources from Government in the future". In response, the council's director of service for planning, Mr Ger Dollard, advised councillors there were aspects of the draft variation "not in accordance with national policy as already advised by the manager and should be reconsidered as requested by this submission".

After a number of private meetings held in recent weeks between councillors and planners, the council yesterday produced a formula, which according to the county manager, Mr Moloney, will help the council achieve sustainable development.

Mr Moloney was speaking after the council unanimously adopted the variation to the plan. Mr Moloney said the process had achieved a restoration of trust between councillors and the executive.

As a result of the meetings and submissions made from the public to the draft variation, the council made eight changes to its Settlement Location Policy. One of the effects of this will be a reinforcement of the council's ban on non-locals building homes in the open countryside.

The councillors' February proposal allowing anyone to build homes in the open countryside was modified with the addition: "that the purpose of this policy is to facilitate local rural people who have a genuine requirement for housing".

Councillors also agreed that "non-locals" would not now be allowed build homes in areas under high development pressure on the county's west coast and vulnerable landscapes, including much of the Burren.

Councillor P. J. Kelly welcomed the changes and commented common sense was not an endangered faculty in the county after all, adding "the good ship of Clare planning was sailing out of the doldrums".

The council's senior planner, Mr Liam Conneally, told members the planners would endeavour to be flexible and consistent in their recommendations.