Wicklow County Council has voted to ease restrictions on one-off housing by giving it precedence over environmental concerns.
In a series of amendments to the county development plan, councillors yesterday accepted clauses which would prevent planners from refusing planning permission for rural housing on the basis of ribbon development or impact on scenic views.
During a 13-hour meeting to discuss final changes to the plan, councillors also voted for an amendment to lift the absolute "locals-only rule" in most parts of the county. Under current rules, only people living or working in Co Wicklow can buy new houses in most small towns, villages and rural areas in the county.
The changes were made as councillors accused planning staff of obstructing and refusing genuine applications for one-off housing in the county from local people who were in need of homes.
Councillors decided to retain an amendment which gives precedence to one-off housing for rural people over all other planning considerations, with the exception of public health and traffic. Councillors who voted in favour of the amendment said genuine local applications were being rejected because of a small potential to affect limited views.
Senior planner Mr Paddy Hooper said the main effect of the proposal would be to prevent them from protecting views in scenic areas outside the Wicklow National park, which was 95 per cent owned by the State in any case and was unlikely to be built on.
Mr Hooper warned that it was in breach of 25 documents on planning, the environment and sustainable development policy. He also claimed it totally disregarded the environmental requirement of sustainable development.
Wicklow county manager Mr Eddie Sheehy said the proposal that one-off housing take precedence over everything else was "most bizarre" and that the amendment was "dangerously worded".
Councillors also decided to retain, again against the advice of council staff, an amendment on a section protecting green belt areas against urban sprawl.
Proposed by Cllr Christopher Fox, the amendment provided that the protection not apply to one- off rural housing. Mr Fox said it would only apply to a small number of hardship cases. Mr Sheehy said it would see the rights of one-off housing overriding planners trying to protect green belts and could facilitate urban sprawl.
Councillors also voted to dilute the "locals-only" rule which applies to most parts of the county regarding new housing. From now, 50 per cent of new housing in small towns and villages can be bought by people outside the area.
Cllr Edward Timmins, who proposed the amendment, claimed the current rule was a "bordering on racism". Mr Sheehy rejected this and warned that house prices could increase for locals as they would face competition from outside the county or local area.
Earlier, councillors had accused planning staff of failing to recognise the housing needs of rural communities. Mr Brian Doyle, director of planning, said staff had adopted a "consistent" and sympathetic approach to one-off housing. In the first six months of this year, the council granted 330 single-home planning permissions.