Sir, – In relation to new planning legislation (“Breaking the housing logjam”, Editorial, December 14th), it is indicated that “An Bord Pleanála and local authorities will only have limited margin to make decisions that materially contravene development plans”.
This would be a welcome move and would, if adhered to, earnestly alleviate much contentiousness that has regularly surrounded typical strategic housing development and large-scale applications in the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown area in terms of unfair impacts to existing residents.
The removal of the ability of residents’ associations to take judicial reviews would indeed represent a significant change but ensuring that there are ironclad measures to deter contravention of development plans would provide a compensatory quid pro quo to the community of residents concerned about the impacts of future developments adjacent to their homes. Judicial reviews are after all heavy-handed initiatives that not all residents’ associations can afford or are willing to invest considerable resources into (and shouldn’t have to resort to) where it is much more important that there is more reliability instilled into respecting the local planning guidance in development plans as voted upon by local councillors. – Yours, etc,
Cllr JOHN KENNEDY,
Dún Laoghaire
Rathdown County
Council Offices,
Dún Laoghaire,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – It would appear that one aspect of the proposed changes to the planning “system” is to restrain residents’ associations from objecting to new developments. The many issues, including fire safety, regarding apartment buildings have been well documented. With this in mind, surely it would be prudent to listen to those voicing concerns or reservations, no matter the direction from which they emanate? – Yours, etc,
PETER DECLAN O’HALLORAN,
Belturbet,
Co Cavan.
Sir, – What about men’s sheds, art classes, sports clubs, and all other community groups registered with county councils’ public participation networks up and down the country? Are they banned also from taking judicial reviews or is it just residents’ associations? – Yours, etc,
CAITRÍONA McCLEAN,
Lucan,
Co Dublin.