Sir, – While much consideration has been given to the implications of the proposed Planning and Development Bill on judicial reviews, An Bord Pleanála and other matters, the direct implication of this legislation on our built heritage has received little comment.
It is noted in the recently published outline of the proposed Planning and Development Bill that provisions are to be made “to allow planning authorities to sanction works for the purpose of enabling a residential use of a protected structure, where the works are necessary and proportionate whilst not materially affecting the character of the structure”.
However, no further information is provided as to what measures are being proposed to allow planning authorities fulfil this function and, crucially, to ensure that the integrity of protected structures will be safeguarded.
A concern of the Irish Georgian Society is that such measures may not be sufficiently resourced or indeed robust enough to ensure the protection of our built heritage.
It is noted that even though 23 years have passed since the introduction of the Planning & Development Act 2000, not all local authorities employ architectural conservation officers, and that the measures in Part IV of the planning legislation frequently prove inadequate to protect buildings of architectural interest.
Should local authorities be given new abilities to sanction residential related works to protected structures, it is hoped that these place the protection of our architectural heritage to the fore and that sufficient resources are put in place to ensure suitably informed conservation advice is available. – Yours, etc,
DONOUGH CAHILL,
Executive Director,
Irish Georgian Society,
Dublin 2.