asked the Minister for Local Government if there is power in the Planning Acts enabling planning authorities to specify road widths and specifications; if so, if he will indicate the reference; and also if there are any limitations to the specifications which may be required in a particular development.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Road Widths.
106.
Planning authorities have wide general powers under section 19 of the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1963, to indicate development objectives for their areas. Subsection (3) of section 19 provides that a development plan may indicate the objectives of the planning authority for any of the purposes mentioned in the Third Schedule to the Act. The Third Schedule lists a wide variety of matters which may be the subject of general or specific objectives in development plans. These include items related to the securing of the greater convenience and safety of road users and pedestrians, the establishment of the line, width, level and construction of new roads and the regulation and control of the layout of new development, including requirements as to road layout and the provision of service roads.
Even if a development plan does not set out objectives of this kind, a planning authority would be entitled when dealing with applications for planning permission under section 26 of the Act to attach any conditions to a proposed permission which they consider appropriate in the particular case. Such conditions might require the provision of new roads to certain widths and standards. Any applicant who considers that proposed conditions are unduly onerous would, of course, be entitled to appeal against them.
There are no limitations imposed by the Act as to the standards the planning authority may require to be met, but I would hope that any standards laid down would be reasonable and in the interests of the proper planning and development of the area.