Written Answers. - Housing Policy.
Thomas P. Broughan
Question:
26
Mr. Broughan
asked the
Minister for the Environment and Local Government
the steps he intends to take to ensure the full implementation of the 20% social housing condition in all developments, having regard to claims made by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul that local authorities are flouting the requirement; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17334/02]
Bernard Allen
Question:
41
Mr. Allen
asked the
Minister for the Environment and Local Government
if he proposes to amend the legislation which will remove the requirement to reapply for planning permission after two years for those who can demonstrate the timing of their planning application was not designed to circumvent compliance with new requirements of the planning Acts; and the number of current planning permissions it is envisaged, based on his Department's assessment, which will fall foul of the two year planning permission rule in each local authority area.
[17310/02]
Bernard Allen
Question:
255
Mr. Allen
asked the
Minister for the Environment and Local Government
the details of the results of his Department's survey of local authorities which was carried out in December 2001 on the number of housing units affected by the terms of section 96(15) of the Planning and Development Act, 2000.
[17640/02]
Bernard Allen
Question:
256
Mr. Allen
asked the
Minister for the Environment and Local Government
his views on the impact of section 96(15) of the Planning and Development Act, 2000, and the withering of planning permissions on the supply of housing; and his further views on the impact for the next four years.
[17641/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 26, 41, 255 and 256 together.
Part V of the Planning and Development Act, 2000, introduced a two year limit on a planning permission granted on foot of an application made after publication of the planning Bill in August 1999 and prior to incorporation of the housing strategy in the relevant development plan. The reason for its inclusion was to prevent developers "stockpiling" planning permissions which would not be subject to the requirement to reserve land-houses for social and affordable housing.
My Department sought information from planning authorities on the impact of the two year rule early in 2002. On the basis of the information supplied by the authorities, it was estimated that, excluding one-off housing permissions which are likely to be built out, in total about 2,100 current planning permissions, 79,690 units, nationally are affected by the two year rule, of which 749 permissions, 37,343, are in the greater Dublin area, GDA. A total of 1,185 permissions, 43,842 units, nationally will expire on 31 December 2002 and 939 permissions, 35,848 units, during 2003. In the GDA the figures are 480 permissions, 20,853 units, expiring on 31 December 2002 and 269 permissions, 16,490 units, expiring during 2003.
There is no accurate way of assessing the number of units that could be subject to re-application because the rate at which permissions are built out varies depending on factors such as capacity, demand and location. However, given current trends in demand and capacity, a reasonable assumption would be that all developments of less than 100 units and 50% of the 100+ unit developments would be built out in the two year period. Applying these assumptions to relevant permissions over the period 2002-2003 would imply that around 188 permissions nationally for around 19,000 units, 102 permissions for around 11,700 units in the GDA, could be subject to re-application for planning permission. This number would be increased by any relevant planning application in the system which is granted permission and which is not built out in the two year period.
The Agreed Programme for Government indicates that in order to minimise disruption to housing supply where planning re-applications are necessary because of the two year rule, set maximum application and appeals timings will apply. In addition, the programme promises to review the operation of Part V to ensure that it is meeting its objectives in relation to social and affordable housing. The review of Part V promised in the Agreed Programme for Government has commenced and is being conducted by my Department in consultation with the major stakeholders, including both construction industry and social-affordable housing interests, among whom is the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. I intend to complete the review and report back to Government shortly.
