Part V of the Planning and Development Act, 2000, placed an obligation on each planning authority to prepare a housing strategy and commence the procedure to vary the development plan to insert that strategy in the plan by 31 July 2001 at the latest. The requirement to reserve land, houses or sites for social and affordable housing applies to applications for permission for development made after the housing strategy has been inserted into the relevant development plan. It does not apply to applications for permission made prior to that date.
For a transitional period, therefore, permissions will be in existence which are not subject to a requirement under Part V. However, all development plans now incorporate housing strategies and therefore all applications made on residentially zoned land which is subject to an objective to reserve land, houses or sites must comply with the requirements of Part V.