Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 December 2018
654. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the removal of height restrictions has a major upward impact on the site value of the lands and that the price obtained for land disposed of by NAMA recently is considerably less than what could have been obtained; and if his Department discussed the likely impacts with NAMA officials before they disposed of lands. [52805/18]
View answer655. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if NAMA had been informed of the forthcoming change to height regulations but continued to completion with such sales; if so, the reason NAMA was permitted to dispose of such sites at considerable discount to their subsequent revaluation; and if he was advised of these sales and-or disposals prior to the announcement on height restrictions. [52806/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 654 and 655 together.
I recently issued planning guidelines titled ’Urban Development and Building Height’ to planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála, under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended.
The guidelines were issued following a period of public consultation, which took place over August and September of this year, and after consideration of submissions received.
The guidelines set out national planning policy on building heights in relation to urban areas, as defined by the census, and arise from the strategic policy framework set out in Project Ireland 2040 and the National Planning Framework (NPF).
The guidelines:
- develop urban planning policy outlined in the National Planning Framework, in particular National Policy Objective 13;
- outline wider and strategic policy considerations and performance criteria that planning authorities should apply, alongside their statutory development plans, in assessing proposals for taller buildings; and
- support the accommodation of anticipated population growth and development needs, whether for housing, employment or other purposes, by building up and consolidating the development of our existing urban areas.
The ownership, sale of lands or financial aspects of same were not a consideration in the preparation or intent of these guidelines for planning authorities in the discharge of their statutory functions. In addition, as recent analysis of construction costs published by my Department shows, taller buildings can introduce more complex construction requirements so a direct link between supporting planning policy for taller buildings and increasing land values may not always arise.
Public consultation on guidelines of this kind operates as a general process which is advertised on a wide basis, rather than being notified to any specific individual parties, and it is open to all interested parties to make a submission.
The finalised guidelines are necessary and appropriate to give clear context and direction to the Government's policies in relation to urban planning and promoting increased densities and building height in appropriate locations within our urban centres.
