Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 July 2020
13. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the strategic housing development provisions will be abolished in the interest of sustainable development and local democracy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17504/20]
View answerIn line with the provisions of Section 4(2) of the Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016 (the Act), the strategic housing development (SHD) arrangements were extended in December 2019 to the maximum period permitted by the Act, i.e. 31 December 2021. The Programme for Government – Our Shared Future indicates that this provision will not be extended beyond that date.
The original extension took account of the findings of an External Review Group which undertook the review on the operation of the SHD arrangements. This report, which was laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas, particularly highlighted that while they had generally been a success in providing a fast-track development consent process for developers of large-scale housing developments, the number of SHD permissions that have commenced development is less than might have been expected.
In this regard, with a view to influencing the earlier activation of housing related planning permissions, the new Programme for Government – Our Shared Future commits to introducing a "use it or lose it" condition for all planning permissions of ten units or more. I intend that the necessary legislation providing for the introduction of the proposed new "use it or lose it" housing-related planning arrangements will be progressed over the coming months.
