Skip to main content
Normal View

Housing Policy

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 May 2021

Thursday, 13 May 2021

Questions (247)

James O'Connor

Question:

247. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to transform commercial property on main streets into housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25250/21]

View answer

Written answers

The Planning and Development (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations 2018, which came into operation on 8 February 2018, provide for an exemption from the requirement to obtain planning permission in respect of the change of use of certain vacant commercial premises, including vacant areas above ground floor premises, to residential use.

This measure is aimed at facilitating the productive re-use of qualifying vacant commercial buildings as homes, while also facilitating urban renewal and the bringing on stream of increased housing supply.

The Regulations operate for a limited period until 31 December 2021, which has now been extended to 25 February 2022 arising from the Covid-related shutdown of the planning system for 8 weeks during the period March to May 2020, which extended all planning timelines by 8 weeks.

The planning exemptions provided for in the Planning Regulations are kept under regular review.

Action 60 of the recently launched Our Rural Future – Rural Development Policy 2021 to 2025 commits to reviewing and extending the regulations which exempt certain vacant commercial premises, such as “over the shop” type spaces, from requiring planning permission for change of use for residential purposes in accordance with housing activation and Town Centre First policies.

The regulations will be reviewed before their expiry and I will bring forward any legislative amendments considered appropriate. Under section 262(4) of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, legislative proposals in relation to exempted development require the approval of both Houses of the Oireachtas before they can be signed into law.

Top
Share