Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 July 2022
242. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will address the issue of dezoning land (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36004/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe zoning of land for particular uses, including housing, is an exercise undertaken as part of the overall statutory development plan function under sections 9-13 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 (as amended). Under this legislation, the decision to zone land for development is a reserved function of the elected members of each planning authority. This includes the zoning of lands for residential development in order to meet the housing supply target identified in the administrative area of the local authority.
The statutory Development Plan Guidelines for Planning Authorities published under section 28 of the Planning Act by my Department on 1st July 2022, set out national policies and objectives in relation to the zoning of land. The guidelines state that land already zoned for residential purposes may be regarded as providing a baseline, or starting point to meet projected population and housing targets, especially in cases where planning permission has already been granted, based on the presumption that land subject to planning permission is already serviced or serviceable. Where there is a surplus of well-located zoned and fully serviced land already zoned for development, it is recommended best practice that a phased approach be taken to prioritise the preferred sequence of development of such sites.
It is only in cases where land is zoned and has remained undeveloped and unserviced through one or more development plan cycles, with no prospect of being serviced within the six-year life of the development plan, alternative approaches, including discontinuing the zoning objective, must be considered as it is important that zoned land can be developed as intended, during the life of the plan to ensure that there is sufficient residential land available to meet identified housing needs. This is supported by the provision in section 10 of the Act that there shall be no presumption that any land zoned for development in a development plan shall remain so zoned in any subsequent plan.
The new Development Plan guidelines also provide that in certain instances a planning authority may provide zoned residential sites in addition to those required to meet the housing supply target for a settlement in order to ensure that sufficient choice for development potential is safeguarded.
The Residential Zoned Land tax (RZLT) introduced by the Finance Act 2021 seeks to encourage the activation of development on lands which are suitably zoned and appropriately serviced and will impose a tax on landowners who fail to bring such lands forward for development. My Department published section 28 Guidelines for Planning Authorities on the Residential Zoned Land Tax on 29th June 2022. This tax measure is aligned to the sequential and phased approach to the development of zoned land outlined in the Development Plan Guidelines, with a clear incentive to bring forward land which has had the benefit of investment in the key infrastructure required to support housing. It will also allow other infrastructure providers such as those providing social and community infrastructure to have greater clarity on the likely locations for housing development to take place.
One of the key priorities of the National Planning Framework (NPF) is the compact growth of cities and towns of all sizes. This objective seeks to support the sustainable development of our cities and towns as attractive and vibrant places. The NPF targets 40 percent of future growth to take place in the existing built up area of cities and towns. This target will be met by a combination of development on zoned housing land, and by increasing the proportion of development that takes place on infill and brownfield development sites within existing urban areas. The NPF recognises that this change will not be achieved from the outset and allows for transition over time.
Following the adoption of the NPF and the subsequent Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies,, a process of reviewing city and county development plans by individual planning authorities is now underway. When complete, this will be the first time that there has been an integrated hierarchy of statutory spatial plans, shaping the future pattern and form of development in Ireland.
