Concerns raised over the removal of public consultation for some housing developments

Councillors are concerned about the removal of public consultation for some local authority housing developments.

The change is part of an amendment made to the Planning and Development Act 2000 in March.

The amendment will exempt some local authority housing developments from the public submission process and formal adoption by councillors.

The aim is to help local authorities build social and affordable housing faster. But it means the normal submissions process may be suspended.

At this week’s sitting of Tipperary County Council, Cashel councillor Declan Burgess called it “deeply worrying” and said not all submissions are objections.

Thurles councillor Seamus Hanafin agreed, saying that the Slievenamon Road project, approved at the end of last year, was improved by public consultation.

“I think we can all agree it was a better scheme after consultation,” said Cllr Hanafin.

Ballina councillor Phyll Bulger said she agreed with the value of public consultation but said the council needed to build houses as quickly as possible.

Senior Executive Planner Anne Marie Devaney, gave a presentation on how the new procedure would work.

She emphasised to elected members that the exemption only applied to housing developments.

All other Part 8 developments (local authority projects) would remain under the normal procedure.

She said the amendment will expire in December 2024, and developments must meet a strict criteria for the exemption to apply.

CRITERIA

The development must be carried out on “behalf, jointly or in partnership” with a housing association or organisation.

Private developers are not included.

The development can not contravene the local area plan and must be in line with the adopted housing strategy.

The local authority must own the land, and it must be zoned for residential use.

And it must have access or can be connected to necessary amenities like roads, public lighting etc.

All developments under the new exemption must commence before December 31, 2024.

PROCEDURE

According to Ms Devaney, in place of consultation, the council will carry out an informal consultation with councillors.

They are not required by law to do this but believe it is important.

An official notification will then be made to members at least eight weeks before the development begins.

After which, a notice will be issued in the newspaper and on the site.

All documents will continue to be available for inspection, but no submissions will be accepted.

There is also no appeal mechanism, but there is a judicial review process available to examine if the criteria apply to the development.

The public can call for the review within the eight-week period prior to commencement, according to Ms Devaney.

CONCERNS REMAIN

Clonmel councillor Siobhan Ambrose queried who would make the decision on what developments are to go ahead if not elected members.

She said councillors know their individual areas, and staff in the council may not.

Ms Devaney replied that is why they are carrying out the informal consultation.

Additionally, a working group between the planning and housing sections is to examine the possibility of informal public consultation.

However, Nenagh councillor Seamus Morris said there has never been proper consultation between the council, councillors and the public.

He said this is especially true of turnkey projects.

Citing recent concerns raised by residents in Cormack Drive and Springford Meadows, Cllr Morris accused the council of “foisting” projects on people.

“Please don’t talk to me about the spirit of cooperation,” said Cllr Morris.

However, Director of Services for Planning Stephane Ducolt said turnkey projects were “completely different” and not the subject of the discussion today.