Just 92 derelict or vacant sites designated in Offaly by council
Offaly County Council has designated just 92 sites as derelict or vacant despite the Central Statistics Office having identified 2,640.
This finding is contained in the Annual Overview of the Planning System 2021 published by the Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR) last week.
The report also found that 92 per cent of all planning applications were granted permission in Offaly while 8% were refused. The national average grant-rate in 2021 was 88.5%.
In total, there were 529 planning applications approved and 46 refused by Offaly County Council in 2021
Overall in 2021, 3.3pc of planning application decisions made by Offaly County Council were appealed to An Bord Pleanála. Of these, 37.5pc were reversed. The national average rate of appeal in 2021 was 6.7pc, the average reversal rate was 27.7pc.
The planning invalidation rate (the percentage of invalidated planning applications as a proportion of all applications made) in county Offaly decreased from 24.9pc in 2020 to 17.1pc in 2021.
The report reviews key trends and outputs over the year in the wider planning system in Ireland. It includes a comparison with patterns in previous years and is the only analysis of its kind of the Irish planning system.
The report also identifies and makes observations on some of the key trends which reflect Ireland’s and each local authority’s planning performance in 2021.
To coincide with the report, the OPR has also launched a new series of videos and flowcharts aimed at helping people navigate their way through the planning application process.
Commenting on these findings, Planning Regulator, Niall Cussen said: “2021 was a year in which local authorities such as Offaly County Council continued to deliver key statutory planning functions within strict timelines and in an operational environment that was challenging due to public health restrictions imposed as a result of the Covid pandemic.
It is a great credit to the planning process in general that high levels of throughput in handling planning applications and appeals continued despite the pressures.
While core planning functions continue to experience high volumes of activity, more is also being asked of local authorities.
2021 was also a year of very significant activity by local authorities in starting to implement funding streams aimed at securing urban and rural regeneration. However, a critical function to such investment will require concerted action on vacant and derelict buildings.
While core planning functions continue to experience high volumes of activity, more is also being asked of local authorities.”
To coincide with the report, the OPR has also launched a new series of videos and flowcharts aimed at helping people navigate their way through the planning application process.
Niall Cussen outlined: “From the citizen’s perspective, making an application for planning permission can appear daunting as people may be unfamiliar with the different processes and procedures.
With that in mind, the OPR has launched a new series of videos and flowcharts aimed at helping people navigate their way through the planning application process.
These videos and flowcharts clearly explain the main steps involved in making a planning application and are a great resource if you are thinking about applying for planning permission.
Enhancing the public’s understanding of the planning process is a key function of the OPR. These videos and flowcharts are an important contribution to this process and will be a great practical resource.”
The OPR was established in April 2019 on foot of recommendations made by the Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments (the Mahon Tribunal).
Its purpose is to oversee the continuous enhancement of Ireland’s planning process and its outcomes by driving the co-ordination of planning policy implementation across national, regional and local levels, building a stronger knowledge base and ensuring regular reviews of the performance of planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála.