Tuesday 29 January 2008

Cllrs' anger as developers ignore planning guidelines

Rules carefully laid down in Fingal's County Development Plan are not being followed when planning permissions are granted according to frustrated councillors who want planners to stick to the guidelines.

Rules on heights and densities of developments around the county were thrashed out in the council chamber when the County Development Plan was formulated in 2005.

But a number of councillors have expressed frustration that those rules are being ignored in certain developments around the county and developers are getting away with it.

Cllr Joan Maher (FG) raised the issue at last week's full council meeting and insisted that the council ensure that the County Development Plan is implemented in full when dealing with planning application.

The Fine Gael councillor's motion found support from Cllr David Healy (GP) who told the meeting that he expected the 'clear and simple' limits set down in the County Development Plan to be followed.

Cllr Anne Devitt (FG) said that a lot of work had gone into the County Development Plan and words were very carefully chosen. She said it was 'very frustrating' when planners took a different interpretation of the rules.

The council's Planning Department said that height and density restrictions are judged on a case-by-case basis and the requirements of the County Development Plan as well as government guidelines from the Department of the Environment were taken into account in considering each application.

County Manager, David O'Connor said he was sympathetic to the councillors' concerns and said the matter needed to be discussed in greater detail between the councillors and county planners.

John Manning
Fingal Independent

www.buckplanning.ie

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