The sale of 35ac of industrial zoned lands at Athy, Co Kildare, was probably the first sale of commercially zoned lands at agricultural values.
The property was guided at €15,000/ac and it made an extra €1,000/ac on the day when Jordan Auctioneers last week sold it at auction for €552,000 at the Clanard Hotel, Athy.
The land, which has planning permission for retail warehousing, is located just off the N78 Athy to Kilkenny road adjacent to Minch Norton, Tegral and the Business Campus. The property is only a short distance from Athy town centre and can be accessed via two existing agricultural gateways.
In farming terms the land is described as good ground suitable for tillage or grazing. Laid out in four divisions, it is reasonably well fenced and has a ready water supply.
About 20 people attended the auction and the property opened with an initial bid of €200,000. With three active bidders in contention the price increased in increments of €50,000 until it was put on the market at €535,000. Two final bidders fought to the finish and when the hammer came down at €552,000 the land became the property of a local farmer.
Jim O'Brien
Irish Independent
www.bpsplanningconsultants.ie
Showing posts with label planning and zoning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label planning and zoning. Show all posts
Monday, 17 October 2011
Wednesday, 16 February 2011
Planning reform one of several major achievements
Reckless rezoning and badly insulated houses should be things of the past after the Greens’ stint in office, but other issues remain unresolved, writes FRANK McDONALD, Environment Editor.
THE RECKLESS planning and rezoning of land that inflated the property bubble should become a thing of the past as a result of the 2010 Planning Act – one of the Green Party’s major achievements in Government.
Its principal aim was to make “evidence-based planning” and responsible zoning a legal requirement for local authorities.
Party leader John Gormley, as minister for the environment, also issued new guidelines curtailing development on floodplains and intervened to ensure that “inappropriate zonings” in Co Monaghan were overturned.
Gormley amended building regulations to ensure that all new housing and commercial buildings would be at least 40 per cent more energy-efficient and have at least 40 per cent lower emissions. Former minister for energy Eamon Ryan introduced the national insulation programme, with the aim of retrofitting 100,000 homes.
Over 15 per cent of Ireland’s electricity is now coming from renewable sources – 10 times more than a few years ago. Earlier last month, the amount of electricity coming from wind hit a new record of 1,250MW – enough to provide power for more than 800,000 homes.
The ESB has committed itself to becoming carbon neutral by 2030. The Greens also claim that wind energy is keeping the cost of electricity lower, as its value is nearly double the €43 million in subsidies paid to producers.
The long-delayed introduction of a carbon tax in last year’s budget put a price on emissions, providing an incentive for the transition to a low-carbon economy. Motor taxes were also reformed to be based on carbon emissions, encouraging motorists to switch to cleaner cars.
More controversially, the Greens persuaded their coalition partners to impose a €200 annual charge on second homes, which yielded €80 million in its first year – providing a new funding stream for local authorities that seems likely to increase in future years.
Gormley ran into opposition from rural interests over a number of measures, including his ban on stag hunting, turf-cutting in special areas of conservation and legislation to curtail puppy farming. The Greens also managed to sustain record investment in water services, averaging €500 million a year since 2007. Ultimately, this will be funded by consumers, with water meters to be extended to all households by 2014.
Curbing water pollution was one of the factors that helped reduce by a third the number of cases against Ireland for failure to comply with EU environment legislation. Others included measures to protect wildlife habitats and reform environmental impact assessments.
Hotels and restaurants are now required to compost their food waste, instead of bagging it for landfill. Recycling rates in general are also higher, driven by increases in the landfill levy, which doubled from €15 to €30 per tonne during Gormley’s term.
However, the Green Party’s leader did not succeed in stopping plans for the Poolbeg incinerator in his own constituency.
A Bill dealing with noise nuisance is almost complete.
Other measures that were well advanced include the Climate Change Response Bill, a White Paper on local government reform and the Bill to provide for a directly elected mayor of Dublin. Whether these measures will be resuscitated by the next government remains to be seen.
A review of archaeological policy led to the publication of a new National Monuments Bill, but savage cuts in heritage funding in the budget took many by surprise. In response, Gormley agreed to reinstate the Heritage Council’s capital allocation.
It is largely due to the Greens that Metro North remains a live project, but a decision to proceed with it could jeopardise Dart Underground, identified by an independent review of Transport 21 as more strategically important and better value for money.
Other measures for which the party claims credit include the Cycle to Work scheme, promotion of organic farming, inclusion of an “environmental pillar” in the social partnership process and legal protection for same-sex couples.
The introduction of genetically modified (GM) organisms at European level was not supported by Ireland while the Greens were in government. Last week, however, Fianna Fáil said it would now vote in favour of GM proposals.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
THE RECKLESS planning and rezoning of land that inflated the property bubble should become a thing of the past as a result of the 2010 Planning Act – one of the Green Party’s major achievements in Government.
Its principal aim was to make “evidence-based planning” and responsible zoning a legal requirement for local authorities.
Party leader John Gormley, as minister for the environment, also issued new guidelines curtailing development on floodplains and intervened to ensure that “inappropriate zonings” in Co Monaghan were overturned.
Gormley amended building regulations to ensure that all new housing and commercial buildings would be at least 40 per cent more energy-efficient and have at least 40 per cent lower emissions. Former minister for energy Eamon Ryan introduced the national insulation programme, with the aim of retrofitting 100,000 homes.
Over 15 per cent of Ireland’s electricity is now coming from renewable sources – 10 times more than a few years ago. Earlier last month, the amount of electricity coming from wind hit a new record of 1,250MW – enough to provide power for more than 800,000 homes.
The ESB has committed itself to becoming carbon neutral by 2030. The Greens also claim that wind energy is keeping the cost of electricity lower, as its value is nearly double the €43 million in subsidies paid to producers.
The long-delayed introduction of a carbon tax in last year’s budget put a price on emissions, providing an incentive for the transition to a low-carbon economy. Motor taxes were also reformed to be based on carbon emissions, encouraging motorists to switch to cleaner cars.
More controversially, the Greens persuaded their coalition partners to impose a €200 annual charge on second homes, which yielded €80 million in its first year – providing a new funding stream for local authorities that seems likely to increase in future years.
Gormley ran into opposition from rural interests over a number of measures, including his ban on stag hunting, turf-cutting in special areas of conservation and legislation to curtail puppy farming. The Greens also managed to sustain record investment in water services, averaging €500 million a year since 2007. Ultimately, this will be funded by consumers, with water meters to be extended to all households by 2014.
Curbing water pollution was one of the factors that helped reduce by a third the number of cases against Ireland for failure to comply with EU environment legislation. Others included measures to protect wildlife habitats and reform environmental impact assessments.
Hotels and restaurants are now required to compost their food waste, instead of bagging it for landfill. Recycling rates in general are also higher, driven by increases in the landfill levy, which doubled from €15 to €30 per tonne during Gormley’s term.
However, the Green Party’s leader did not succeed in stopping plans for the Poolbeg incinerator in his own constituency.
A Bill dealing with noise nuisance is almost complete.
Other measures that were well advanced include the Climate Change Response Bill, a White Paper on local government reform and the Bill to provide for a directly elected mayor of Dublin. Whether these measures will be resuscitated by the next government remains to be seen.
A review of archaeological policy led to the publication of a new National Monuments Bill, but savage cuts in heritage funding in the budget took many by surprise. In response, Gormley agreed to reinstate the Heritage Council’s capital allocation.
It is largely due to the Greens that Metro North remains a live project, but a decision to proceed with it could jeopardise Dart Underground, identified by an independent review of Transport 21 as more strategically important and better value for money.
Other measures for which the party claims credit include the Cycle to Work scheme, promotion of organic farming, inclusion of an “environmental pillar” in the social partnership process and legal protection for same-sex couples.
The introduction of genetically modified (GM) organisms at European level was not supported by Ireland while the Greens were in government. Last week, however, Fianna Fáil said it would now vote in favour of GM proposals.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Monday, 7 February 2011
Sisters of Charity claim land 'targeted'
The Sisters of Charity have claimed a decision by Dublin City Council to impose more restrictive conditions on development of certain lands in the new development plan for Dublin appears to be “targeted” at lands owned by religious institutions.
The order wants to see where that decision originated, its lawyer said.
It claims the lands being zoned Z15, a designation it claims treats privately owned land as resource land to be used for the benefit of the community, are “almost exclusively owned by religious institutions”. There are numerous examples of lands owned by other institutions which are not subject to Z15 zoning, the order claims.
It claims the council, in sanctioning the zoning under the new Dublin city develoment plan 2011-2017, is effectively diverting private property into public ownership and effectively “sterilising” its lands without compensation.
The Z15 zoning requires a greater proportion of open space and social affordable housing than applies in any other zoming under the development plan, they also claim.
Mr Justice Peter Kelly today granted an application by Brian Murray SC, for the order, to fast-track its action against the council over the Z15 zoning of its lands.
All of the order’s 108 acres of lands in 18 separate parcels have been zoned Z15 in the new plan, imposing more restrictions on development than included in the previous plan. A similar challenge to the Z15 zoning was initiated last month by RTÉ in relation to lands at its Montrose complex at Donnybrook.
The Sisters of Charity claims the decision breaches the nuns' property rights and has serious implications for their ability to fund their religious mission and their work. The nuns said they sometimes borrow money from financial institutions to support their work and that their capacity to do this is directly affected by the value of their properties.
Mr Murray said it appeared the more restrictive zoning was applied disproportionately as it was not applied to other lands privately owned and his side wanted to see where the decision came from.
James Connolly SC, for the council, had sought an adjournment of the application to transfer the case and said he was awaiting instructions in the context of a meeting yesterday evening.
Mr Justice Kelly refused the adjournment and agreed to transfer the judicial review to the court, which fast-tracks the hearing of commercial disputes.
The High Court had last month granted leave to the order and RTÉ to bring their separate judicial review proceedings against the council arising from the zoning changes.
The Z15 designation means future uses such as housing development are not open for planning consideration which has implications for the ability of the Sisters of Charity and RTÉ to sell off land to fund their activities.
The order claims the development plan is substantively illegal on grounds it applies a restrictive zoning to an arbitrary selection of lands including St Vincent’s Private Hospital; St Mary’s day care centre, Donnybrook; the hospice at Harold’s Cross and a number of school sites in the north and south city.
It wants orders quashing the adoption of the zoning on their lands and a stay on the operation of the section of the plan affecting its property. The order is also claiming damages for alleged breaches of their private property and religious freedom rights under the Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The order wants to see where that decision originated, its lawyer said.
It claims the lands being zoned Z15, a designation it claims treats privately owned land as resource land to be used for the benefit of the community, are “almost exclusively owned by religious institutions”. There are numerous examples of lands owned by other institutions which are not subject to Z15 zoning, the order claims.
It claims the council, in sanctioning the zoning under the new Dublin city develoment plan 2011-2017, is effectively diverting private property into public ownership and effectively “sterilising” its lands without compensation.
The Z15 zoning requires a greater proportion of open space and social affordable housing than applies in any other zoming under the development plan, they also claim.
Mr Justice Peter Kelly today granted an application by Brian Murray SC, for the order, to fast-track its action against the council over the Z15 zoning of its lands.
All of the order’s 108 acres of lands in 18 separate parcels have been zoned Z15 in the new plan, imposing more restrictions on development than included in the previous plan. A similar challenge to the Z15 zoning was initiated last month by RTÉ in relation to lands at its Montrose complex at Donnybrook.
The Sisters of Charity claims the decision breaches the nuns' property rights and has serious implications for their ability to fund their religious mission and their work. The nuns said they sometimes borrow money from financial institutions to support their work and that their capacity to do this is directly affected by the value of their properties.
Mr Murray said it appeared the more restrictive zoning was applied disproportionately as it was not applied to other lands privately owned and his side wanted to see where the decision came from.
James Connolly SC, for the council, had sought an adjournment of the application to transfer the case and said he was awaiting instructions in the context of a meeting yesterday evening.
Mr Justice Kelly refused the adjournment and agreed to transfer the judicial review to the court, which fast-tracks the hearing of commercial disputes.
The High Court had last month granted leave to the order and RTÉ to bring their separate judicial review proceedings against the council arising from the zoning changes.
The Z15 designation means future uses such as housing development are not open for planning consideration which has implications for the ability of the Sisters of Charity and RTÉ to sell off land to fund their activities.
The order claims the development plan is substantively illegal on grounds it applies a restrictive zoning to an arbitrary selection of lands including St Vincent’s Private Hospital; St Mary’s day care centre, Donnybrook; the hospice at Harold’s Cross and a number of school sites in the north and south city.
It wants orders quashing the adoption of the zoning on their lands and a stay on the operation of the section of the plan affecting its property. The order is also claiming damages for alleged breaches of their private property and religious freedom rights under the Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Monday, 31 January 2011
Nama reply sought over rezoning plan
NAMA HAS been asked to comment on a draft local area plan for Bandon, Co Cork, which has zoned land for a further 1,700 houses even though land already zoned for housing – some under Nama’s control – remains to be developed.
Declan Waugh, an environmental engineer and member of Cork County Council’s strategic planning committee, wrote to Nama last week seeking clarification of its interest in lands on the outskirts of Bandon.
“Nama is an asset management company that will hold, manage, develop or enhance loans . . . with the aim of achieving the best possible return for the taxpayer on the loans and any underlying assets,” he said.
Mr Waugh said in considering local area plans, councillors “should take cognisance of development lands owned or in the control of Nama . . . given that the taxpayer through the vehicle of Nama needs to ensure a return on these investments by the State”.
Planning bodies should give priority to having these lands developed or construction completed prior to further zoning so there would be “orderly development”.
He cited the draft local area plan for Bandon, which “seeks to zone additional land for 1,700 houses on top of the already zoned and uncompleted lands where planning remains for 1,500 houses, some of which are now under the control of Nama”.
When Mr Waugh raised this at the strategic planning committee, the response he received was that Nama did not own development lands, but the associated loans. As a result, the council could carry on zoning land, “regardless of market implications”.
In his opinion, “there should be co-operation between State bodies on prioritising the completion of unfinished estates and development of suitable lands already in the control of Nama”.
Mr Waugh has not yet received a reply from Nama.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Declan Waugh, an environmental engineer and member of Cork County Council’s strategic planning committee, wrote to Nama last week seeking clarification of its interest in lands on the outskirts of Bandon.
“Nama is an asset management company that will hold, manage, develop or enhance loans . . . with the aim of achieving the best possible return for the taxpayer on the loans and any underlying assets,” he said.
Mr Waugh said in considering local area plans, councillors “should take cognisance of development lands owned or in the control of Nama . . . given that the taxpayer through the vehicle of Nama needs to ensure a return on these investments by the State”.
Planning bodies should give priority to having these lands developed or construction completed prior to further zoning so there would be “orderly development”.
He cited the draft local area plan for Bandon, which “seeks to zone additional land for 1,700 houses on top of the already zoned and uncompleted lands where planning remains for 1,500 houses, some of which are now under the control of Nama”.
When Mr Waugh raised this at the strategic planning committee, the response he received was that Nama did not own development lands, but the associated loans. As a result, the council could carry on zoning land, “regardless of market implications”.
In his opinion, “there should be co-operation between State bodies on prioritising the completion of unfinished estates and development of suitable lands already in the control of Nama”.
Mr Waugh has not yet received a reply from Nama.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Soccer club wins in rezoning
CLIFFONEY/GRANGE youth soccer club and the local parish council were the big winners of Monday's County Council meeting after the green light was given to a proposal to re-zone a 23 acre site to allow for the' development of a soccer pitch and clubhouse along with a burial ground at Aughagad..
Councillors, who met to discuss the Second Manager's Report on submissions and observations relating to the Draft Development Plan, voted narrowly by nine votes to seven to back a submission by Gavin Engineering on behalf of Gilleece Brothers Construction, Grange Pastoral Council and Cliffoney/Grange Youth soccer club for a new development which will also include a proposal for a residential scheme.
However, council officials opposed the idea saying the proposed residential element of 17 acres would have the potential to provide at least 78 houses giving an additional population of 171 people, and that this was unjustified given the level of vacant dwellings.
Councillor Michael Clarke proposed an amendment to the Draft Development Plan in line with the submission already made that 17 acres be zoned for residential uses, three acres be zoned for a burial ground and a further three be set aside for a soccer pitch, training ground and a clubhouse. At present, the lands were zoned as 'buffer zone!
Clr. Clarke said it was a very generous proposal by the developers and he was strongly recommending that the plan be backed. The motion was seconded by Clr. Sean MacManus who said he would be normally reluctant to back such plans but in this case the developer was giving back six acres to the community for much needed facilities. Clr. Hubert Keaney said a lot of land had already been zoned for housing and he did not believe it was right to proceed with more
houses at that location. Councillors voted 9 to 7 to amend the Grange mini-plan to rezone the 23 acre site to allow for the development to go ahead.
The Champion
www.buckplanning.ie
Councillors, who met to discuss the Second Manager's Report on submissions and observations relating to the Draft Development Plan, voted narrowly by nine votes to seven to back a submission by Gavin Engineering on behalf of Gilleece Brothers Construction, Grange Pastoral Council and Cliffoney/Grange Youth soccer club for a new development which will also include a proposal for a residential scheme.
However, council officials opposed the idea saying the proposed residential element of 17 acres would have the potential to provide at least 78 houses giving an additional population of 171 people, and that this was unjustified given the level of vacant dwellings.
Councillor Michael Clarke proposed an amendment to the Draft Development Plan in line with the submission already made that 17 acres be zoned for residential uses, three acres be zoned for a burial ground and a further three be set aside for a soccer pitch, training ground and a clubhouse. At present, the lands were zoned as 'buffer zone!
Clr. Clarke said it was a very generous proposal by the developers and he was strongly recommending that the plan be backed. The motion was seconded by Clr. Sean MacManus who said he would be normally reluctant to back such plans but in this case the developer was giving back six acres to the community for much needed facilities. Clr. Hubert Keaney said a lot of land had already been zoned for housing and he did not believe it was right to proceed with more
houses at that location. Councillors voted 9 to 7 to amend the Grange mini-plan to rezone the 23 acre site to allow for the development to go ahead.
The Champion
www.buckplanning.ie
Monday, 11 October 2010
Councils zoned land for million surplus homes
LOCAL authorities fuelled the property boom by rezoning enough land to build more than a million homes that were not needed, the Irish Independent can reveal.
The full extent of the zoning madness is confirmed for the first time today as new figures show the scale of the problem is worse than previously feared.
Councils across the country rezoned more than 44,000 hectares of land for housing over the past decade -- 31,633 hectares more than was actually needed.
This equates to enough land for almost 1.5 million houses and apartments -- but just 400,000 units are needed up to 2016, according to the Department of the Environment.
The revelation raises serious questions about the complete lack of regulation that allowed councillors to fuel the property bubble by deeming vast tracts of land to be suitable for housing.
Figures obtained by the Irish Independent also reveal huge discrepancies between different councils across the country.
Housing Minister Michael Finneran's home county of Roscommon is the worst offender, where councillors zoned 1,193pc more land than was needed. Some 1,345 hectares are deemed suitable for housing, when just 104 hectares are required.
It is closely followed by South Tipperary (1,155pc), Cavan (857pc), Waterford (758pc), Clare (717pc) and Monaghan (705pc), which each zoned more than seven times the amount of land needed.
At the other end of the scale, Limerick city is under-zoned -- it needs 491 hectares, but just 249 hectares are zoned -- while Cork City (2pc) and Galway City (6pc) zoned slightly more than required.
Sources last night said a reliance on development levies along with pressure from developers and landowners led to the frenzy of rubber-stamping.
Some councillors also had a vested interest in making rural fields 'suitable' for housing.
"You had councillors who were auctioneers, developers and builders making these decisions," a source said. "And we had tax incentives encouraging people to build houses."
One-third of the toxic property loans going into NAMA are linked to land, meaning taxpayers could be stuck with €20bn of loans linked to fields that may never be developed.
An Bord Pleanala chairman John O'Connor has previously criticised the extent of the rezoning, saying "excessive and unsustainable zoning of land" had been a contributor to the property bubble and its aftermath.
New regional planning guidelines (RPGs) for the country state that 12,476 hectares of housing land are needed to meet demand up to 2016.
Some 44,109 hectares have been zoned -- 254pc more than required. Previous best estimates had suggested 33,000 hectares of land was zoned.
There are currently 1.46 million homes in the country, but enough zoned land for almost 1.5 million houses and apartments.
Housing
Based on the fact that Irish homes have an average of 2.75 occupants, the zoning provides for enough extra housing to accommodate more than four million people.
Local authorities will now have to dezone, rezone or forbid development on the massive landbanks as they redraw their development plans.
New laws introduced by Environment Minister John Gormley oblige the councils to ensure their plans are "consistent with" national and regional guidelines, rather than "have regard to" them as was the case.
"They have to comply with the core guidelines," the Department of the Environment said.
"This is the first time local authorities have been given the opportunity to address this. Within 12 months of the RPGs being adopted they have to be done. By the end of this month, all the RPGs will be done. In future we're saying only zone what you need, that's it."
The most recent figures show just over 9,500 new homes have been built in the first eight months of this year. If the trend continues, house building will fall to its lowest level since records began in 1970.
Paul Melia
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
The full extent of the zoning madness is confirmed for the first time today as new figures show the scale of the problem is worse than previously feared.
Councils across the country rezoned more than 44,000 hectares of land for housing over the past decade -- 31,633 hectares more than was actually needed.
This equates to enough land for almost 1.5 million houses and apartments -- but just 400,000 units are needed up to 2016, according to the Department of the Environment.
The revelation raises serious questions about the complete lack of regulation that allowed councillors to fuel the property bubble by deeming vast tracts of land to be suitable for housing.
Figures obtained by the Irish Independent also reveal huge discrepancies between different councils across the country.
Housing Minister Michael Finneran's home county of Roscommon is the worst offender, where councillors zoned 1,193pc more land than was needed. Some 1,345 hectares are deemed suitable for housing, when just 104 hectares are required.
It is closely followed by South Tipperary (1,155pc), Cavan (857pc), Waterford (758pc), Clare (717pc) and Monaghan (705pc), which each zoned more than seven times the amount of land needed.
At the other end of the scale, Limerick city is under-zoned -- it needs 491 hectares, but just 249 hectares are zoned -- while Cork City (2pc) and Galway City (6pc) zoned slightly more than required.
Sources last night said a reliance on development levies along with pressure from developers and landowners led to the frenzy of rubber-stamping.
Some councillors also had a vested interest in making rural fields 'suitable' for housing.
"You had councillors who were auctioneers, developers and builders making these decisions," a source said. "And we had tax incentives encouraging people to build houses."
One-third of the toxic property loans going into NAMA are linked to land, meaning taxpayers could be stuck with €20bn of loans linked to fields that may never be developed.
An Bord Pleanala chairman John O'Connor has previously criticised the extent of the rezoning, saying "excessive and unsustainable zoning of land" had been a contributor to the property bubble and its aftermath.
New regional planning guidelines (RPGs) for the country state that 12,476 hectares of housing land are needed to meet demand up to 2016.
Some 44,109 hectares have been zoned -- 254pc more than required. Previous best estimates had suggested 33,000 hectares of land was zoned.
There are currently 1.46 million homes in the country, but enough zoned land for almost 1.5 million houses and apartments.
Housing
Based on the fact that Irish homes have an average of 2.75 occupants, the zoning provides for enough extra housing to accommodate more than four million people.
Local authorities will now have to dezone, rezone or forbid development on the massive landbanks as they redraw their development plans.
New laws introduced by Environment Minister John Gormley oblige the councils to ensure their plans are "consistent with" national and regional guidelines, rather than "have regard to" them as was the case.
"They have to comply with the core guidelines," the Department of the Environment said.
"This is the first time local authorities have been given the opportunity to address this. Within 12 months of the RPGs being adopted they have to be done. By the end of this month, all the RPGs will be done. In future we're saying only zone what you need, that's it."
The most recent figures show just over 9,500 new homes have been built in the first eight months of this year. If the trend continues, house building will fall to its lowest level since records began in 1970.
Paul Melia
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Tuesday, 4 May 2010
Meath is worst overzoning offender
WATERFORD, Monaghan and south Tipperary are among the worst offenders for overzoning land.
But the Dublin commuter counties of Kildare, Meath and Wicklow also have an oversupply which will take years to build out due to lack of demand.
Meath tops the league table of counties with the biggest oversupply. It has land for 124,173 homes but only needs 2,023 -- 61 times the demand -- but Waterford, Monaghan and South Tipperary also face major problems.
These local authorities now face the prospect of having to dezone thousands of hectares of unwanted land. The top five overzoned counties are Meath (61 times' demand), followed by Waterford (40 times), Louth (38), Monaghan (26) and south Tipperary (17).
In the first three months of this year, just over 500 homes were built in the top five counties. They have land zoned for more than 250,000.
In Waterford City just three units were completed. Regional Planning Guidelines seen by the Irish Independent state there should be an excess of zoned land.
It adds: "Excess should normally lie between 50pc and 150pc of the land required."
The figures show almost four times the required land has been zoned.
The guidelines said there was no co-ordination in planning housing, which should have been built on sites in urban centres and "other derelict land".
Paul Melia and Treacy Hogan
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
But the Dublin commuter counties of Kildare, Meath and Wicklow also have an oversupply which will take years to build out due to lack of demand.
Meath tops the league table of counties with the biggest oversupply. It has land for 124,173 homes but only needs 2,023 -- 61 times the demand -- but Waterford, Monaghan and South Tipperary also face major problems.
These local authorities now face the prospect of having to dezone thousands of hectares of unwanted land. The top five overzoned counties are Meath (61 times' demand), followed by Waterford (40 times), Louth (38), Monaghan (26) and south Tipperary (17).
In the first three months of this year, just over 500 homes were built in the top five counties. They have land zoned for more than 250,000.
In Waterford City just three units were completed. Regional Planning Guidelines seen by the Irish Independent state there should be an excess of zoned land.
It adds: "Excess should normally lie between 50pc and 150pc of the land required."
The figures show almost four times the required land has been zoned.
The guidelines said there was no co-ordination in planning housing, which should have been built on sites in urban centres and "other derelict land".
Paul Melia and Treacy Hogan
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Land rezoned for 800,000 more homes than needed
COUNCILS have rezoned enough land to build almost 800,000 new homes that the country does not need, an Irish Independent investigation has found.
Local authorities have rezoned enough land to construct almost 1.1 million houses and apartments across the country at a time when thousands of homes lie empty in 'ghost estates'.
But official projections received by the Government have found fewer than 300,000 new units are needed between now and 2016.
The revelation highlights the extent of the role councillors and planners have played in fuelling the property boom which collapsed with devastating consequences.
Some councils including Meath rezoned up to 60 times more land for residential use than was needed.
Just two out of 34 councils -- Limerick and North Tipperary -- under-zoned land.
Councils who designated too much land for housing will now be forced by the Government to de-zone it back for agricultural use.
New laws due to pass through the Dail will compel local authority members to heed official planning guidelines instead of merely paying them lip service.
Green Planning Minister Ciaran Cuffe last night vowed councils who engaged in rezoning "madness" would be ordered to either de-zone the land, designate it for other uses or allow restricted development.
"There has been massive over-zoning. This is now clear. We need to learn the lesson of the ghost estates which we now have as a result of us losing the run of ourselves during the Celtic Tiger years," he told the Irish Independent.
"In Monaghan there is enough land rezoned for 60 years. That's madness."
Draft planning guidelines obtained by the Irish Independent reveal just 290,000 houses and apartments will be needed nationwide over the next six years.
However, official figures by each local authority sent to the Department of the Environment reveal councils have rezoned 33,000 hectares of land -- enough to build a staggering 1,086,119 units.
The draft guidelines also warn the current overhang of supply will extend "into the coming years" as uncompleted schemes are eventually finished and sold.
"In the short term it is not planned for, or expected, that housing completions will be significant," the documents state. "The figures (for housing demand) for 2016 may prove unachievable as the housing market is likely to be slow to recover."
The government report warns targets by "most of the councils" for building homes up to 2016 will now have to be deferred until at least 2022.
Demand
It advises that demand for housing should be met by using properties lying idle in ghost estates instead of building new homes.
The report also calls for a ban on "doughnut" estates, where large numbers of houses were built in villages and rural areas instead of in towns and cities. Mr Cuffe heavily criticised councils for allowing housing estates to be built up to three miles from towns and villages in rural settings where families had to rely on cars.
He said councils did not have the money to service these estates with water, roads and sewage.
And he warned local authorities will be given just 12 months for their development plans to fall in line with regional guidelines. But councils forced to de-zone land for 800,000 homes will not have to pay compensation to developers. This was removed in the 2000 Planning and Development Act.
Paul Melia and Treacy Hogan
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Local authorities have rezoned enough land to construct almost 1.1 million houses and apartments across the country at a time when thousands of homes lie empty in 'ghost estates'.
But official projections received by the Government have found fewer than 300,000 new units are needed between now and 2016.
The revelation highlights the extent of the role councillors and planners have played in fuelling the property boom which collapsed with devastating consequences.
Some councils including Meath rezoned up to 60 times more land for residential use than was needed.
Just two out of 34 councils -- Limerick and North Tipperary -- under-zoned land.
Councils who designated too much land for housing will now be forced by the Government to de-zone it back for agricultural use.
New laws due to pass through the Dail will compel local authority members to heed official planning guidelines instead of merely paying them lip service.
Green Planning Minister Ciaran Cuffe last night vowed councils who engaged in rezoning "madness" would be ordered to either de-zone the land, designate it for other uses or allow restricted development.
"There has been massive over-zoning. This is now clear. We need to learn the lesson of the ghost estates which we now have as a result of us losing the run of ourselves during the Celtic Tiger years," he told the Irish Independent.
"In Monaghan there is enough land rezoned for 60 years. That's madness."
Draft planning guidelines obtained by the Irish Independent reveal just 290,000 houses and apartments will be needed nationwide over the next six years.
However, official figures by each local authority sent to the Department of the Environment reveal councils have rezoned 33,000 hectares of land -- enough to build a staggering 1,086,119 units.
The draft guidelines also warn the current overhang of supply will extend "into the coming years" as uncompleted schemes are eventually finished and sold.
"In the short term it is not planned for, or expected, that housing completions will be significant," the documents state. "The figures (for housing demand) for 2016 may prove unachievable as the housing market is likely to be slow to recover."
The government report warns targets by "most of the councils" for building homes up to 2016 will now have to be deferred until at least 2022.
Demand
It advises that demand for housing should be met by using properties lying idle in ghost estates instead of building new homes.
The report also calls for a ban on "doughnut" estates, where large numbers of houses were built in villages and rural areas instead of in towns and cities. Mr Cuffe heavily criticised councils for allowing housing estates to be built up to three miles from towns and villages in rural settings where families had to rely on cars.
He said councils did not have the money to service these estates with water, roads and sewage.
And he warned local authorities will be given just 12 months for their development plans to fall in line with regional guidelines. But councils forced to de-zone land for 800,000 homes will not have to pay compensation to developers. This was removed in the 2000 Planning and Development Act.
Paul Melia and Treacy Hogan
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Sunday, 28 March 2010
Glanbia's old Kilmeaden plant gets new zoning status
Glanbia has had part of its former cheese production facility in Kilmeaden designated a strategic development site in the new Waterford county development plan, which will govern future construction in the county from 2011 and 2017. It follows its earlier success in having 64 acres of the 260-acre site rezoned from industrial zoning to a combination of industrial, commercial, office and mixed use.
The decision to pursue the rezoning followed a review of options for the land undertaken by the company's property business unit following the relocation of the facility in 2006. At that stage only the 30 or so acres surrounding the cheese factory buildings were zoned industrial.
"The site is extremely well positioned to take advantage of the new M9 motorway opening later this year, which will provide motorway status links from the site at Kilmeaden to Dublin and Belfast. Furthermore Kilmeaden is situated eight kilometres west of Waterford city on the N25 main link to Cork," the company told the Sunday Tribune. "The other key strategic advantage is an established natural gas supply to the site which is not available in other locations of this scale in the region."
Glanbia subsequently set up a task force that includes personnel representing the IDA, Enterprise Ireland, Waterford Co Council, Waterford Chamber and business professionals which has been in place for 18 months. Its members are actively promoting the site to potential inward investors, including life science groups.
Sunday Tribune
www.buckplanning.ie
The decision to pursue the rezoning followed a review of options for the land undertaken by the company's property business unit following the relocation of the facility in 2006. At that stage only the 30 or so acres surrounding the cheese factory buildings were zoned industrial.
"The site is extremely well positioned to take advantage of the new M9 motorway opening later this year, which will provide motorway status links from the site at Kilmeaden to Dublin and Belfast. Furthermore Kilmeaden is situated eight kilometres west of Waterford city on the N25 main link to Cork," the company told the Sunday Tribune. "The other key strategic advantage is an established natural gas supply to the site which is not available in other locations of this scale in the region."
Glanbia subsequently set up a task force that includes personnel representing the IDA, Enterprise Ireland, Waterford Co Council, Waterford Chamber and business professionals which has been in place for 18 months. Its members are actively promoting the site to potential inward investors, including life science groups.
Sunday Tribune
www.buckplanning.ie
Tuesday, 26 January 2010
Inquiry must examine political acts that stoked crisis
WHEN WAS it decided to call this inquiry into our financial crisis a banking inquiry? By limiting the description of what is under scrutiny, the perception may arise that the Irish banking and regulatory systems are the sole focus of inquiry, writes ELAINE BYRNE
In the Dáil last week, Brian Lenihan spoke of the need for “a comprehensive analysis, which will enable us to understand the origins of the crisis and help us to learn lessons . . .”
This absolutely includes a thorough, honest examination of the political decision-making which facilitated the circumstances responsible for the worst financial crisis in the history of this State. A credible inquiry must embrace an analysis of systemic governance and policy failures. This would include:
1. A complete list of tax reliefs/incentives granted by the Government to developers, investors and first-time buyers which stoked up the price of land, inflated the boom and overheated the market. For instance, the rural renewal schemes which contributed to 300,000 unoccupied houses in ghost estates and the property incentives for new hotels which Peter Bacon estimates has caused an oversupply of 15,000 hotel rooms nationally.
2. A detailed breakdown of the cost of these tax incentives. The 2000-2007 Special Incentive Tax Rate for developers has cost the exchequer €800 million, for example.
3. All documentation held by the relevant Government agencies and regulatory authorities relating to the decision-making processes which granted these tax incentives and that are relevant to regulatory policy. Why was long-term macro public policymaking forfeited for short-term micro interventions? Did Government routinely ignore the policy advice of senior officials or was such advice inadequate? Would an inquiry reveal malfeasance within internal Government decision-making as the Ombudsman’s recent report on the Lost at Sea scheme seemed to suggest?
4. The appointment procedures and legislative framework which allowed retired regulators to move on to bank boards and the practice of cross-directorships where chief executives became chairmen of companies, contrary to corporate governance guidelines.
5. A declaration of the financial liabilities of politicians. How many politicians, or their close associates, received interest-free loans or mortgages on favourable terms or loans received outside of normal lending practices? Prime Time Investigates outlined, for instance, how Charlie McCreevy, minister for finance from 1997-2004, was fast-tracked a €1.6 million mortgage. Standard banking procedures were also ignored in relation to loans to former Fianna Fáil senator Don Lydon, current Fianna Fáil Senator Francie O’Brien and Celia Larkin.
6. An examination of local government zoning decisions. John O’Connor, An Bord Pleanála chairman, described local councillors as responding to the “special pleadings of landowners and other vested interests” in his 2007 annual report.
7. The structure of local government funding which facilitated the financial dependency on development levies (worth nearly €600 million in 2005 and nearly €700 million in 2006) and if this reliance influenced erroneous planning decisions.
8. A full picture of how local and national elections are funded. The Council of Europe body, the Group of States against Corruption (Greco), issued 10 recommendations yesterday on the transparency of Irish political funding and “trading in influence”, also referred to as legal corruption.
Greco noted that it was “crucial that full party accounts, including itemised information on the total annual income and expenditure, debts and assets of political parties, are also made publicly available”. The failure to do so was “a significant shortcoming” by Irish political parties.
When interviewed for this report last year, I gave Greco my study of all disclosed donations made to the standards commission from 1997-2007. Of the €10.1 million spent by parties and candidates in the obligatory three-week accounting period before the 2007 general election (never mind that spent in the previous two years!) just €1.3 million was disclosed to the standards commission. That’s €8.8 million in undisclosed donations.
The study also showed that 40 per cent of Fianna Fáil’s disclosed donations came from developers and construction-related donors and that Fianna Fáil received about £68,000 (some of the money was in Irish pounds, some in dollars) from financial institutions between 1998-2000 including Anglo Irish Bank, the Seán Quinn Group, AIB and Irish Life. Why were banks donating to a Government party?
Greco concluded that “full transparency and openness” would help “strengthen public trust in political parties and political representation in Ireland”. Lenihan, by the way, failed to mention trust even once in his Dáil speech establishing the banking inquiry.
The Treasury Select Committee in Britain held an inquiry to “identify lessons that can be learned form the banking crisis” and received more than 6,000 written questions from the public. These questions were distilled and formed part of the public questioning of the chancellor, the governor of the Bank of England and the regulatory authorities.
John McFall, chairman of that committee, told RTÉ’s This Week “public engagement was hugely important . . . because the public are saying, wait a minute, the banks have gone belly up and we are paying for it. What’s the situation? How did we get into this situation?”
The Irish public does not have any such opportunity to engage in an inquiry which from the outset is perceived to lack legitimacy because of the decision to hold the investigation in private, unlike similar inquiries in the US and Britain. To that end, I have registered the domain name www.bankinginquiry.ie and perhaps the governor of the Central Bank, Patrick Honohan, would use it to ask the public what questions they believe should be asked.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
In the Dáil last week, Brian Lenihan spoke of the need for “a comprehensive analysis, which will enable us to understand the origins of the crisis and help us to learn lessons . . .”
This absolutely includes a thorough, honest examination of the political decision-making which facilitated the circumstances responsible for the worst financial crisis in the history of this State. A credible inquiry must embrace an analysis of systemic governance and policy failures. This would include:
1. A complete list of tax reliefs/incentives granted by the Government to developers, investors and first-time buyers which stoked up the price of land, inflated the boom and overheated the market. For instance, the rural renewal schemes which contributed to 300,000 unoccupied houses in ghost estates and the property incentives for new hotels which Peter Bacon estimates has caused an oversupply of 15,000 hotel rooms nationally.
2. A detailed breakdown of the cost of these tax incentives. The 2000-2007 Special Incentive Tax Rate for developers has cost the exchequer €800 million, for example.
3. All documentation held by the relevant Government agencies and regulatory authorities relating to the decision-making processes which granted these tax incentives and that are relevant to regulatory policy. Why was long-term macro public policymaking forfeited for short-term micro interventions? Did Government routinely ignore the policy advice of senior officials or was such advice inadequate? Would an inquiry reveal malfeasance within internal Government decision-making as the Ombudsman’s recent report on the Lost at Sea scheme seemed to suggest?
4. The appointment procedures and legislative framework which allowed retired regulators to move on to bank boards and the practice of cross-directorships where chief executives became chairmen of companies, contrary to corporate governance guidelines.
5. A declaration of the financial liabilities of politicians. How many politicians, or their close associates, received interest-free loans or mortgages on favourable terms or loans received outside of normal lending practices? Prime Time Investigates outlined, for instance, how Charlie McCreevy, minister for finance from 1997-2004, was fast-tracked a €1.6 million mortgage. Standard banking procedures were also ignored in relation to loans to former Fianna Fáil senator Don Lydon, current Fianna Fáil Senator Francie O’Brien and Celia Larkin.
6. An examination of local government zoning decisions. John O’Connor, An Bord Pleanála chairman, described local councillors as responding to the “special pleadings of landowners and other vested interests” in his 2007 annual report.
7. The structure of local government funding which facilitated the financial dependency on development levies (worth nearly €600 million in 2005 and nearly €700 million in 2006) and if this reliance influenced erroneous planning decisions.
8. A full picture of how local and national elections are funded. The Council of Europe body, the Group of States against Corruption (Greco), issued 10 recommendations yesterday on the transparency of Irish political funding and “trading in influence”, also referred to as legal corruption.
Greco noted that it was “crucial that full party accounts, including itemised information on the total annual income and expenditure, debts and assets of political parties, are also made publicly available”. The failure to do so was “a significant shortcoming” by Irish political parties.
When interviewed for this report last year, I gave Greco my study of all disclosed donations made to the standards commission from 1997-2007. Of the €10.1 million spent by parties and candidates in the obligatory three-week accounting period before the 2007 general election (never mind that spent in the previous two years!) just €1.3 million was disclosed to the standards commission. That’s €8.8 million in undisclosed donations.
The study also showed that 40 per cent of Fianna Fáil’s disclosed donations came from developers and construction-related donors and that Fianna Fáil received about £68,000 (some of the money was in Irish pounds, some in dollars) from financial institutions between 1998-2000 including Anglo Irish Bank, the Seán Quinn Group, AIB and Irish Life. Why were banks donating to a Government party?
Greco concluded that “full transparency and openness” would help “strengthen public trust in political parties and political representation in Ireland”. Lenihan, by the way, failed to mention trust even once in his Dáil speech establishing the banking inquiry.
The Treasury Select Committee in Britain held an inquiry to “identify lessons that can be learned form the banking crisis” and received more than 6,000 written questions from the public. These questions were distilled and formed part of the public questioning of the chancellor, the governor of the Bank of England and the regulatory authorities.
John McFall, chairman of that committee, told RTÉ’s This Week “public engagement was hugely important . . . because the public are saying, wait a minute, the banks have gone belly up and we are paying for it. What’s the situation? How did we get into this situation?”
The Irish public does not have any such opportunity to engage in an inquiry which from the outset is perceived to lack legitimacy because of the decision to hold the investigation in private, unlike similar inquiries in the US and Britain. To that end, I have registered the domain name www.bankinginquiry.ie and perhaps the governor of the Central Bank, Patrick Honohan, would use it to ask the public what questions they believe should be asked.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Monday, 9 November 2009
CRH wants 57 acres of quarry lands rezoned
CRH, Ireland's most valuable company, is seeking to have almost 57 acres of land it owns at Huntstown Quarry in Finglas, west Dublin, rezoned for general industrial employment and related uses. The land is currently zoned for agricultural use.
The building-materials group owns more than 500 acres at Huntstown, of which about 130 are used for quarrying and ancillary aggregate production. Some of the land is designated for wildlife habitats and some is used for stables and horse exercise paddocks.
However, the company's Roadstone Dublin subsidiary says that "there are still large areas of undeveloped lands within the site boundaries, which appear capable of being developed without interfering with the main commercial quarrying activity on the lands".
It has sought the rezoning of a number of areas within its site, the majority of which is located along both sides of the site access road from the N2.
CRH says the land, which adjoins the Huntstown
power station, is "ideally located for commercial development" and that the current agricultural use is "anomalous".
It says that it "is reasonable to expect that the agriculture use will be displaced by commercial... uses if not in this plan period, then in the not too distant future as the reserves at Huntstown are eventually exhausted".
Sunday Tribune
www.buckplanning.ie
The building-materials group owns more than 500 acres at Huntstown, of which about 130 are used for quarrying and ancillary aggregate production. Some of the land is designated for wildlife habitats and some is used for stables and horse exercise paddocks.
However, the company's Roadstone Dublin subsidiary says that "there are still large areas of undeveloped lands within the site boundaries, which appear capable of being developed without interfering with the main commercial quarrying activity on the lands".
It has sought the rezoning of a number of areas within its site, the majority of which is located along both sides of the site access road from the N2.
CRH says the land, which adjoins the Huntstown
power station, is "ideally located for commercial development" and that the current agricultural use is "anomalous".
It says that it "is reasonable to expect that the agriculture use will be displaced by commercial... uses if not in this plan period, then in the not too distant future as the reserves at Huntstown are eventually exhausted".
Sunday Tribune
www.buckplanning.ie
Tuesday, 30 September 2008
Controversy as Adare rezoning goes ahead
LIMERICK politicians last night voted through one of the most controversial land zonings outside of Dublin in the face of dire warnings of the legal risk they were taking for themselves and Limerick County Council.
By 12 votes to three (there were six abstentions) members of the county council ignored legal advice and amended the county manager’s Adare local area plan, rezoning more than 50 acres of agricultural land for housing.
Sites in Adare are among the most expensive in the country and, at the height of the boom, a prime half-acre plot fetched €1.3 million.
Last night’s rezoning will drive up the value of 50 acres from €2.5m to €25m. The council’s legal adviser, William Leahy, told the council members they could expose the council and themselves to compensation and surcharges as the land would now rise from €50,000 an acre to €500,000.
He said a developer could take action if, at a future time, An Bord Pleanála refused planning permission on land zoned by the council as residential.
Councillor John Clifford (FF), seconded by Councillor Richard Butler (FG), moved the amendment to rezone. Mr Clifford said they had good planning reasons to rezone as there was currently insufficient building land in Adare.
Adare councillor, James Cavanagh (FF) supported the rezoning and denied that it would harm the heritage of Adare. The other Adare council member, Councillor Rose Brennan (PD) was not present.
The council’s director of planning Tom Enright said the rezoning would not be in accordance with the proper planning of Adare, which he said was one of the most beautiful heritage towns in the country.
Shortly before the vote was called, Mr Leahy warned: “It is a legal decision you are taking today and I cannot emphasise enough how serious it is.”
County manager Ned Gleeson said if the councillors wanted to go ahead and rezone against advice, the decision must be grounded on proper planning.
As well as council management, the Department of the Environment also voiced its objection to the rezoning, as it “would have significant impacts on the setting of the historic town”.
Urban design consultants Nicholas de Jong in a report to the council, said lands already zoned for housing in Adare cover more than 120 acres and could accommodate up to 1,000 houses.
“This is equivalent to a population increase of around 2,600 persons, clearly far in excess of the requirements during the lifetime of the [Local Area] plan for Adare, up to 2014, and for the longer 20-year period,” the consultants advised in their report.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
By 12 votes to three (there were six abstentions) members of the county council ignored legal advice and amended the county manager’s Adare local area plan, rezoning more than 50 acres of agricultural land for housing.
Sites in Adare are among the most expensive in the country and, at the height of the boom, a prime half-acre plot fetched €1.3 million.
Last night’s rezoning will drive up the value of 50 acres from €2.5m to €25m. The council’s legal adviser, William Leahy, told the council members they could expose the council and themselves to compensation and surcharges as the land would now rise from €50,000 an acre to €500,000.
He said a developer could take action if, at a future time, An Bord Pleanála refused planning permission on land zoned by the council as residential.
Councillor John Clifford (FF), seconded by Councillor Richard Butler (FG), moved the amendment to rezone. Mr Clifford said they had good planning reasons to rezone as there was currently insufficient building land in Adare.
Adare councillor, James Cavanagh (FF) supported the rezoning and denied that it would harm the heritage of Adare. The other Adare council member, Councillor Rose Brennan (PD) was not present.
The council’s director of planning Tom Enright said the rezoning would not be in accordance with the proper planning of Adare, which he said was one of the most beautiful heritage towns in the country.
Shortly before the vote was called, Mr Leahy warned: “It is a legal decision you are taking today and I cannot emphasise enough how serious it is.”
County manager Ned Gleeson said if the councillors wanted to go ahead and rezone against advice, the decision must be grounded on proper planning.
As well as council management, the Department of the Environment also voiced its objection to the rezoning, as it “would have significant impacts on the setting of the historic town”.
Urban design consultants Nicholas de Jong in a report to the council, said lands already zoned for housing in Adare cover more than 120 acres and could accommodate up to 1,000 houses.
“This is equivalent to a population increase of around 2,600 persons, clearly far in excess of the requirements during the lifetime of the [Local Area] plan for Adare, up to 2014, and for the longer 20-year period,” the consultants advised in their report.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
Sunday, 14 September 2008
Blackrock rugby club eyes rezoning to ease debt
Blackrock RFC has told Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council that the club's finances "are under particular strain – with significant debt levels" and that the existing facilities "leave so much to be desired" with "sparse and poor" changing facilities.
The club wants some of its land at Stradbrook Road in Blackrock rezoned by the council in the 2010 county development plan because it is considering the sale "of a small portion of their land assets."
The club wants the one-acre rezoned to allow "economic development and employment uses" be carried out there. However, it stressed that it was planning to stay at Stradbrook saying the rezoning would "facilitate the necessary income generation to allow the club" remain there.
The majority of the site is currently zoned "to preserve and to provide for open space and recreational amenities" and the club wants this "modified to explicitly include exceptional circumstances under which residential uses may be considered."
Sunday Tribune
www.buckplanning.ie
The club wants some of its land at Stradbrook Road in Blackrock rezoned by the council in the 2010 county development plan because it is considering the sale "of a small portion of their land assets."
The club wants the one-acre rezoned to allow "economic development and employment uses" be carried out there. However, it stressed that it was planning to stay at Stradbrook saying the rezoning would "facilitate the necessary income generation to allow the club" remain there.
The majority of the site is currently zoned "to preserve and to provide for open space and recreational amenities" and the club wants this "modified to explicitly include exceptional circumstances under which residential uses may be considered."
Sunday Tribune
www.buckplanning.ie
Barchester seeks zoning changes for nursing homes
BARCHESTER, the nursing home chain backed by racing magnates JP McManus and John Magnier, has proposed changes to zoning regulations in south Dublin that would permit the development of nursing homes in green-belt zones. The company is planning to open 20 nursing homes in Ireland.
Chaired by former Kerry Group executive Denis Brosnan, the company recently submitted its proposals to the authorities as part of the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council Draft Development Plan for 2010 to 2016.
It wants zoning regulations to be modified to allow nursing homes be developed on land zoned for agriculture, ensuring a better chance of acquiring sites than if they were competing with residential property developers.
Pat Nolan, deputy chairman of Barchester Ireland, pointed out that as nursing homes are not as profitable as apartments and houses, they should not be subject to the same planning regulations.
An ageing population, increasing life expectancy and an expected surge in the number of people reaching retirement age means the need for nursing home facilities and suitable residential accommodation is predicted to increase in the next 20 to 30 years.
"We know for a fact from studies and figures that there aren't enough nursing homes here. The number of people requiring nursing home care is going to mushroom in Ireland and we need to provide for this," he said.
The company has already invested €50m in its first Irish facility - Knightsbridge Village in Trim, Co Meath, – and plans to open one in south Dublin next year. Sites are also being considered in Cork, Belfast and Wicklow.
A planning application submitted earlier in the year for a 90-bed nursing home in Limerick was successful and is set to be Barchester's second Irish premises.
"Knightsbridge in Trim is the first of several but it's very untypical of what our immediate plans are. We want to increase the number of nursing homes in Ireland rather than the number of retirement villages and have about 20 up and running in the next six to seven years," said Nolan.
Barchester Ireland is the sister company of Barchester Healthcare, the fourth largest overall in the UK with 180 nursing homes, nearly 11,000 residents and 13,000 employees.
Sunday Tribune
www.buckplanning.ie
Chaired by former Kerry Group executive Denis Brosnan, the company recently submitted its proposals to the authorities as part of the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council Draft Development Plan for 2010 to 2016.
It wants zoning regulations to be modified to allow nursing homes be developed on land zoned for agriculture, ensuring a better chance of acquiring sites than if they were competing with residential property developers.
Pat Nolan, deputy chairman of Barchester Ireland, pointed out that as nursing homes are not as profitable as apartments and houses, they should not be subject to the same planning regulations.
An ageing population, increasing life expectancy and an expected surge in the number of people reaching retirement age means the need for nursing home facilities and suitable residential accommodation is predicted to increase in the next 20 to 30 years.
"We know for a fact from studies and figures that there aren't enough nursing homes here. The number of people requiring nursing home care is going to mushroom in Ireland and we need to provide for this," he said.
The company has already invested €50m in its first Irish facility - Knightsbridge Village in Trim, Co Meath, – and plans to open one in south Dublin next year. Sites are also being considered in Cork, Belfast and Wicklow.
A planning application submitted earlier in the year for a 90-bed nursing home in Limerick was successful and is set to be Barchester's second Irish premises.
"Knightsbridge in Trim is the first of several but it's very untypical of what our immediate plans are. We want to increase the number of nursing homes in Ireland rather than the number of retirement villages and have about 20 up and running in the next six to seven years," said Nolan.
Barchester Ireland is the sister company of Barchester Healthcare, the fourth largest overall in the UK with 180 nursing homes, nearly 11,000 residents and 13,000 employees.
Sunday Tribune
www.buckplanning.ie
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