The Kerry county manager yesterday questioned the practice of favouring local landowners in granting planning permission for one-off houses in scenic rural areas.
Landowners and their relatives living permanently in Kerry are considered to have an established need for one-off houses under the current county development plan and efforts are made to accommodate them even in areas of amenity. The permissions are subject to permanent residency clauses.
The provisions were introduced in an attempt to protect the landscape from holiday homes while accommodating local people
The Kerry county manager yesterday questioned the practice of favouring local landowners in granting planning permission for one-off houses in scenic rural areas.
Landowners and their relatives living permanently in Kerry are considered to have an established need for one-off houses under the current county development plan and efforts are made to accommodate them even in areas of amenity. The permissions are subject to permanent residency clauses.
The provisions were introduced in an attempt to protect the landscape from holiday homes while accommodating local people.
However at a special planning meeting yesterday, county manager Tom Curran said it appeared to him some of these people were involved in speculative development.
Mr Curran said he had seen "For Sale" signs in areas where exceptions had been made by planners in an effort to accommodate landowners.
"In relation to houses I see being put on the market, I'm asking who got planning and on what basis. Are we all being codded here?" Mr Curran asked.
He was responding to a call from Cllr Michael Cahill for a further special meeting to discuss difficulties in planning for one-off houses.
Planning applications which are expected to soar to an unprecedented 5,000 in rural Kerry this year are already up by 13 per cent on the same period last year.
This is several times above estimated population needs of around 700 new houses a year.
Some 80 per cent of applications have been granted in Co Kerry.
However, some councillors are claiming that there are planning blackspots where it is extremely difficult to obtain permission.
Anne Lucey
© 2007 The Irish Times
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