Tag Archives: Office of the Planning Regulator

A DIRECTION from the Office of the Planning Regulator requesting Clare County Council to dezone huge tracts of land for development in the Draft 2023 to 2029 Clare County Development Plan has been criticised by local councillors. Describing a new document from the OPR as “frightening and unbelievable”, Councillor P J Kelly has urged councillors to unite to oppose the recommended changes. Council chairman, Councillor Tony O’Brien called a meeting of councillors from different political groupings on Tuesday and requested them to discuss this issue at Municipal District level to try and establish a consensus for challenging this intervention. While Cooraclare and Broadford have been earmarked for new waste water facilities under a proposed national scheme, Councillor Kelly noted material amendments to facilitate development have been ruled out in both locations, placing a question mark over the viability of these facilities. Speaking at a West Clare Municipal District meeting on Tuesday, the Lissycasey councillor claimed the OPR has wrongly based …

NATIONAL policy on rural Ireland has been condemned by a West Clare councillor, who said it has resulted in an “expensive refusal kit” for planning applications. Councillor PJ Kelly tabled a motion at the January meeting of the local authority, calling for the Minister for Housing and Local Government and Heritage “to indemnify Clare County Council against all costs and/or claims which may arise because the Council, in its County Development Plan, complied with Ministerial Directives on planning guidelines”. Councillors were widely critical of controversial guidelines, over several months, due mainly to the restrictions placed on the number of new homes to be permitted outside of Ennis and Shannon. Concerns were also expressed over the accuracy of population data used to inform the national guidelines, given the most recent Census and the shift to remote working ushered in by the Covid pandemic.  At the January meeting, Councillor Kelly said there was “a duty to protect our Council against any type …

THE Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR) has moved to clarify its role in the creation of the forthcoming Clare County Development Plan for 2023 to 2029, writes Fiona McGarry. It follows criticism at a recent meeting of the council’s Rural Development committee where concern was expressed about outside influence on the local planning process. A number of elected representatives expressed concern over the implications of national policy, including the National Planning Framework and the Rural Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES). All plans created at local authority level must take account of their guidelines. Particular alarm was expressed about the geographical distribution of 4,5000 new housing units permitted under the lifetime of the plan, given that they will largely be located on serviced lands in urban areas. In response, the OPR said its aim is to work with Clare County Council to ensure the new plan is consistent with Government policy. In a statement to The Champion, the OPR explained …