'Totally unfounded' narrative re once-off rural housing planning applications
“The narrative that it is difficult for people with their own land and that they do not get planning permission in Waterford, is totally unfounded,” said Aisling O’Sullivan, senior executive planner at Waterford City and County Council.
Issues within the planning process for those seeking to build in rural west Waterford were highlighted this week by Cllr Declan Doocey.
According to the councillor, the provision of sites and land zoning were major topics raised at the recent Fine Gael Ard Fheis, as he noted the lack of stormwater and wastewater facilities had ‘turned people off’.
“They hadn’t stormwater facilities and they hadn’t wastewater facilities and other sites that weren’t serviced. That’s one problem that’s going to be a showstopper, not the Government or lack of funding,” Cllr Doocey said.
Speaking on once-off rural houses, Cllr Doocey pointed to a particular case in which a son, seeking planning to build on the family farm, was refused planning permission.
“Her son was advised that he wouldn’t get planning on their own farm. When I looked at it, it was because the house was going to be a blight on the skyline, but less than half a kilometre away there is going to be a windmill,” Cllr Doocey said.
Speaking at Monday’s meeting of the Dungarvan Lismore District, Cllr Doocey called for the County Development Plan to be looked into again, due to the matter.
'REJIGGED & REVISITED'
Cllr Doocey went on to call for ‘joined up thinking’ regarding the environmental, planning and housing departments.
“We haven’t a hope of solving the housing problem because if a person has a mortgage, they can’t get planning, can’t buy a house and people from outside the community come in and beat them on price. We need a relaxation.
“Another problem is, farm buildings now are crucified with building regulations and extra charges that we didn’t agree to in the development plan either. It must be all rejigged and revisited and until such a time that it is, I think we go back to our original plan,” Cllr Doocey said.
'... THAT NARRATIVE IS UNFOUNDED. IT IS UNTRUE'
Senior executive planner, Aisling O’Sullivan, took a strong stance on the issues raised by Cllr Doocey, stating that the narrative is ‘totally unfounded’.
“We did a study there for the recent SPC and I think on one hand, we could count out of all of last year, the amount of actual refusals in the county. We’re talking under ten for every application that was lodged last year,” she said.
Ms O’Sullivan went on to note that in some circumstances where there is difficulty in achieving planning permission, Waterford City and County Council attempt to find solutions for applicants.
“Even when a son or a daughter of a landowner comes in and they pick a site and for whatever reason it’s not suitable, we will actively go and find a solution for them. The vast, vast majority of applications for one-off housing that come in here are granted, or we found a solution for people.
“I just really want to be strong on that because I hear it myself and that narrative is unfounded. It is untrue. This team and myself work very, very hard to accommodate people where at all possible,” Ms O’Sullivan said.