Office of the Planning Regulator not fit for purpose - Mayo councillor

THE Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR) is not fit for purpose.

The charge comes from Councillor Al McDonnell at a time when elected representatives are being asked to zone more land for housing, having had their recommendations dismissed by the OPR when drawing up development plans.

The Minister for Housing had given the council a housing target of 501 units for the county per year. However, in the last few days that figure has been revised by the government upwards to 1,111 - an increase of 127%.

There is also provision for an additional increase to bring the projected growth rate in Mayo to 1,667 units, said Councillor McDonnell.

Councillor McDonnell said the regulator had told them at the time that they were wrong with their future housing requirements and zoning. The misjudgement has now resulted in councillors having to revise the whole situation, he said.

What it proved, commented Councillor McDonnell, was that the planning regulator was completely out of order.

Councillor McDonnell said the government has to look at the position of the planning regulator.

The regulator, he said, 'has more power than the Taoiseach'.

“The Office of the Planning Regulator has to be seriously looked at. It is not fit for purpose,” he said.

The OPR, in a statement since the meeting, has clarified: 'Setting housing targets is a matter of government policy. Statutory responsibility for issuing guidelines to local authorities on their planning functions - including housing targets appropriate to development plans – rests with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, who on 29th July last issued new guidelines on the matter updating the previous statutory guidelines of December 2020.

'It is these former guidelines, issued by the then Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in December 2020, that informed the preparation of the current Mayo County Development Plan.'

DISAPPOINTING DECISIONS

On planning, in the middle of a housing crisis, there has been some 'disappointing' planning decisions lately, said Councillor Donna Sheridan.

At times planners hands are tied, she noted, and they needed to look at overall policy as it's not working. But some things refused were ridiculous – they were literally on the wrong side of the road, and that needs to be dealt with.

“We need to be helping people build houses not precluding them from doing so,” stated Councillor Sheridan.

Councillor Ger Deere said there has been a human and financial cost in the misjudgement of the regulator.

He cited a situation where a field surrounded by estates was taken out by the regulator and classified as agriculture, and was turned down for planning as a result.

Director of services John Condon said they now have to provide additional housing - three times what the regulator allowed when the development plan was adopted.

Details on how it is done, including amending plans, will be discussed with councillors.

It should also be an opportunity to fix some anomalies raised by the members.

The point was made by Councillor Cyril Burke that the priority should be to zone lands which are likely to be built on.

They also need to identify sites for cost rental and affordable homes, added Councillor Harry Barrett.