Major planning reforms to benefit hard-pressed families in Dublin

DUBLIN families will benefit from major planning reforms announced by Environment Minister Alan Kelly last week, it has been claimed.
Speaking in Tallaght, where the reforms were unveiled by Minister Kelly, local councillor Pamela Kearns (Lab) said new measures could play a vital role in reinvigorating towns like Tallaght.

“The vacant site levy,

‘use it or lose it’ planning permission, as well as a requirement on builders to provide up to 10 per cent of their housing units for social housing is a very positive development,

? she said.

“Helping to address the chronic shortage of houses, these new measures could play a vital role in reinvigorating towns like Tallaght.

“Removing the ability of developers to wriggle out of their obligations which had been the case in the past, now means that up to 10 per cent of housing units will be located on the site of the original developments.

“It is estimated that the cumulative impact will be the delivery of 4,000 social housing units nationwide by 2020, which will have a hugely positive impact in terms of provision.

“These are decisive, hard-hitting reforms which will have a tangible impact on the ground in areas like Tallaght where there is an acute social housing problem.

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Cllr Kearns added:

“There will also be new powers for local authorities to levy property owners for unused premises, and other

‘use it or lose it’ planning permissions.

“The vacant sites levy would be applied to properties that are not currently paying rates, so it would provide a new funding stream for local authorities as well as stimulating economic activity in urban areas such as Tallaght.

“In Government, Labour has committed to tackling the housing problem in a real way so that people are no longer forced to live in substandard accommodation or wait on housing lists for years.

“I have no doubt that these reforms will alter the landscape of social housing provision in a very large way, and I commend Minister Alan Kelly for his decisive action on this front.

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