Radical bid to restrict new homes

Radical bid to restrict new homes

HOUSE building is to be severely restricted in the commuter belt counties outside Dublin with a locals-only rule introduced for large parts of Meath, Kildare and Wicklow.

The radical restrictions, contained in controversial Regional Planning Guidelines drawn up for seven local authorities (four in Dublin; and in Meath, Kildare and Wicklow), effectively ‘cap’ the number of households and homes in the commuter counties. Builders last night warned the planned locals-only measures would result in tens of thousands fewer houses being built over the next seven years in Meath, Kildare and Wicklow and would result in higher prices for new homes.

Under the draft guidelines, Meath, Kildare and Wicklow local authorities outside the Dublin metropolitan area will only allow for “limited provision for local needs” outside special development areas linked to public transport and infrastructure. The draft guidelines are being considered for adoption today at a joint meeting of the Dublin and Mid-East regional authorities. Once adopted, local authorities will have to vary their development plans to include the provisions.

The guidelines recommend that each local authority should review their requirement for zoned lands. Where necessary, they should zone extra land at an appropriate review of their development plan to provide for anticipated growth in various areas – including a percentage that may not be released for development.

However, the guidelines insist that in zoning additional lands for housing the planning authorities must only select lands in special areas. These must have been identified as having the potential to be served by adequate public transport and with the potential to be serviced by water supply.

“Except for limited provision for local needs, lands that do not conform to these criteria should not be zoned,” the guidelines recommend.

Each development plan must strictly control urban-generated housing in smaller centres and in the countryside.

The guidelines will set housing supply back years and have a detrimental effect, particularly on first-time buyers, builders claimed last night.

The Construction Industry Federation claimed the guidelines, aimed at easing gridlock and controlling unsustainable urban sprawl in the Dublin commuter county belt, flew in the face of government plans to increase house building and control spiralling prices.

The builders also warned restrictions on the sale of houses in small towns and villages in Wicklow “will frighten away developers and house builders without whom the supply of houses will plummet”.

The Irish Home Builders Association (IHBA) said yesterday it was extremely concerned at the new guidelines.

Hubert Fitzpatrick, association director of housing, warned that the implications of the guidelines for Meath, Kildare and Wicklow were “stark”.

Mr Fitzpatrick said: “Under what is being proposed some local authorities in Dublin may actually have to de-zone lands for residential development. This is ludicrous in light of government policy to increase the availability of zoned and serviced lands for residential development to ensure a strong supply of housing, including social and affordable housing.”

Meanwhile, a high-profile economist warned yesterday that Dublin had become an unsuitable location for rail-based public transport and urban sprawl could result in employers moving businesses from the city centre because of increased costs.

And with fewer people now using public transport, the proposed Dublin metro should not be given the green light because it would be uneconomic and cost too much for a limited return, managing director of DKM Economic Consultants, Colm McCarthy, said.

The Luas light rail system, he added, would serve areas which the 2002 Census had shown were experiencing falling population numbers.

Instead, he argued, money should be invested in the bus service which was better suited to serve the sprawling city.

Treacy Hogan
Environment Correspondent