property market analysis

Historic planning breach amnesty is glaring omission from upcoming bill

The improvements to Ireland’s planning code proposed by the recently published draft Planning and Development Bill 2022 have been widely welcomed. However, it doesn’t yet offer a solution for historic planning breaches that often blight real estate transactions

Among the proposals in the upcoming Planning and Development Bill 2022 is the reform of the judicial review of planning decisions

Overview of the bill

When enacted, the bill will consolidate and reform a complex body of planning legislation. It sets out the processes of plan-making, consents, enforcement, environmental assessments and the roles of the planning bodies.

Key proposals include:

* Ministerial guidelines and policy directives upgraded to ‘National Planning Policy Statements’ and ‘National Planning Policy Guidance’.

* Local Development Plans extended from six years to ten years, with a review after year five.

* Mandatory ...