Big changes in planning process due this year

Sweeping reforms of the planning code which will result in more community involvement in town planning are to be introduced by mid-year.

The Minister for the Environment and Local Government, Mr Dempsey, has said the changes include a major review of planning law; a revision of the role of An Bord Pleanala and the simplification of planning Acts; EU regulations on environmental impact assessments (EIA); and regulations on architectural heritage.

The reforms come when the Government is focusing on "spatial planning", the expansion of towns and cities across the State as opposed to the concentration of industry in the Dublin area.

The greatest changes are planned at local level, with a local social dimension to planning. According to the Minister, "the strategic policy committees (SPCs) will allow for a co-operative approach between local communities and local representatives.

"This process will be further strengthened with the establishment of community development boards and the provision of community development liaison officers to ensure proper co-ordination and partnership at community level".

Along with European directives requiring an EIA on developments which would have a significant effect on their localities, the new planning regulations should allow communities to ask property developers about where the residents of new houses might shop, go to school, play football or even work and visit the cinema.

The community development boards will be required to develop integrated economic social and cultural county plans which will have a large impact on the county development plan.

The moves have already been welcomed by members of the regional authorities. Mr Jim Stone, director of the Midland Regional Authority, said: "In the past the county development plans have seen planning largely as a reaction. The council reacts when a plan comes in. This time it will be much more positive, with growth areas and social facilities identified."

However, county development boards' plans will not be coming on stream until 2002. Mr Stone added that an option would be to bring this date forward to the end of this year so that these plans could predate the implementation of the next national plan.

Two new authorities representing the areas of the State which are Objective 1 status and Objective 1 in Transition, are to be set up by Ministerial Order, probably by the autumn, to oversee regional development.

The changes will be seen as a major boost for community and action groups across the State which have long argued against "developer-led" planning strategies.

On An Bord Pleanala, the Minister's task force is understood to be looking at ways to streamline the process which the Construction Industry Federation has criticised as unwieldy.