I request that the Planning Department of Leitrim County Council facilitate pre planning meetings to be done on the site of proposed development. By having the Planner, Architect and proposer onsite everyone should have a clearer understanding of outcome each person wants to achieve at the end of the meeting. This I feel could help streamline planning applications and make the process less costly on the applicant.
Minutes:
"I request that the Planning Department of Leitrim County Council facilitate pre planning meetings to be done on the site of proposed development. By having the Planner, Architect and proposer onsite everyone should have a clearer understanding of outcome each person wants to achieve at the end of the meeting. This I feel could help streamline planning applications and make the process less costly on the applicant."
Report by Director of Services for Economic Development, Planning, Environment and Transportation.
"The purpose of pre planning consultations is to afford the opportunity to an applicant for planning permission, to seek advice from the Planning Authority on the proposed development. Pre planning consultations are provided for under the Planning legislation, specifically Section 247 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000, as amended. For certain larger developments, pre planning consultations are mandatory before an application for planning permission can be made.
In any consultations, the Planning Authority is obliged to only advise the potential applicant concerned of the procedures involved in considering a planning application, including any requirements of the permission regulations, and shall, as far as possible, indicate the relevant objectives of the development plan which may have a bearing on the decision of the Planning Authority.
The planners in Leitrim County Council who deal with the assessment of planning applications extend this general advice by visiting the proposed site in advance of any such meeting (where possible) co-ordinated with other required site inspections, to advise on the general suitability of the site, submitted design, etc. However, it is not a requirement of the legislation to do so cognizant of the fact that any advices given are given in good faith and cannot prejudice the Planning Authority in their assessment and determination of the resultant application. When the advice that is given is acted upon, this results in better success through the planning application process. However, on many occasions, the advice is ignored which then requires issues raised at pre planning becoming the subject of a Further Information request.
The holding of such suggested meetings would therefore be outside the normal provisions of the Planning Acts in regard to preplanning and as such would undermine the fact that project design is a matter for the applicant not the Planning Authority. In addition on site matters also involve areas relevant to the District Engineers Office and Environment Department for example. Finally there is also a requirement that a record of the pre planning consultation is signed by both parties at the meeting held in the offices of the Planning Authority and the applicant leaves with a copy of the record of the meeting. This would not be possible if the meetings were held on site and as a consequence such adjustment to the pre planning process cannot be implemented."
Councillor Padraig Fallon moved this motion as on behalf of Councillor Brendan Barry
Councillor Padraig Fallon and Councillor Des Guckian supported the motion.
Mr Joseph Gilhooly advised members that pre planning consultations affords the planning permission applicant an opportunity, to seek advice from the Planning Authority on the proposed development. Pre planning consultations are provided for under the Planning legislation, specifically Section 247 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000, as amended. All agents are very familiar with this.