I call on this council to look at the ruling it is enforcing re new builds by local people. The 4km limit in Low capacity areas is unreasonable and causing frustration to people trying to establish themselves in permanent homes.
Minutes:
"I call on this council to look at the ruling it is enforcing re: new builds by local people. The 4km limit in Low Capacity Areas is unreasonable and causing frustration to people trying to establish themselves in permanent homes."
Report by Director of Services for Economic Development, Planning, Environment and Transportation.
"The Leitrim County Development Plan 2015-2021 identified three area types in the County in terms of their capacity to accommodate further rural housing – low, medium and high capacity areas. The continued demand for individual rural houses in the countryside needs to be balanced against the preservation and protection of the receiving environment. The County Development Plan sets out the policy under which all applications for one off housing in the countryside are assessed. The National Planning Framework recognises that careful planning is required to manage demand for housing in the countryside and acknowledges that it will continue to be necessary to demonstrate a functional economic or social requirement for housing need in areas under urban influence i.e. the commuter catchment of large towns such as Carrick on Shannon. This matter will be given further consideration as part of the review of County Development Plan. However, persons from or living in a town such as Carrick on Shannon are not considered members of the rural community and proposals for individual houses in the countryside are considered to constitute urban generated rural houses. Such proposals for one off housing to cater for such need is not provided for under national policy such as the National Planning Framework, Regional Economic and Spatial Strategy and the Section 28 Rural Planning Guidelines for Planning Authorities."
Councillor Armstrong McGuire said that she was submitting this notice of motion to get clarity. Young couples are trying to build on their own land but are unable to do so because they are renting a property that is more than 4km from the proposed site.
Councillor McGowan supported the motion. He remarked that we are trying to get people to come back and live in the county. It is unfair on young couples and families.
Councillor’s Mulligan and Farrell both agreed.
Councillor Guckian also sought clarification on this 4km rule.
Ms Egan, Senior Executive Planner gave the members and detailed background to Policy 17 (for non natives to the local area) in Low Capacity Areas of the current County Development Plan.
In summary she said that there are three parts to the policy.
Part 1 - Indicates that an applicant must be “currently living in the Low Capacity Area” – this would include applicants who are currently living in rented accommodation in the area.
Part 2 – States that the site which is being applied for planning permission must be within the “immediate vicinity” of where they currently reside. She added that Leitrim County Council examined a range of County Development Plans in this regard and considered that the approach of Monaghan County Council (which is a similar rural county to Leitrim) of a 4km distance from the site is considered reasonable. The lack of availability of properties to rent in the vicinity of Carrick on Shannon was taken into account in reaching the decision.
Part 3 - The applicant must be able “to demonstrate a need to continue living in the area, other than in their current residence, with their proposed dwelling, as their permanent place of residence”. This would exclude persons who presently own their own dwelling. Urban generated rural housing is not being accommodated.
Councillor Armstrong McGuire said that she thought this restriction was unreasonable. Not all Applicant’s who apply for planning permission are renting in Carrick on Shannon. She said this rule would force some people to rent somewhere on the edge of where they want to build to justify the criteria of the 4km distance. She remarked that this is something that will have to be considered when the County Development Plan is being reviewed.
Councillor Guckian sought clarification on the term “low capacity”.
Councillor Mulligan enquired if the policy could be amended where there are family members already in that area.
Ms Egan responded that all policies are open for debate and discussion during the review of the new County Development Plan.
Mr Gilhooly said to the Councillor Armstrong McGuire that if she had a site specific query, he would talk to her separately on this matter.