Mr. Michael Hourigan:

In respect of the review of the planning process, we recognise that delays can arise, particularly within a planning process for social housing projects. While acknowledging that all citizens have a right to get involved in the planning process, a balance must be struck with the needs of those who require housing weighted most strongly in arriving at the planning decision. However, as an association, we have reservations about the recent reports on proposed changes the Minister is considering to the Part VIII planning process. Such reports suggest that the Minister is planning to introduce emergency legislation to enable city or county chief executives to fast track the planning process for social housing projects. It is understood that this will be through new rules reducing the consultation period from eight to four weeks.

While we broadly welcome this reform, we as an association would strongly object to any change to the reserved functions of the elected members in relation to the Part VIII process. Social housing projects need to be sustainable, integrated communities with accessibility to vital services for the benefit of the people who will live there. The elected members, by retaining their reserved function in the Part VIII process, can ensure all social housing projects are designed to ensure this objective is achieved.

While the association endorses movement to streamline the planning system and the regulatory requirements relating to the provision of housing, we are not saying housing provision should be so rushed as to compromise on build and design standards. People who live in local authority housing are entitled to the same standards of utility and design in their houses as would be the case for a private house of a similar size. We have seen too many examples in this country of where rushed building programmes have left lasting social problems. The proper planning of housing provision begins with consideration of location and ensuring, depending on the scale and nature of the development, that there is proper provision of facilities such as schools and public transport. Furthermore, the question of concentration needs to be considered. While it is tempting to react to the housing crisis by embarking on the urgent building of large schemes, the mistakes of previous mass provision of houses need not be repeated. Plenty of expertise is available in the planning and architectural professions to ensure housing can be built in a short timeframe while, at the same time, observing acceptable standards of location, design and build. The local knowledge of county and city councils is an invaluable asset in ensuring co-ordinated provision of housing and the necessary support services.