Rebecca Moynihan (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 17:

In page 44, between lines 4 and 5, to insert the following:

“Student accommodation units: restriction on change of use 8. (1) This section applies where student accommodation is developed pursuant to a permission granted under this Act or under Part 2 of the Planning and Development

(Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016.

(2) Where this section applies, for a period of 15 years from the completion of the development no application shall be made or granted concerned for a change in use of the student accommodation concerned to—

(a) permanent residential accommodation, or

(b) a hotel, hostel, apart-hotel or similar type visitor or tourist accommodation.”.

Many of us who live in and represent urban areas think this amendment would be a good idea. It is for purpose-built student accommodation that goes through the planning Bill as purpose-built student accommodation and then in later years the owners try to change the use, either to residential accommodation, hotels, hostels or aparthotels. This amendment seeks to block that for 15 years. If it is purpose-built student accommodation and it has received permission for being purpose-built student accommodation, then it has to operate as student accommodation for 15 years. I have had situations where student accommodation providers have then switched over the building to aparthotel accommodation. Others put in applications, particularly during Covid, to try to change over the use to normal residential accommodation. The problem with this is that it undermines our other planning standards for apartment blocks. It means that there is an impact on the viability of building long-term, secure rental or to-buy, high-density accommodation in our cities. More money can be made from the purpose-built student accommodation and there are lower build standards. There is an argument that perhaps our planning regulations make some apartments unviable. This needs to be dealt with, but it could be done separately in terms of looking at the layers of standards that have been added on over the years. Developers get different accommodation standards by the back door by applying for student accommodation, build it under those terms and then in later years, change the use and it does not have the same storage facilities or childcare facilities. That is what this amendment seeks to address. I ask that the Minister of State look at that as part of some of the regulations that would be brought in after the planning Bill, if the amendment is not accepted