Written answers

Wednesday, 9 February 2005

Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government

Planning Issues

9:00 pm

Photo of Liam TwomeyLiam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 110: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he intends to ensure that those retailers who avail of recent changes in the planning guidelines contribute to the transport, social and recreational needs of the locality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3996/05]

Photo of Dan BoyleDan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Question 116: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has undertaken any research into the distribution and sizing of large retail warehouses throughout the European Union (details supplied); if he will provide this Deputy with a copy of these studies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3929/05]

Photo of Tommy BroughanTommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 125: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the basis for the changes in the retail planning guidelines announced by him on 15 January 2005; if he will list those retail concerns that made representations to his Department to have the guidelines changed; if his attention has been drawn to the serious concerns expressed regarding the possible impact of the change on existing retailers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3881/05]

Photo of Dick RocheDick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 110, 116 and 125 together.

I recently announced the decision to amend the retail planning guidelines, with effect from 1 February 2005, to provide that the floor space cap on retail warehouses will no longer apply within the functional areas of the four Dublin local authorities and in the other national spatial strategy gateways. The gateway towns and cities are Athlone, Tullamore, Mullingar, Cork, Dublin, Dundalk, Galway, Letterkenny, Limerick-Shannon, Sligo and Waterford. This modification to the guidelines will only apply in areas subject to integrated area plans, IAPs, under the Urban Renewal Act 1998.

The amendment to the retail planning guidelines follows a review of the floor space cap on retail warehouses set in the retail planning guidelines, which came into effect on 1 January 2001. The guidelines prescribe a maximum floor area of 6,000 sq. m gross retail floor space for large scale single retail warehouse development. This cap has been reviewed, taking account of the need to promote effective competition in this sector of retailing and of ongoing developments in retail formats, while underpinning proper planning and sustainable development.

To assist in carrying out the review, interested parties were invited to make submissions to my Department. Some 71 submissions were received and assessed. These submissions were fully taken into account in the finalisation of the review. My Department has not commissioned any specific research into the distribution and sizing of large retail warehouses throughout the European Union.

Retail companies which suggested in their submissions on the review that the floor space cap be adjusted or abolished were B&Q Ireland Ltd., IKEA and Costco Wholesale UK. A number of other bodies, including the Competition Authority and the Construction Industry Federation, also suggested the abolition of the floor space cap on retail warehouses.

I am aware of concerns expressed about the possible impact of the change on existing retailers. In the first instance, I would stress that the changes now introduced relate to retail warehouses that sell bulky household goods and do not affect the existing caps on the size of supermarkets-grocery outlets. The changes to the guidelines are further limited in that they are confined to integrated area plan areas in the gateways designated by the national spatial strategy. The overall policy objectives of the retail planning guidelines, including normal planning requirements, will continue to apply to any proposals for the development of retail warehouses in excess of 6,000 sq. m.

The revised guidelines indicate that any proposal for an individual retail warehouse with a floor space in excess of 6,000 sq. m gross in order to be acceptable from a planning viewpoint would need, inter alia, to be accompanied by a detailed traffic impact assessment and be supported by the necessary infrastructure. It will be a matter for the development management process to apply the relevant criteria to any planning application that may come forward from the private sector.

Development contributions are charged by planning authorities to recoup some of the costs to public funds of servicing land for private development. Development contributions collected by planning authorities are ring-fenced to pay for facilities servicing new developments, for example, roads, water, sewerage services and other amenities. All planning authorities have adopted development contribution schemes which set out how development contribution schemes apply in their areas and these schemes apply to all permissions granted after the adoption of the scheme.

The amendment to the retail planning guidelines will facilitate wider consumer choice and greater competition. It will also ensure that any such development entering the market does so on a basis which contributes to the economic and social objectives of the Government's urban renewal programme and the national spatial strategy.

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