Written answers

Tuesday, 8 July 2014

Department of Environment, Community and Local Government

Planning Issues

Photo of Finian McGrathFinian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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507. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his views on a planning development issue and architectural heritage (details supplied).; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29275/14]

Photo of Jan O'SullivanJan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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Under article 29 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, any person or body, on payment of the prescribed fee, currently €20, may make a submission or observation in writing to a planning authority in relation to a planning application within 5 weeks beginning of the date or receipt by the authority of the application. It is a matter for the person or body making the submission or observation to decide what information is relevant to the planning application and therefore to be included in their submission for consideration by the planning authority.

The submission of views by third parties is an integral part of the planning process but, such views are only one of the matters considered by a planning authority when considering a planning application. In making decisions on planning applications, planning authorities, and An Bord Pleanála on appeal, must consider the proper planning and sustainable development of the area, having regard to a number of matters, including any submissions or observations received, the provisions of the local development plan and relevant ministerial or Government policies, including any guidelines issued by my Department. My Department has issued a large number of Planning Guidelines to planning authorities on various issues which help to promote consistency in decisions on planning applications including, for example, Guidelines on Architectural Heritage Protection (2004).

Planning authorities are specifically obliged, under the Planning and Development Act 2000, to protect the architectural heritage, in the interest of proper planning and sustainable development within their respective functional areas, and to prevent its deterioration, loss or damage. This is reflected in the adoption of suitable policies for protecting the architectural heritage in their development plans and giving practical effect to them through their development control decisions, including through by liaison between planning officers and conservation officers.

In the present legislative framework, specific provision is made for Development Plans to include objectives, inter alia, for:

- the protection of structures, or parts of structures, which are of special architectural, historical, archaeological, artistic, cultural, scientific, social or technical interest; and

- the preservation of the character of architectural conservation areas.

Provision is also made for the designation of architectural conservation areas, in respect of which Development Plans may include an objective to preserve the character of the place, area, group of structures or townscape. In considering an application for permission for development in relation to land situated in an architectural conservation area, a planning authority, or the Board on appeal, must take into account the material effect (if any) that the proposed development would be likely to have on the character of the architectural conservation area.

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