Irishplanningnews.ie

An Bord Pleanala has released its Annual Report for 2011.  The report includes a number of interesting insights about the planning appeal system and the overall Irish planning system itself.

There has been a continuation in the downward trend in the intake of cases, particularly planning appeals, with only 2,110 cases in 2011.  This compares with 4,562 cases in 2002 and a high of 6,664 cases in 2007.

Overall, the number of appeals received as a percentage of planning authority applications was roughly 1 in every 10 (7.7%). Dublin City Council (14.9%), Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown County Council (14.6%) and Cork City Council (12.4%) had the highest levels of decisions appealed. Areas with the highest rate of appealed decisions overturned by the Board were Leitrim County Council (75%), Wexford County Council (48.9%) and Laois County Council (43.5%).

The rate of reversal of local planning authority decisions appealed showed a slight decrease with 31% of local authority decisions overturned in 2011 compared to 36% overturned in 2010.  Essentially however, the “1 in every 3” rule of thumb success rate remains valid in terms of an appeal against a local authority decision. Read the rest of this entry »

Demolition of existing Liberty Hall complex, construct mixed-use building part 22 storey, part three storey over two basement levels, 74 bike parking spaces, all site works and services. (Dublin city, first/third party)

 Construction of bio-energy facility and ancillary provisions together with retention and change of authorised use of site infrastructural items. (Kilkenny, first party)

 Retention of existing explosive magazine facility, change of use from private storage to commercial and distribution of explosives, extension of facility by construction of sheds (Kilkenny, first and third party)

 Construction of a 3 storey building to cater for primary care services and associated doctor’s surgery suite at ground floor level with all associated site works (Louth, first and third party).