Calls to ‘pause’ development plan

Public to be invited to have their say on six-year county framework

By Simon O'Duffy

CATHAOIRLEACH of Nenagh Municipal District Cllr Séamie Morris was last week broadly supported in calling for a suspension of the new County Development Plan.

Councillors agreed at their June meeting that the number of people working from home and wanting to live in their home community rather than commuting to work must form a basis for the new plan. Due to be adopted in September 2022, the plan will form a planning blueprint for the next six years. It is presently being debated by councillors ahead of a draft document going on public display at the end of July.

At last week's meeting, Cllr Morris asked for the process to be suspended until such time as the council takes legal advice. “We're walking ourselves into a disaster here,” he warned. “I think we as a council need to slow this down.”

Cllr Morris spoke of the social and economic changes that have occurred since formulation of the National Development Plan, which will underpin the county plan but which was written before the Covid-19 pandemic struck.

“The world has moved on significantly since,” he pointed out, calling for more time to prepare Tipperary's future planning framework.

WIDESPREAD CONCERN

Several councillors voiced support including Cllr Michael Fitzgerald, who said many people he has spoken to are “stressed” about changes outlined under the NDP, particularly with regard to rural housing. “A lot of people are concerned about what's coming down the line in the new County Development Plan,” said Cllr Fitzgerald, who was also concerned that local councillors appeared to have little say in policy-making with this plan.

“This is being taken out of our hands,” he exclaimed. “We need to take back control of our County Development Plan.”

Cllr Michael Murphy felt the process is “too rushed” and wanted the council to avail of a 12-month suspension that the Government would agree to. Cllr Joe Hannigan agreed that a 12-month postponement is warranted. More people are working remotely and moving back into their own communities, but these changes in working life are not reflected in the NDP guidelines, said Cllr Hannigan. People are concerned about the situation, especially with regard to one-off housing.

Of a similar view was Cllr John Carroll, who pointed out that people would be bound to the new plan until 2028. He cited examples of people “whose lives were destroyed” by the restrictions of previous plans, and Cllr Carroll agreed that more time is needed to see what social and economic climate emerges after the pandemic.

Also among those calling for suspension was Cllr Peter Ryan, who said the new County Development Plan would extend to town centre regeneration as well. “The last 15 months have completely ripped up the script,” he said. “We shouldn't fear the idea of pressing pause.”

Cllr Anne Marie Ryan referred to a recent Irish Times article indicating that 91% of people would prefer some form of working from home after the pandemic. Development plans need to reflect the changes of the last year and time should be taken to see what happens over the next few months, she said.

PUBLIC CONSULTATION

Director of Services Eamon Lonergan said the draft County Development Plan would go on public display at the end of July as part of a statutory process. He was not aware or any ministerial direction that would allow for the process to be delayed.

Mr Lonergan pointed out that the NDP is under review in response to changes that have occurred over the last year. He was concerned that Tipperary Co Council could potentially miss out on funding if it does not have its plan in place on time.

There has already been a great deal of discussion about the new plan with councillors with a further five workshops coming up. Senior Planner Nuala O'Connell said the Tipperary plan would be on display for 10 weeks and all stakeholders would be invited to have their say on it.

Ms O'Connell said rural development is a central part of the draft plan and would be supported by the Government's new Our Rural Future policy.

CEO Joe MacGrath took issue with a “rumour that the shutter is coming down on rural housing”.

This is not the case and there would always be scope for rural housing in the development plan, he said.

Mr MacGrath appealed to councillors to await further discussion on the draft plan at a workshop later this month, and to see what members of the public have to say about the document.