Planning and Development Bill a Step Forward in Planning Reform

Cork Chamber, the voice of business in Cork, has welcomed the passing of the Planning and Development Bill by the Dáil yesterday evening.
 
This long-awaited bill will consolidate planning legislation into one bill, and has the potential to provide transformational reform to Ireland’s planning system, helping to progress vital infrastructure projects around the country and here in Cork
 
Conor Healy, CEO of Cork Chamber, commented: “We welcome the passing of the Planning and Development Bill by the Dáil this week. The current planning system has created undue delays for major projects and smaller scale developments alike; what is critical now is that the implementation of this new legislation is done in a way that reduces timeframes and improves efficiency in the planning system.
 
“Planning authorities will need enhanced resources to deliver on this critical reform in the coming months, and projects of national strategic significance should be prioritised for faster processing. Accelerating and streamlining the current decision-making process will bring much-needed certainty to providers of critical infrastructure, such as water, electricity and transport facilities, as well as private developers.
 
“Local authorities and the judicial system will also need strengthened resources to successfully implement these reforms, and we look forward to seeing how this landmark bill is delivered in the months ahead.”