Cap on one-off homes rejected

A plan to cap the number of planning permissions granted for one-off rural houses in County Galway over the next six years has been flatly rejected by county councillors.

Instead, members from across the political divide spoke to oppose a recommendation to limit one-off rural houses to a precise total of 911 for the duration of the County Development Plan 2022-28.

Galway County Council receives more than 2,000 planning applications annually – and it is understood that more than half of these are for single dwellings.

That, according to Cllr Joe Byrne (FG), would mean the Council’s recommended cap on rural one-off houses would be exhausted after just the first year of the County Development Plan.

He described it as anti-rural and said it would certainly not satisfy the demand there is for individuals and young couples who want to build a house on family-owned land.

A motion that the number of 911 relating to one-off housing be disregarded from the plan was passed.

The motion, which was supported by Cllr Tom Welby (Ind) and Cllr Mary Hoade (FF) stated that it was not in compliance with the National Planning Framework objectives.

It is Cllr Byrne’s understanding that the Housing Need Demand Assessment (HNDA) confirms a requirement of 626 one-off houses on an annual basis and this equates for 3,140 dwellings over the course of the development plan period.

But the Council’s Director of Services for Planning, Valerie Loughnane, explained that the figure recommended in the plan was based on the best advice available to the Council.

She urged that a ceiling be put on the number of one-off houses for which planning permission is granted.

Cllr Byrne responded to warn there would be a serious problem in rural areas if there was a limit put on the number of new houses.

Party colleague Cllr Jimmy McClearn referred to the recent completion of the County Development Plan in Meath where there was no limit.

He said that it can always be discussed during a mid-term review of the plan, and he could not see any justification on limiting the number of rural houses that are built.

Fianna Fail’s Cllr Michael Connolly said that there seemed to be some apprehension within the Council executive when it came to encouraging people to live in rural areas as opposed to residing in local towns.

“We have rural GAA clubs that are decimated by declining numbers in their areas and have no choice but to amalgamate with neighbouring parishes,” he said.

“This is all down to the difficulty being experienced by people who want to live in rural parts of the county where they were brought up,” Cllr Connolly added.

Cllr David Collins (FG) joined the debate by saying that it would be grossly unfair on the 912th applicant for a rural dwelling if the Council’s recommendation was taken on board.

He said that it would equate to around 30 planning permissions being granted in each of the five Municipal Districts during the lifetime of the County Development Plan which he could not support.

“It would be eaten up in no time. It would be like telling some applicants that they can reside in rural areas, but the rest have no choice but to move into towns,” Cllr Collins remarked.

Cllr Seamus Walsh (FF) said that it would be the equivalent of telling someone that they have been refused planning permission on a technicality.

“Putting a limit on the number of planning permissions granted is ridiculous. Peoples’ individual needs have to be given priority above everything else,” Cllr Walsh added.