Development Disquiet

A recent meeting on the issue of planning in Stillorgan attracted a huge turnout of angry citizens, deeply frustrated at the runaway train that is planning Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown. I have dealt with the issue elsewhere in this blog, but the time is now drawing near for the review of the plan.

There will be a review of the plan. Recent comments in the media about this not being the case are wide of the mark. The Planning and Development Act requires the manager to bring a report before the members on the achievement of the objectives of the development plan. There is no other purpose to this report other than for members to consider whether to vary the Plan. There is a clear need for this to happen, though as mentioned elsewhere, the precise formula will be difficult to arrive at.

Clearly height and scale are at the heart of the need for a review. Recent comments by the chairman of An Bord Pleanala are hugely encouraging, and some of the recent refusals by the board are pointing the way towards better quality development.