Planning

An inflationary increase in planning fees in Northern Ireland will come into effect next month. The Department for Infrastructure confirmed that an increase of approximately 12.3 per cent, the first since 2019, will be applied across all planning application categories from Thursday 6 April 2023.

A senior government official has claimed that residents' associations are routinely counting the dead among opponents to housing developments. Paul Hogan, chief planner in the Department of Housing, reportedly made the remarks to the joint Oireachtas committee on housing, local government and herita

Proposals to overhaul Ireland's planning system could restrict access to justice for citizens as they currently stand, the Law Society of Ireland has warned. Rachel Minch SC, chair of the Law Society's environmental and planning law committee, appeared before the join Oireachtas committee on housing

New legislation overhauling the State's planning system could be "mired in legal challenge for the next 10 years", a government TD has said. Neasa Hourigan, the Green Party TD for Dublin Central, criticised the government for having failed to conduct an independent review of the Planning and Develop

Property professionals want the new An Coimisiún Pleanála to be required to determine planning appeals within 16 weeks, according to a new survey by Mason Hayes & Curran LLP. The business law firm polled more than 250 agents, developers and property managers at its recent real esta

International law firm Clark Hill LLP has announced the establishment of an offshore wind practice group in Dublin. Aidan Eames, a consultant in the firm since its merger with Eames Solicitors just over a year ago, is leading the new group, which will serve clients investing in the rapidly growing I

Ireland is no longer being fined €15,000 per day after taking all measures necessary to ensure compliance with an EU court ruling related to the Derrybrien wind farm in Co Galway. The Grand Chamber of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) imposed pecuniary penalties on Ireland in No

Major changes to the planning system, including new restrictions on judicial review applications and legal costs, have moved forward with the publication of a draft bill. The government said its draft Planning and Development Bill 2022 will bring greater clarity, consistency and certainty to how pla

A government failure to appoint more members to the board of An Bord Pleanála is leading to a "planning meltdown" with some developers jumping the gun instead of waiting for the outcomes of appeals, an environmental charity has warned. A month ago, the planning body warned that its capacity a

Planning guidelines concerned with the preparation of local authority city and county development plans have been revoked in light of recent changes in the area of climate legislation and policy. The Section 28 Interim Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Statutory Plans, Renewable Energy and Clim

Major changes to the planning application process, including new restrictions on judicial review applications and legal costs, have been unveiled by the government. Ministers have published the outline of the new Planning and Development Bill 2022, which follows a 15-month review of the planning sys

Plans to further restrict judicial reviews of planning decisions — including a ban on actions brought by residents' associations — will be discussed by ministers this week, according to reports. A bill to be discussed by the Cabinet tomorrow would require judicial reviews to be taken by

New planning regulations requiring a changing places toilet to be included in certain buildings have come into effect. A changing places toilet offers larger supported facilities that address the needs of people for whom current accessible sanitary accommodation is inadequate.

Dave Walsh, the chairperson of An Bord Pleanála, is set to retire early on personal and family grounds. The surprise announcement leaves the planning body without a chairperson or deputy chairperson, following the resignation of Paul Hyde earlier this year in a row over conflicts of interest.

Lawyers have welcomed progress on the setting up of a dedicated planning and environment division of the High Court. The government today announced that the establishment of the new court — promised in the programme for government — will be "completed as soon as possible" without the nee