Planning

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

Two consultations have been launched on proposed changes to Northern Ireland's planning system which will better protect the environment and make the application process more efficient. The first consultation seeks vies on proposals to revise permitted development rights to make it easier and quicke

An environmental organisation has launched High Court proceedings against the proposed expansion of an alumina refinery in Co Limerick. The RUSAL-owned Aughinish Alumina facility refines bauxite into alumina, which is used in the production of aluminium. There has also been quarry blasting on the si

Quashed planning decisions can now be remitted by the courts back to a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála for reconsideration under legislative changes aimed at preventing delays to developments. The changes provided for by section 22 of the Planning and Development, Maritime and Valuatio

New planning exemptions for the installation of solar panels on the rooftops of houses and certain non-domestic buildings have been brought into effect. The regulations signed into law by housing minister Darragh O'Brien aim to bring Ireland into line with the EU's Solar Rooftops Initiative by makin

An Bord Pleanála's code of conduct will be updated by the middle of next month to provide "unambiguous guidance" on conflicts of interest, the government has said. The Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR) yesterday published its report on the first phase of its review into the planning body

A comprehensive review of Irish planning legislation being undertaken by Attorney General Paul Gallagher SC is now expected to be completed by the end of the year. Mr Gallagher was appointed last September to supervise a team of planning law experts working on a review “of unprecedented scale&

A senior counsel's report on allegations concerning a former member of An Bord Pleanála will not be published pending the outcome of a criminal investigation into its findings. The report, produced by Remy Farrell SC with assistance from Chris Mills BL, was submitted to housing minister Darra

Conleth Bradley SC will lead the first part of an urgent review of An Bord Pleanála, the Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR) has announced. The OPR has initiated a review of certain systems and procedures used by An Bord Pleanála in the delivery of its statutory planning functions.

Prosecutors have been asked to consider whether criminal charges should be brought following a senior counsel's report into allegations concerning a former member of An Bord Pleanála. The report, produced by Remy Farrell SC with assistance from Chris Mills BL, examines allegations around the

A senior counsel's report on allegations concerning a former member of An Bord Pleanála has been presented to ministers. Remy Farrell SC was appointed in April to examine the issue after a series of reports published by website The Ditch accused the board's then deputy chairperson, Paul Hyde,