Red tape is holding up housing construction in Wicklow

Bureaucracy has prevented homes being built in west Wicklow.

The delay in finalising the National Planning Framework has meant much needed houses have not been built.

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This, says local TD Edward Timmins, is because the current plan which guides development is based on outdated population figures.

He said “red tape” stopped the creation of 335 homes in Blessington, where planning permission for the homes was supported by Wicklow County Council, but refused by An Bord Pleanála - because the town plan was not updated.  

“This update was not possible because the NPF was not updated. This existing framework is based on the outdated 2016 census.”

The NPF oversees the social, economic and cultural development of the country. 

He added: “Furthermore, in the Wicklow County Development Plan of 2022 to which I made 48 submissions, we had the bizarre situation where many towns had their residential zonings dezoned at a time when we all knew there was a huge housing shortage”. 

He said the NPF needs to allow flexibility to take account of zoned lands that are unlikely to be developed for a variety of reasons. 

“The limiting of zoned land to exact population targets means in practice there is not enough zoned land thus preventing planning grants for much needed housing (this restrictive and inflexible policy has led to much dezoning in a time of housing shortage)”. 

Dep Timmins said the  current targets for Wicklow are clearly too low. For this year the target is 1,411 houses, dropping to 969 in 2028 and to 528 in years  2029 and 2030.

County councils must be closely involved in the delivery of housing, which has to be micromanaged. 

“These targets must be drilled down further with monthly figures produced by all local authorities of actuals versus targets and explanations given. This is the only way to deliver large numbers of houses. The minister must then meet the CEOs and heads of planning of the councils every three months.”