Cork chamber has welcomed cabinet approval of the Draft Planning and Development Bill as a significant step on the urgent need to reform and streamline the planning system.
 
“The current planning regime is hindering the development we need across housing, infrastructure and energy to support economic growth and build a sustainable net zero economy and society. Maintaining the status quo is not an option, and so the progress of this bill through Cabinet has to be welcomed as a step towards streamlining and improving the existing system,” said Conor Healy, CEO of Cork Chamber.
 
“We have been campaigning for planning reform for years as it increasingly became a barrier to economic and infrastructure development, housing delivery and investment, and our progress as a society, particularly towards a decarbonised Ireland.
 
“We need planning reform that reduces delays, provides certainty on timelines for decisions and makes the broader planning system more effective and efficient. That means adequate resources need to be given to the responsible bodies so that the new statutory timelines that we expect to see in the New Year will be met.
 
“We also need to ensure that checks and balances are in place in the planning system and regulatory bodies to ensure fairness and certainty for all stakeholders, and we expect the more finalised bill to be published in January will provide the necessary detail on how that will be delivered.”

Read the draft bill outline <HERE>.