Inishowen could see a
sharp rise in the fortunes of the local construction
industry after the EU scraps an 'illegal' planning
law.
A rule that prohibits people from building one-off
houses in rural areas if they are not from the local
area, is expected to be deemed unlawful later this
month by the European Commission. It follows a
complaint by an Irish citizen who was refused
planning permission in Co. Wicklow. Donegal and
Wicklow are among 22 counties nationwide who
introduced the clause in their development plans in
a bid to curtail unsustainable one-off builds in the
countryside and along the coast. The local
authorities concerned will shortly have to remove
the clause from their county development plans.
Dublin, Waterford, Leitrim and Roscommon are the
only counties that didn't introduce the measure.
The others currently restrict planning permission to
people who are native to a locality, enjoy long-term
land ownership or have direct kinship in an area.
The Donegal county development plan currently
defines a member of the indigenous rural community
to include: family members from established farming,
land owning and non-land owning rural households;
returned emigrants originally from the area and new
rural dwellers working in the rural area.
However, the axing of the controversial planning
guideline will allow people with no familial
connection to the county to set up permanent or
temporary homes here while also allowing developers
to build houses in any location and sell them to
anyone who wants to buy.
Local estate agent, Leo McCauley, said the lifting
of the rule would also have a direct impact on local
Inishowen people.
"Under this rule, for example, people from Moville
are not allowed to build in Shroove, only three
miles out the road. If they get rid of it, people
will no longer have to hold on to their sites for
seven years before they can sell them," said Mr.
McCauley.
"It should result in a multi-million euro bonanza
for local developers and also for farmers who will
be able to sell a few sites again without
restriction." |
