by Damian Dowds, Inishowen Independent
DONEGAL continues to buck national trends in terms
of confidence in the house building sector. In the
period April-June, Donegal’s planning authorities
granted planning permissions for new houses – more
than any other county in the country other than Cork
County Council, which granted permission in 511
instances.
Donegal granted more permissions for new dwellings
than all of County Dublin (247), or the commuter
counties of Kildare, Meath and Wicklow (405)
combined.
In all, Donegal County Council and the three local
town councils granted planning permission for 439
new dwellings, 111 ‘other’ new constructions
(commercial property, farm buildings etc), 216
extensions and 24 alterations/conversions.
Figures are not available for Inishowen
specifically.
The numbers surprised one local architect contacted
by the Inishowen Independent last week. “We’ve
noticed a slowdown starting around July 2007,” the
architect said. “There’s been a massive drop in
large developments and while the one-off houses held
up well until recently, they’re now on the decrease
too. Everyone seems to be panicking a bit.”
While the number of planning permissions for new
houses granted in the second quarter of 2008 are
more or less in line with 2007, they are 20% down on
the same period in 2006 dropping from 548 to 439.
Nationally, the drop was 16%.
Donegal County Council yesterday debated changes to
the county development plan. “These are likely to
give greater flexibility to planners in terms of
so-called ‘ribbon development’ and ‘backland
development’,” the architect said.
Culdaff-based Fine Gael Councillor Bernard
McGuinness criticised the approach taken to date by
planners under the development plan. “The planners
have chosen to interpret the plan in a certain
manner and that interpretation differs from that of
councillors,” Cllr McGuinness said. “That should not
have been the case. The only interpretation that
should have been taken was that of those that framed
the plan, namely, the councillors.”
Cllr McGuinness said the proposed revisions to the
county development plan will give local people
better prospects for building a home in their own
local area. |
