Planners need to be 'more flexible and realistic' when it comes to rural housing - SF candidate

Rural planning guidelines need to be reformed to help alleviate the housing crisis, according to a local election candidate.

Sinn Féin's Maureen Pigott says that local planners need to be “more flexible and realistic” when it comes to building houses in rural areas.

In a statement to the Westmeath Examiner, Miss Pigott, who is running in the Kinnegad LEA, outlined two proposals she believes would help deliver more houses in rural communities.

“First I suggest Westmeath County Council should allow more cluster developments of three to six houses together at one location, throughout rural Westmeath. These developments would have one shared entrance onto the main or service road, in a cul-se-sac style with their own individual front entrance. Similar to a small cluster development in Finea.

“Second I call for more flexible and realistic approval by the local planner of the national design guidelines as currently planning applicants are experiencing significant difficulties, with some applicants having to resubmit their applications several times before, or if ever, securing planning permission whilst running up unnecessary and exorbitant design and other land fees.

“If either or both of these proposals were taken into consideration they would go a long way towards assisting in the alleviation of the current housing crisis in rural Westmeath. As a candidate, housing is one of my main priorities and will remain so if elected.”