Single planning body needed for Dublin area

A new study has found that the absence of integration in housing, land use and transportation policies poses major problems for the Dublin area, writes Jack Fagan

The Government has been urged to set up an autonomous body to take over control of planning and development in the greater Dublin area.

The call from Conor Hogan, president of the Society of Chartered Surveyors, comes after an independent study found that the absence of integration in housing, land use and transportation policies poses "major problems for accessibility, sustainability and quality of life".

The study, commissioned by the Society of Chartered Surveyors, was carried out over an 18-month period by Dr Brendan Williams, lecturer in urban development and planning at UCD; Brian Hughes, lecturer in urban economics at DIT Bolton Street; and Patrick Shiels, urban research analyst.

The report said that housing development was occurring in a dynamic but unstable manner, often caused by major problems in managing the land supply process.

The need for effective regional planning and development strategies with a unitary authority/agency rather than fragmented approaches was now more evident than before.

It was also likely that, following the completion of the Mahon and Flood tribunals, major structural changes "should occur in land zoning processes and procedures" to bring the Irish system into line with best international practice and reduce the risks of corruption.

Recent demand for housing has been largely absorbed by the outward growth of the commuter belt which now stretches over 100kms from Dublin through Leinster and into south Ulster with smaller settlements growing at the fastest rates.

This pattern is contrary to the objectives of the National Spatial Strategy and Regional Planning Guidelines, and the major sprawl-type settlement trend has near total dependency on private cars.

The report said that the overall housing market in 2007 was likely to experience a more modest level of price increases than has been seen in recent years. Price increases this year are likely to be in single figures and in line with construction cost inflation.

Prices are expected to stabilise in some areas as overall demand and supply come close to equilibrium. Some fragmentation was likely to result with diverging price trends as certain areas remain strong while others weaken over the next 18 months.

The study draws attention to a drop in population in areas like Tallaght, Blanchardstown and Templeogue where the children of families are moving to new locations. This could lead to an under-utilisation of infrastructure and the necessity to provide similar facilities elsewhere where growth was now taking place.