New plan `in jeopardy' unless planning process changes

The success of the National Development Plan will be in jeopardy unless there is a fundamental improvement in the planning process, Brendan Sheridan, president of the Society of Chartered Surveyors, told the annual dinner in Dublin last Thursday. He stressed the need for action to avoid delays and bottlenecks, which are clearly evident in the current regime. Mr Sheridan said the Government was quite rightly tackling the crisis in affordable housing and some lateral thinking was needed, including acceptance of high-rise development on brownfield sites in the inner city, incentives for businesses which participate in integrated and sustainable urban projects and the cultivation of a rental culture.