Special zone scheme may form part of Planning Acts review

The designation of "special industrial zones", where the construction of new factories would be exempt from the normal planning process, is expected to form part of a major review of the Planning Acts.

It is likely that IDA Ireland will have a role in identifying such zones and that they will be tailored to suit the requirements of foreign companies locating here - including those in the chemical and pharmaceutical sector.

The Minister for the Environment, Mr Dempsey, indicated yesterday that the "comprehensive legislation" he intended to introduce next year would include measures to improve Ireland's competitive position in the global marketplace.

"We must be cognisant of the developments in other countries to reform their land use planning systems to facilitate inward investment," he said. But he promised that reforms would not compromise environmental protection or the public's right to participate.

IDA Ireland, which is charged with attracting inward investment, was among the 150 interest groups and individuals who made submissions to the Department of the Environment as part of its review of the Planning Acts, which date back to 1963.

The IDA regards the designation of "special industrial zones" as a way of overcoming uncertainties in the planning process, which it believes act as a disincentive to inward investment. It has also pointed out that such zones are available elsewhere.

Its proposal is that land would be pre-zoned for industrial use under a planning scheme which would outline the type of industries permitted there. The scheme would then be advertised, so that the public could express its views on what was proposed.

However, once a scheme is adopted by a local authority - with or without changes - any industrial project which complied with it would be able to locate in the zone without having to go through the planning process or face appeals by third parties.

Ms Mary Moylan, principal officer in the planning division of the Department of the Environment, said there was "considerable support" for the concept of designating special industrial zones. But concern had been expressed that the process should be "transparent" and subject to strategic environmental impact assessment.

At a convention in Dublin called by the Department as part of its planning review, she said some interest groups took the view that industries requiring integrated pollution control licences should be confined to special zones.

Other submissions suggested that there should be a public inquiry into the draft development plans prepared by local authorities, as in the UK, and that they should have to give reasons to justify departing from an inspector's recommendations.

Ms Moylan said there were also proposals to vary the current two-month time limit for making decisions on individual planning applications, to take account of the difference between domestic extensions and complex industrial projects.

There was also widespread support for regional planning guidelines. Other submissions sought to end the current exemption from planning control of most agricultural buildings, commercial forestry plantations and peat extraction projects because of the impact they had on the landscape and the need to protect natural habitats.

Ms Moylan said developers had complained about local authorities imposing development contributions to finance public infrastructure.