Planning for a better society

Sir, – Frances Ruane and Laura Burke identify the main problem with planning reform as an absence of agreement on the relationship between “good spatial planning and societal wellbeing” (“Ireland must stop prioritising short-term demands and plan for a better society”, Opinion & Analysis, March 28th).

Planning reform seems tied to the concept of compact building, that is, ways to cram more people together into a selected space, which will not necessarily enhance societal wellbeing. I note that the authors omit to mention gardens, green spaces or biodiversity, all essential to wellbeing.

An alternative planning strategy would be for the Government to spend some of its ample funds on building new garden cities on our often barren fields, planning from scratch to incorporate a range of different housing, organic food production (surrounding fields, allotments and gardens), well-located public services (transport, schools, hospitals), ensuring biodiversity and clean air.

Let’s have some imagination and a better analysis of societal wellbeing and planning potential. – Yours, etc,