Madam, - The RTÉ Prime Timeprogramme on Monday highlighted the pressure on councillors and planners for rezoning land way ahead of demand.
This pressure would be largely eliminated if the Government goes ahead with legislation based on the Kenny Report as announced in summer 2006, which I referred to in my letter to your newspaper in July 2006.
This legislation would give local authorities the right to purchase any building land it rezoned at its current use value plus 25 per cent.
There is still no sign of progress on this key legislation, which would have a big impact on the affordability of housing and would present the local authorities with the opportunity and the funds to plan and provide the proper physical and social infrastructure which is now missing from most of our urban and village developments.
- Yours, etc,
JAMES PIKE, Architect, President Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland, Milltown, Dublin 6.