Urban Policy Failure

Historically urban development in Ireland has taken place largely in the absence of a coherent and linked policy framework. Urban policy per se has been formed by a series of piecemeal actions.

(a) A successive programme of area and site-based tax incentives has led to the formation of pockets of redevelopment within towns and cities, many of which are too large by comparison with the scale of existing areas. They have only provided for the short-term needs of residents. Many areas have not had the corresponding increases local community, leisure and educational facilities. There has been little integration between old and new communities and, as a result, long-term community formation has not occurred in these areas. (Urban Tax Renewal Acts (beginning 1986))

(b) Higher density housing, apartment development and infill housing is now a prominent feature of Irish town and city planning. This is in line with the principle of Sustainable Development to make efficient use of land. However, the quality of the housing stock produced is questionable. Many new urban zones contain schemes where individual units are too small to provide for the needs of people who wish to raise families. Many contain fashionable hard landscaped open space areas that are not designed to cater for the needs for social, play or community interaction. (Residential Density Guidelines (1999))

(c) Planning authority policy decisions and Development Plans do not fully reflect Sustainable Development. Planning authorities zone land in excess of population forecasts and critically, development is taking place without reference to the existing capacity of local sewerage, transport or social infrastructure and consequent environmental impacts. Planning authorities continue to fail to make the link between land-use planning and transportation, with planning being granted continuously for new commercial, retail and housing development in areas that don't have adequate services. (Sustainable Development - A Strategy for Ireland (1987) and Local Government (Planning and Development) Act (2000))

(d) The new planning system, initiated by the Planning and Development Act, has placed limits on public participation that did not exist under previous legislation. New strict administrative, timing and cost requirements for planning submissions has made it difficult for people to freely take an active role in planning cases of concern, either locally or nationally. This has resulted in real distrust in the planning system. (Local Government (Planning and Development) Act 2000)).

(e) Regional Planning Authorities responsible for NSS delivery have failed to call in planning authorities who exceed commercial zoning requirements and give planning approval for large-scale developments in towns outside the 'designated growth centres' laid down in the NSS. The NSS is not being reinforced at county level so that the goal of achieving Balanced Regional Development (BDR) is not being achieved. (National Spatial Strategy (2002) and Regional Planning Guidelines (from 1999))
The impact of having a succession of piecemeal measures without any overarching framework has led to a property-led approach to planning in Ireland. There is evidence that the quality of life in Ireland has declined as a consequence and a series of 'pressure points' have emerged that have serious implications for the future:

Urban Sprawl

The increased spread of towns and cities with new residential and commercial areas located at edge of towns and cities - and the knock-on impact on travel patterns, seepage of commercial activity from older areas and community integration.

Time Poor Communities

The increased travel to work time associated with distant commuting - and the knock-on effects in relation to quality of life as a result of reduced 'down-time' (e.g. less time for community or family involvement and voluntarism and correlated health impacts such as rising heart disease and obesity).

Rising Emissions

Lack of adequate and efficient public transport - leading to over reliance on private car transport, and longer travel to work times, increased energy use and CO2 emissions.

Infrastructure Deficiencies

Over expansion of urban areas in the absence of a parallel increase and delivery of municipal, transport and social services - resulting in infrastructure service capacity constraints in older areas, and problems of service provision and access in newly developed areas.

Community Distrust in Planning

Growing concern amongst residents' groups in relation to newer planning approaches to maximise land efficiency and use of higher density, infill and high building policies - resulting in increased levels of community distrust and frustration in the planning system.

Social Fragmentation

Changing social fabric of towns and city centre areas, with the emergence of new dormitory residential clusters, socially isolated high-density developments and a high level of transient private rental dwellings resulting in a loss of community and potential for social fragmentation.

The Green Party have been at the forefront of raising its concern about how planning works in Ireland and how it impacts on the quality of life of all Irish residents.
The current government is remote from the daily problems of residents and communities. It has consistently failed to tackle these problems head-on, although numerous advisors and economic experts have stated that if these areas are not addressed quickly, Ireland will decline both economically and socially and will face an energy supply crisis in the very near future.