Kerry councillors vote to aid housing development despite threat of regulatory scrutiny

By Alastair Tibbs, The Kerryman

Kerry councillors have voted to help a long-standing housing development gain planning permission despite the threat of resulting regulatory scrutiny.

Killarney Municipal District council opted to include land in East Faha within the zonal urban planning for Faha village, significantly augmenting the current plan.

Council bosses warned this decision could result in intervention by the Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR) and could throw all planning decisions taken that day under serious scrutiny.

Faha village is defined as a ‘Small Village Settlement’ in the council’s Local Area Plans, cutting red tape for developers and encouraging construction.

However, a similar sized group of houses, only a kilometre away, is not designated as a ‘settlement’ of any sort and planning applications are beholden to more restrictive rural planning laws.

A planning application for the construction of 12 dwelling houses in East Faha was rejected in 2018 on the grounds that “all new multiple residential developments must take place within the boundary of the settlements/villages”, among other rural planning objections.

At the meeting planning officers reasoned the designation of areas as ‘settlements’ was to prevent clusters of houses appearing haphazardly over the countryside and to help the growth of existing service centres.

However, Councillor Maura Healy-Rae argued that the development in East Faha was serviced, contrary to the council’s report, and by virtue of being close to the equestrian centre and local pub, should be considered a ‘settlement’.

She questioned Faha’s designation and highlighted the safety concerns of residents living along the village’s main road due to high speed traffic.

Councillor Brendan Cronin also expressed his support saying: “There was no progress with the node in Faha…we’re crying out for a housing development.”

“I think it’s imperative that we take issue with this…we have to take a stand. There’s no hope of anyone out that side of the country purchasing a site from any landowner. It’s not going to happen, there’s no housing potential whatsoever.”

Unable to create a new ‘settlement’, councillors unanimously agreed to extend the Faha ‘settlement’ boundaries to include the East Faha and marking it as ready immediately for development.

The vacant land that has had plans stalled since as far back as 2016, now looks to have been given a new lease of life.

However, the decision could mean the OPR review all of Wednesday’s proceedings to evaluate their “objectivity” according to council officials.

The planning regulator called on Kerry County Council last month to scrap plans for a multi-storey car park in Killarney, advice that some local councillors strongly oppose.

According to the OPR, the car park was not consistent with national and regional policy objectives to improve air quality and promote sustainable transport.

Council officers had previously identified the existing new street car park in Killarney as a suitable location, with a multi-story facility providing another 300 spaces on top of the already existing 216.

At a separate meeting on Wednesday the councillors agreed to write back to the regulator that a car park was needed in Killarney and should be included in the Local Area Plan.

Kerry FC boss Colin Healy happy to have proved doubters wrong as First Division play-offs beckon

Fiche Bliain ag Fás - Ard Chúram in Listowel to mark its 20th anniversary

Michael Healy-Rae blasts farm safety funding cut as ‘deeply disappointing’

Alan Ring makes history as first Kerry driver to win FIA title at Rallye Sanremo

Bill Murray finds craic is par for the course in ‘funniest country in the world’