'We did our work in the shadow of the planning regulator' - councillors welcome more zoning for housing in Waterford
Councillors hope that a review of the Development Plan early next year will result in even more land being re-zoned for housing. Photo: iStock
In a rare moment of unity, all 32 councillors voted in favour of a variation of the Waterford City and County 2022-2028 Development Plan that will mean more land will be zoned for housing.
Many of the councillors expressed support for the plan but some also pointed out that this could have been done earlier. They said that national bodies curtailed them for zoning more land for housing in previous years.
Cllr Damien Geoghegan said: “When we adopted the development plan in July 2022, that was following a lot of hard work from the 12 months before. We did our work as councillors. We did it in the shadow of the planning regulator.
"Since then the planning regulator has admitted that he got it wrong and that he was too restrictive on councils across the country.”
Cllr Thomas Phelan added: “The last time we did the development plan we were under pressure from the OPW. At the time we were saying the more we zone, the more competition there’d be in the marketplace and the more likely we are to get houses built. They’re [the planning regulator] a little late to come around to that view. Not only have they recognised the need for this variation, they also came around to this idea of re-zoning so it's good that they changed their tune."
Cllr Joe Kelly said: “We were curtailed by the office [of planning] and many of us and our representative bodies pointed that out to the OPW and the government at the time, but they chose to ignore the people on the ground.
"Local politicians like ourselves are often ignored. We are the people, as far as I’m concerned, that have the best information on the ground in cities and counties."
However, several councillors also warned that amenities and services must be integrated into housing development plans as well.
Cllr Jim Griffin said: “It's great that we can build more houses in rural areas, but if we don’t put the infrastructure around it, it's one of the key factors that will bring us back to another housing crisis. If we even ever get over this one.”
Director of Housing for Waterford City and County Council, Ivan Grimes, was visibly delighted with such a positive response from the councillors.
He said: "It’s not easy getting a consensus amongst 32 councillors."
In the first quarter of next year, there will be a review of the development plan.
Cllr Geoghegan said, “I look forward to that work taking place.”
Cllr Phelan and Cllr Kate O’Mahony agreed with him.
Cllr Phelan said that he was agreeing with the current motion on the understanding that the review in early next year would lead to an even broader re-zoning of land.
Cllr O’Mahoney added: “I am looking forward to the next variation where we can expand on community infrastructure.”
Cllr Joe Kelly also echoed these sentiments, saying, “We can really expand the envelope and promote lots more spaces for houses that are desperately needed by the people."
