Planning

An Bord Pleanála has refused planning permission for a proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal on the Shannon estuary. The proposed €650 million project "would be contrary to current government policy, and in the absence of such policy support... would be contrary to the proper pla

Energy professionals do not believe that Ireland will meet it target to create 5GW of new offshore wind by 2030, according to a new survey by Mason Hayes & Curran. The business law firm polled nearly 200 industry professionals at its annual energy conference, this year taking place in Cork, and

The revised National Planning Framework (NPF) should include more ambitious compact growth targets, an expert group has recommended. Three independent experts with experience of spatial planning, economic and social development and environmental protection were appointed by ministers to provide a hi

Draft planning guidelines aimed at creating "more sustainable and compact settlements" have gone out to consultation. The draft Sustainable and Compact Settlements Guidelines for Planning Authorities expand on the National Planning Framework in relation to compact growth and in relation to the creat

Vacant properties and land in Irish city centres are an "inevitable outcome" of the State's planning system and property markets, according to a new report by Trinity College Dublin researchers. The Urban Vacancy in Ireland report uses Dublin — where "public and media attention has frequently

Northern Ireland’s Court of Appeal has entirely dismissed Tesco’s challenge to an Antrim Council planning decision relating to a new store for its competitor Asda. The court found that the decision reached was a valid and informed one and, although it went against Tesco’s favour, i

A solicitor who objected to a strategic housing development in Limerick on environmental grounds has welcomed a decision by An Bord Pleanála to refuse planning permission for a second time. Limerick solicitor Michelle Hayes, president of Environmental Trust Ireland, said the proposed developm

More than nine in 10 property professionals believe that streamlining planning would have the biggest impact on boosting housing supply in Ireland, according to a survey by business law firm Mason Hayes & Curran — but only four per cent feel that a new government would have the most signif

Planning law changes will be brought forward to continue the waiving of licence fees for outdoor dining and to allow retailers to install reverse vending machines for the planned deposit and return scheme, the government has said. The waiving of the street furniture licence fee for tables and chairs

An inflationary increase in planning fees in Northern Ireland will come into effect next month. The Department for Infrastructure confirmed that an increase of approximately 12.3 per cent, the first since 2019, will be applied across all planning application categories from Thursday 6 April 2023.

A senior government official has claimed that residents' associations are routinely counting the dead among opponents to housing developments. Paul Hogan, chief planner in the Department of Housing, reportedly made the remarks to the joint Oireachtas committee on housing, local government and herita

Proposals to overhaul Ireland's planning system could restrict access to justice for citizens as they currently stand, the Law Society of Ireland has warned. Rachel Minch SC, chair of the Law Society's environmental and planning law committee, appeared before the join Oireachtas committee on housing

New legislation overhauling the State's planning system could be "mired in legal challenge for the next 10 years", a government TD has said. Neasa Hourigan, the Green Party TD for Dublin Central, criticised the government for having failed to conduct an independent review of the Planning and Develop

Property professionals want the new An Coimisiún Pleanála to be required to determine planning appeals within 16 weeks, according to a new survey by Mason Hayes & Curran LLP. The business law firm polled more than 250 agents, developers and property managers at its recent real esta

International law firm Clark Hill LLP has announced the establishment of an offshore wind practice group in Dublin. Aidan Eames, a consultant in the firm since its merger with Eames Solicitors just over a year ago, is leading the new group, which will serve clients investing in the rapidly growing I