Planning

New planning regulations will allow for the fast-tracking of temporary accommodation for Ukrainian refugees in Ireland. Certain classes of temporary development, including residential accommodation, undertaken by or on behalf of a State authority, to provide protection to displaced persons from Ukra

More houses and buildings will be able to install solar panels on their roofs without any requirement for planning permission under proposals now out for consultation. The consultation, which will close on 13 July 2022, follows a review of the solar panel planning exemptions set out in the Planning

Planning law changes introduced to increase home ownership and restrict the practice of bulk purchasing by institutional investors have led to almost 16,000 residential units being ring-fenced for individual buyers. Housing minister Darragh O'Brien yesterday published a progress update on the minist

Northern Ireland’s High Court has rejected several grounds of challenge against planning permission for a GAA stadium in Casement Park, Belfast. In a post script, Mr Justice Michael Humphreys also rebuked counsel over an expert witness who said the planning permission was "unlawful", which dem

A judge in Northern Ireland's High Court has rebuked lawyers over an expert witness who said the planning permission at the centre of the case was "unlawful". Mr Justice Michael Humphreys made the remarks after rejecting several grounds of challenge against planning permission for a GAA stadium in C

Allegations of conflicts of interest within An Bord Pleanála risk undermining public confidence in the planning system, the Irish Planning Institute has warned. Remy Farrell SC was appointed by ministers in April to investigate allegations concerning the Board's deputy chairperson Paul Hyde,

Prominent barrister Remy Farrell SC has been appointed to investigate allegations concerning a board member of An Bord Pleanála. The move is believed to relate to a series of reports published by website The Ditch which accuse the board's deputy chairperson Paul Hyde of conflicts of interest,

The new maritime area consent (MAC) regime for renewable energy developments has come into effect, with the first consents expected to be issued to developers in the second half of 2022. The new regime enables the minister for the environment to issue MACs on an interim basis pending the establishme

Developers in Northern Ireland will again be required to hold a public event as part of the pre-application process for major planning applications following the expiration of the temporary suspension. The requirement, which has been suspended since 1 May 2020, will be reinstated for proposed of app

Regulations allowing for vacant pubs to be converted into homes without planning permission have been extended until 2025. Nearly 1,400 vacant pubs have been converted into homes since the exemption was introduced in 2018, and it will now be extended until the end of 2025.

Controversial government plans to restrict judicial reviews of planning decisions could be derailed because of disagreement between Fine Gael and its junior coalition partner, the Green Party, according to reports. Eamon Ryan, the Green leader and transport minister, is opposed to the proposals bein

Northern Ireland's planning system is not working efficiently and has failed to meet many of its main performance targets in recent years, a new report has found. The report, produced by Northern Ireland's comptroller and auditor general Kieran Donnelly CB and the local government auditor Colette Ka

Corporate law firm Philip Lee has announced the appointment of Leonora Mullett as a partner in its planning and environmental department. Ms Mullett has extensive knowledge of planning and environmental law, local government law, litigation, dispute resolution and public law, with significant experi

A judgment handed down by the High Court yesterday in a planning dispute has attracted attention for including images of the site and the proposed development at the centre of the case. The 120-page judgment in Ballyboden Tidy Towns Group v An Bord Pleanala & Ors was authored by Mr Justice David

Legislation establishing a new planning regime for the maritime area has passed through all stages of the Oireachtas. The government has said the Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021 represents the biggest reform of marine governance since the foundation of the State, with a legal and administrative fra