Submission on Development Control Advice and Guidelines - Pre-Draft
Thursday, November 28, 2002
The Irish Planning Institute greatly welcomes the opportunity to make a submission on the review of the document “Development Control Advice and Guidelines” published by the Department of the Environment in 1982. This document is also sometimes known as “The Yellow Book”.
The Yellow Book has largely fallen into disuse in the current planning practice, partly because it is now out of date in a number of important respects. It is still sometimes taken into consideration by An Bord Pleanala in appeals and is quoted occasionally in relation to appeals relating to conditions attached to decisions to grant permission.
Nonetheless, the Yellow Book remains a relevant document for planning practice in Ireland in some respects. The Institute believes it is important to have general advice and guidelines on development control policy and procedures.
Many of the policy issues addressed in the original document have been overtaken by specific policy guidelines in areas such as retail planning and housing densities. However, these more recent Guidelines are not comprehensive and there will always be a need for an overall guideline document on Development Control issues.
Equally, there is a need for a document setting out guidelines on preparation, content and interpretation of development plans. We understand that such a document is being prepared separately by the Department.
Parts IV and V of the 1982 document deals with refusals of permissions and conditions respectably, remain particularly relevant, subject to some changes suggested below. These elements should be retained.
Part VI in relation to procedural matters has now been completely overtaken by changes in
legislation and regulations and should be replaced accordingly.
We will comment specifically on relevant sections of the 1982 document before addressing some of the specific issues raised in the Department’s letter