Majority of landowners' children refused planning in Rural Policy Zones in Louth

More than half of the planning applications submitted to Louth County Council for houses in Rural Policy Zones 1 and 2 since the adoption of the County Development Plan 2021-2027 have been refused, with 15 out of 19 applications under the criteria of "a son or daughter of a landowner who is/are seeking to build a first home for permanent occupation" refused, figures released this month have revealed.

Cllr James Byrne submitted a question to the local authority ahead of its July meeting, asking "Can Louth County Council provide a breakdown of the planning permissions granted and refused since the adoption of the County Development Plan 2021-2027 to the present day for Rural Policy Zones 1 and 2 under each of the qualifying criteria applicable to both zones?"

Rural Policy Zone 1 refers to an area in Louth under strong urban influence and of significant landscape value. Rural Policy Zone 2 refers to an area under strong urban influence.

Replying to Cllr Byrne's question, Director of Services Strategic Economic Development, Thomas McEvoy, said:

"The total number of planning permissions granted since the adoption of the County Development Plan 2012-2027 to the present day for Rural Policy Zones 1 and 2 is 77.

"The total number of planning permissions refused since the adoption of the County Development Plan 2012-2027 to the present day for Rural Policy Zones 1 and 2 is 94."

Mr McEvoy provided a breakdown of Zone 1 and 2 under the qualifying criteria. The breakdown is below, along with a brief description of each criterion:

Rural Policy Zone 1

Criteria 1 - Persons engaged in full time agriculture - Granted - 3; Refused - 2

Criteria 2 - A son or daughter of a landowner who is/are seeking to build a first home for permanent occupation - Granted - 4; Refused - 15

Criteria 3 - A person who has an established business which is intrinsically reliant on being located in Rural Policy Zone 1 and consequently requires them to reside in Rural Policy Zone 1 of the rural area -  Granted - 0; Refused - 1

Criteria 4 - Persons who are required to live in the rural area of Rural Policy Zone 1, for exceptional health reasons - Granted - 0; Refused - 0

Criteria 5 - Residents who have demonstrable social ties to the area and are providing care for an elderly person(s) or a person(s) with a disability who lives in an isolated rural area and who does not have any able bodied person residing with them - Granted - 0; Refused - 0

Criteria 6 - A person who has been a resident for at least 10 years that previously owned a home and is no longer in possession of that home due to the home having been disposed of following legal separation / divorce / repossession and can demonstrate a social or economic need for a new home in the rural area -  Granted - 0; Refused - 1

Rural Policy Zone 2

Criteria 1 - Persons engaged in full time agriculture - Granted - 5; Refused - 3

Criteria 2 - A person whose business requires them to reside in the rural area - Granted - 3; Refused - 0

Criteria 3 - Landowners including their sons and daughters who have demonstrable social or economic ties to the area where they are seeking to build their home - Granted - 19; Refused - 23

Criteria 4 - A person who is seeking to build their first house in the area and has a demonstrable economic or social requirement to live in that area - Granted - 40; Refused - 42

Criteria 5 - An emigrant who was resident of the area (previously resided in the area for at least 18 years in total) and wishes to return to the area to live - Granted - 0; Refused - 3

Criteria 6 - Persons who are required to live in a rural area, for exceptional health reasons - Granted - 0; Refused - 1

Criteria 7 - Residents who have demonstrable social ties to the area and are providing care for an elderly person(s) or a person(s) with a disability who lives in an isolated rural area and who does not have any able bodied person residing with them - Granted - 1; Refused - 0

Criteria 8 - A person who has been a resident for at least 10 years that previously owned a home and is no longer in possession of that home due to the home having been disposed of following legal separation / divorce / repossession and can demonstrate a social or economic need for a new home in the rural area - Granted - 1; Refused - 2