Planner claims Kerry has 35 'ghost' estates
A confirmed 'ghost' estate at the Low Road, Dingle, which is one of 35 similar estates in Kerry, according to the Council's Director of Planning Michael McMahon.
RECENT statistics revealing that Kerry is home to 21 ghost estates are an under-estimation according to a senior Kerry County Council planner who claims that the figure is actually closer to 35.
Director of Planning Michael McMahon says that while the council is loathe to use the term 'ghost' estates – preferring instead 'unfinished' estates – if developments of less than 50 percent occupancy and with no current activity are taken into consideration, Kerry's figure is in the mid-30s.
The statistic arises despite the fact that almost 320 Kerry homes were finished in 2010 and builders started work on 397 homes over a 15-month period prior to April 10.
The local authority planner says that those figures take all planning applications into consideration — including oneoff houses — and claims that significantly few new estates have been granted planning recently. Of the eight applications for developments of five or more houses that were lodged with the local authority this year, six have been refused on their own merits. Legally, though, planning legislation dictates that a local authority can not refuse applications on the grounds that there are too many developments already in the vicinity.
"In Kerry we can count on one hand the number of new applications for estates and most have been refused on the grounds of unsustainable development," Mr McMahon stated.
"If a son or daughter needs a house and the planning application meets all the conditions, we can't argue against that. With large scale development's, though, we may look at the application with a more jaundiced eye," he added.
Admitting that some developments should not have been allowed in the past, Mr McMahon stated that the numbers of previous developments were largely developer-driven. He added that the council is stringently reviewing this area.
"We have already revisited the Dingle, Killorglin and Kenmare Local Area Plans and have looked at the overall objectives by cutting down on the areas of residential zoning. Our emphasis is to promote more compact settlements."
Meanwhile, a council spokesperson confirmed that the local authority was obliged to grant planning if an application is within current government guidelines.
"If someone submits planning and it is within the County Development Plan recommendations and meets percolation and sightlines requirements, it is very difficult to refuse an application," the spokesperson stated.
- KEVIN HUGHES khughes@kerryman.ie
