Families living along regional roads should no longer be refused planning permission when seeking to build their own homes on their own family lands.
This is the view of Independent councillor for the Athenry-Oranmore ward, Jim Cuddy, who is proposing this aspect of the County Development Plan be changed.
“It is very unfair that families are being refused planning on regional roads, when they have no other family lands available to them,” he said. “If the only family land available is on a regional road, they should be able to secure planning permission for their first family home, subject to site distance and other technical requirements.”
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Cllr Cuddy pointed out that, as the State is currently enduring a housing and accommodation crisis, the Galway County Council should “give them every opportunity to do so”.
“‘In many cases people cannot afford to purchase a house on the open market, but they could afford to build a house on family lands,” he said. “A restriction on planning forces them into rental accommodation and in many cases away from their own communities. This policy must be changed.”
