Fingal Councillors agreed unanimously on Monday to my motion to initiate the process to vary the Fingal Development plan to include a provision to require apartments to be sold to the public rather than to institutional for-profit landlords. I have previously written to the outgoing Minister for Housing asking him to consider a similar provision at a national level. That email sets out the reasons this important change needs to be made.

The next step in the process is a report from the Council executive within four weeks. At that stage, hopefully the Council will agree to put the proposed variation on public display. Given the motion received the support of all 34 Councillors present last Monday, I hope this change to our Development Plan will take effect soon.

Motion: Councillor D. Healy
That the Council pursuant to S.13 (1A) of the Planning and Development Act,
hereby requests the Chief Executive to prepare a report on the following
proposal to initiate a process to consider a variation of the Development Plan:

The insertion in the Development Plan of the following:

“3.5.9.4 Apartments not designated as Build-to-Rent

“Policy SPQHP33A Apartment schemes not designated as build-to-rent may be required in their planning decision to offer for sale to the public a proportion of units (other than those covered by a Part V agreement), the proportion, up to 100%, to be determined, taking into consideration the demand in the area, particularly the demand to purchase an apartment to move to/from a larger dwelling.”

Addendum: Northside People coverage of the Variation: “Council Clamps Down on Bulk Buying of Property.”