Planning levies for local one-off houses to more than double

Moves to almost triple planning fees for one-off houses in Westmeath have been modified by members of the county council.

At a meeting recently. the councillors voted instead to introduce a tiered rate of charges to encourage people to build smaller dwellings and amended proposed increases for agricultural and equine developments.

The proposal from the council executive was to increase planning fees for one-off houses from €1,362 to €4,000 up to 200 m sq. and €25 per m sq. thereafter. Cllr John Shaw said that rise was unacceptable and proposed a scaled rate of charges – €2,000 for houses up to 90 m sq., €3,000 for those between 90 and 200 m sq., and €3,500 for those over 200 m sq. and then another €25 per m sq. above that. He said that offered incentive for smaller dwellings – those building smaller houses pay less.

Cllr Shaw was seconded by Cllr Aengus O’Rourke, who said the fees were the lifeblood of the council and enabled them to progress many valuable projects and to secure funding from external sources. He was assured that levies are now indexed annually and therefore, when the scheme comes up for review in 2027, there will not be a need for such a big hike.

Commercial, retail, industrial development charges are to rise too, from €16.20 to €23 per m sq. The council forecasts that population growth between now and 2027 will see a demand for 712 housing units annually and over 20,000 m sq. of commercial, retail, industrial floor space per year.

A €20 per m sq. charge is being introduced for house extensions due to the trend towards extending and renovating many older houses.

A €5 per square metre levy for some agricultural developments was opposed by Cllr Tom Farrell, who proposed a €4 per square metre rate.

Cllr Farrell was assured that applicants would be allowed to pay the levy over a phased period and that those who had applied for planning before the increase comes into effect, in the next two weeks, will pay the old rate, even if they do not build until 2023.

Cllr Andrew Duncan had reservations about the disparity between equine and agricultural levies. It was proposed that equine developments be charged €10 per m sq., double what was being proposed for agricultural developments. He instead proposed they be treated identically to agricultural developments.

Cllr Frankie Keena (chairman) noted that community energy renewal projects of up to 0.5 megawatts are exempt from the levy, but asked what that would provide for an area. He was told that 0.5 megawatts would power 400 to 500 houses and is therefore, a significant exemption for community centres, farmers or businesses.

Cllr Denis Leonard advised caution in regard to community energy project exemptions. He warned that a lot of wind projects throughout the world have come in as “mar dhea” community projects and the council must guard against that, confining the exemption to the likes of community centres and GAA clubs.

Cllr Leonard said that rural dwellers often wonder what they are getting for their money as they have no roads, no lights, no footpaths. He said the council should encourage people to build in rural areas.

Cllr Louise Heavin did not feel it was appropriate to divide the county into urban and rural as traditionally, rural dwellers come to the town and use the facilities provided.

The new charges were unanimously approved with the amendments put forward by Cllrs Shaw, Farrell and Duncan.

Members were told that the charges proposed were in line with neighbouring local authorities such as Cavan, which has a minimum charge of €5,000 plus €20 per m sq. above 250 m sq.; Meath, where charges range from €7,500 to €11,000; and Offaly, which has an average charge of €3,500 between urban and rural areas.

The rise in commercial charges is also in line with other counties.

Reduced rates or waivers will apply for developments in town centres and for businesses grant aided or supported by the IDA or Enterprise Ireland as well as reduced rates for developments that would progress the government’s jobs initiative.

There will also be waivers for broadband infrastructure such as masts and antennae and for works on protected structures, and there is the option for reduced charges in respect of renewable energy development.