Four Limerick councillors want more ribbons cut on rural housing by relaxing ribbon development rules

FOUR Limerick councillors hope to see more “ribbons” cut on housing developments in rural areas to breathe new life into communities and help combat the housing crisis.

Fianna Fail’s Francis Foley, Fergus Kilcoyne, Martin Ryan and Ger Ward have moved a motion calling on Limerick City and County Council to agree to and call on the Minister for Housing  to relax the current ribbon development rules.

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In Limerick, as with other parts of Ireland, ribbon development is generally discouraged through planning policy. This means that building individual houses along rural roads (ribbon development) is often restricted in favour of more clustered development in towns and villages.

The four councillors want the construction of six dwellings in a linear arrangement to be allowed. Also, that restrictions be set aside entirely, where appropriate, for sites within 1km of an existing settlement boundary once the development is located on a non-regional road with available appropriate sightlines.

The four councillors say in a joint statement to the Leader that their motion highlights the “growing housing shortage affecting rural communities and outdated ribbon development restrictions”.

“They are a major obstacle that needs to be tackled with urgency. It is nonsensical that rigid technical rules are preventing many qualifying local residents from building homes in their own areas.

“The root of the issue lies in both local and national planning policies, particularly the strict interpretation of ribbon development guidelines. Under the current Limerick Development Plan, and National Rural Housing Guidelines, there is a limit that restricts residential development to just four houses per 250 metres of rural road frontage,” reads the statement.

Cllrs Foley, Kilcoyne, Ryan and Ward say the policy was originally intended to combat haphazard and unsustainable development.

“However, these rules are now seen as overly rigid and fail to account for the evolving needs of rural families and the desire of many locals to remain within their communities. 

“Residents who have deep ties to the land and local community are often unable to secure planning permission for homes, even when their proposals would not negatively impact the environment. 

“Unfortunately, we are now seeing people frustrated and disappointed having to live in a town or village miles from their place of birth. Our young people don't deserve this. It's a scandal and something needs to be done,” they say.

The four councillors are advocating a policy change that would allow up to six homes per 250 metres, provided certain design principles are followed, such as the use of combined entrances where possible and the requirement for detailed landscaping plans. 

“There are also other options that need to be considered like rural clusters, back land development for landowners with large holdings and limited road frontage.

 “A more flexible approach is required to make rural housing more practical and sustainable, enabling people with genuine ties to the area to live near family and community.”

They are urging Limerick City and County Council and the Department of Housing to “back these proposals, so that local people are not excluded from their own communities by unnecessary and outdated planning barriers”.

The Fianna Fail councillors from across the county in Cappamore, Patrickswell, Kilcornan and Abbeyfeale say: “This approach recognises that reduced speed limits are now in place nationally and that development in proximity to settlements provides natural integration with existing infrastructure and services and supports the economic vitality of struggling rural settlements.”

They conclude  by saying such small-scale development supports rural housing needs and offers people in need of housing an option where supply of urban housing is seriously constrained.

“A more flexible, context-sensitive Rural Housing Policy will promote sustainable growth, maintain community cohesion, and reflect changing needs of rural areas in a balanced, responsible manner.”