Irish Home Builders Association (IHBA) Submission to Proposed Amendments to the Wicklow County Development Plan 2022-2028.

We, the Irish Home Builders Association (IHBA), a constituent association of the Construction Industry Federation (CIF), wish to make a submission in respect of the proposed amendments to the Wicklow County Development Plan 2022-2028.

The IHBA welcomes the opportunity to make a submission on the proposed amendments. The IHBA is broadly supportive of the content of the draft Plan and seeks to work constructively with the Planning Authority particularly in respect of the housing and development management aspects of the Plan.

The IHBA support the inclusion of appropriate policies and objectives which seek to facilitate the delivery of housing to meet targets for the county and to help address ongoing housing supply issues, in accordance with national policy.

Therefore, this submission focuses on a limited number of key amendments that will have significant implications for the delivery and cost of housing during the lifetime of the next Plan. Particular concern is raised in relation to the proposed amendment seeking to ban all PRS which would appear contrary to National Policy and the requirement for 10sq m private open space per bedroom for own door duplexes.