Physical planning in Ireland: Lessons from the Masonite decision

Physical planning in Ireland was originally envisaged as a rational decisio n-making process involving the definition of objectives for the development of the locally governed area in question, the evaluation of alternative me thods of furthering growth, choice and monitoring of results. This paper ex amines the extent to which the process as it has evolved now displays these characteristics. While the process of making local authority development p lans is seen to conform to this model of decision-making, the subsequent de velopment control process, where an individual proposal at a given location is evaluated, gives cause for concern. The authors note the absence of a r ational process where a comparative evaluation of a number of sites is unde rtaken in order to show that the location under consideration is the best a vailable one for the proposal. The inability of the planning authority or a ppeals board to assess the project on a full set of environmental criteria is also highlighted, together with the lack of connectivity between the sta ges in the development control process and the uneven access of relevant ac tors to these stages. The Masonite Corporation's application to Leitrim Cou nty Council for permission to construct a timber manufacturing plant at Dru msna is used as a case study to highlight the lack of rationality in decisi on-making within the physical planning process.