Lessons from Ghost Estates: How planning can save the world The document discusses Ireland's history of boom and bust cycles in construction and planning. It provides statistics on vacant and unfinished housing developments from a 2010 national survey. It outlines some proposed solutions to resolve unfinished housing such as site resolution plans, legislative reforms, and demolishing some developments. The presentation argues future planning needs to engage all stakeholders and promote smart and sustainable growth through green economy jobs and integrated transportation.

1. Lessons from Ghost Estates:
How planning can save the world
A presentation from Ciarán Cuffe to
Students of Planning at University
College Cork, February 2012

2. Alternative Titles…
• Planning in Ireland
– Past, Present and Prospects
• Lessons from Ghost Estates:
– How planning can save the world

3. Then

5. A short History of Ireland
• Forty years of limited development
• Slow move to industrialise in 1960s and 1970s
• Stagnation in 1980s
• Construction boom 1990s, early Noughties
• Boom, bust and stagnation in last five years

6. Rural Renewal Scheme

10. Now

14. National Housing Development
Survey
• 23,250 dwellings at the time of the survey (2010)
were complete and vacant;
• 9,976 dwellings were near complete (watertight,
but require fitting out or connection to services);
• Together, there were 33,226 houses that were
either complete or near complete and vacant;
and
• 9,854 dwellings were partly constructed.
• 78,195 dwellings were complete and occupied;

15. Unfinished Estates 2011
Building Completion and Activity Status
Airo

16. Resolving Unfinished Housing
Developments
• A more co-ordinated and partnership
approach
– Site Resolution Plans (SRPs)
• Tackling public safety issues
• Putting in place a stronger legislative and
policy framework
• Building confidence in the housing sector

17. Not just Ghost Estates
There’s also the contentious issue of
one-off housing…

18. New Addresses 2005-2007
An Post

19. Looking Ahead

20. Solutions for Unfinished Developments
• System of Triage Required
– Some will be finished and occupied without
assistance
– Some require innovative management and
financing
– Some demand demolition

21. Solutions for Unfinished Developments
• The Good
– Those that will be finished and occupied without
assistance
– Proximity to employment / major urban centres

22. Solutions for Unfinished Developments
• The Bad
– Those that require innovative management and
financing

23. Solutions for Unfinished Developments
• The Ugly
– Those that demand demolition
– Poorly designed, built and located…

24. Resolving Unfinished Housing
Developments
• The Department will re-state previous
planning guidance to planning authorities on
specific policy aspects regarding better
phasing of development, the provision of
bonds / securities and other DECLG policies as
regards sequential and phased development
to inform the resolution of unfinished housing

25. Future Planning
• an end to the badly-designed slapped-up so-
called ‘luxury developments’ surrounded by a
sea of car parking in a field that was owned by
someone who knew someone three miles
down the road.
• An 80% windfall tax on “up-zoned” land which
forms part of the NAMA legislation,
dramatically reduces the incentive from land-
owners to seek the rezoning of their land.

26. Innovative uses for Empty Housing
• Department of Environment, Community and
Local Government
• Department of Jobs, Enterprise and
Innovation
• Department of Education and Skills
• Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

27. Ireland GDP 1992-2010

28. Stuff
2000 2010
Time

29. Stuff
2000 2010
Time

30. Ireland Carbon Emissions 2009

31. 31

32. 32

33. 33

34. 34

36. Future Solutions
• Planning must engage with all Actors
– Make connections to all sections of Local
Authorities (Parks, Community, Economic
Development etc.)
– Harness Innovation / Community sector
• Green Economy key to future employment
– Early adopters on low carbon can harness gains
• Smart growth crucial to sustainability
– Agriculture, transportation, construction, energy