Green Party Environment Minister, John Gormley, will publish new planning legislation this month which will make specific reference to the issue of unfinished estates.

The Bill will contain provisions to allow planners refer to a developers record of completion before that developer is granted permission for subsequent development.

This was not the case in the past, when developers could move from one estate to the next prior to having completed previous developments.

The effect of this will be place the onus for completing development back on the developer. They may not be planning any new development in the immediate future, but they will know that completing any existing development will be key to their commercial viability in the medium term, which should focus their minds in relation to their current responsibilities.

We’ll update here as soon as we know more.