Enforcement of Planning Control

The Enforcement Section’s role in this area involves investigating all complaints from the public with regard to unauthorised development, random inspections of developments in progress, and dealing with prior to commencement conditions or conditions which have not been complied with. The Section conducts site visits and issues Warning Letters, serves Enforcement Notices and institutes legal proceeding, as appropriate.

Hereunder are some relevant details of activity for 2020:

 69 New Complaints lodged  48 Warning Letters  6 Enforcement Notices  62 complaints resolved through negotiation. (These include complaints received prior to January, 2020)  25 complaints dismissed

Collection of Development Contributions

The Enforcement Section is responsible for the collection of development contributions. Staff resources continue to be allocated to ensure that contributions are paid in a timely manner and to follow up defaulters. The amount of outstanding arrears stands at just above €1 million at the end of 2020. Most of the outstanding money is in respect of unsold new build property, mainly dwelling houses and will be paid in due course on the sale of the properties.

Taking Estates in Charge

The Council commenced the process of taking in charge 6 No estates in 2020. Some of these estates would have been previously categorised as unfinished housing estates. The taking in charge fees received by the Council go towards the costs incurred by the Council during the taking in charge process and are also used where there is a shortfall in monies to complete outstanding works in the estate to bring it to a satisfactory standard to take in charge.

The Fairways Estate in Tubbercurry was previously categorised as an unfinished housing estate. The Planning enforcement section successfully drew down the Bond in 2019 and have commenced works on the estate including works to the 3 No. pumping stations, fencing, upgrading of public lights, completion of surface water sewer, repairs of foul sewers, water mains, footpaths and the provision of a wearing course to all the roads within the estate.

Provision of Wearing Course to Fairways Estate in Tubbercurry

Vacant Homes

The Government has committed in Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness to develop an overall national vacant housing re-use strategy. In February 2018, the planning section prepared a Vacant Homes Action Plan whose aim is to significantly reduce the number of long-term empty dwellings and reduce the effect of empty dwellings on the community and facilitate their return to productive use. The first key action to be achieved was the identification of the real level of vacancy in the Sligo and its Environs area. Of the 6,284 residential properties inspected up to the end of August 2020, only 4.6% were determined to the vacant. The enforcement section will continue to carry out inspections and identify owners of identified vacant properties in 2021 with a view to bringing these properties back into use.

Derelict Sites

The Planning Enforcement Section continually monitor properties throughout the county. Where a property has fallen into dereliction or is in danger of falling into dereliction, we engage with the owners where they are known to encourage them to carry out the necessary works that are required. It is only where this dialogue fails that we place the property on the Derelict Site Register.

Building Control

The Council is designated as Building Control Authority with strong powers to promote and enforce compliance with Building Regulations and Construction Product Regulations. The aim of the building regulations is to provide for the safety and welfare of people in and about buildings, to provide for the special needs of disabled persons and for the conservation of fuel and energy.