The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD, has received Government approval for the termination and replacement of Strategic Housing Development (SHDs) planning arrangements.

New streamlined arrangements for large-scale residential developments (LSRDs) which restore decision-making to local authorities will be introduced to replace SHDs.

It is intended that the new arrangements will come into effect on enactment of the Bill in the autumn. Subject to Oireachtas approval and the timely enactment of the Bill, it is anticipated that the following dates will apply to the wind up of the SHD arrangements and the introduction of the new arrangements for LSRDs:

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• 29 October 2021 will be the last day for requesting a SHD pre-application consultation request with An Bord Pleanála

• A planning application for a SHD must be submitted to An Bord Pleanála by 31 December 2021, at the latest, for proposals which have completed the SHD pre-application consultation process with An Bord Pleanála on or before 29 October 2021

• 25 February 2022 is the last date for submitting a subsequent SHD planning application to the Board in respect of those SHD proposals which complete the SHD pre-application consultation process after 29 October 2021.

The intended end dates are being signaled now to provide certainty and clarity around the replacement of the SHD arrangements, and to allow developers and the associated professional sectors time to prepare and adapt to the proposed new arrangements.

Minister O’Brien welcomed Government's decision saying that it provided for planning applications for large scale residential developments to be dealt with in the first instance at the local level by local planning authorities.