Planning ahead for 2025: The Office of the Planning Regulator

In this article, Niall Cussen, Chief Executive and Planning Regulator at the Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR), shares his thoughts on the Irish planning sector during 2025, acknowledging the challenges while optimistic about the future. With aligned efforts from government, planning system and public support, the sector is in a strong position to achieve sustainable development.

For many who work in planning in our local authorities, there are high expectations for the phased implementation of the 2024 Planning and Development Act, coupled with the revision of the National Planning Framework. There is also recognition of the need for progress in reinforcing and deepening capacity of the planning process to successfully address concurrent challenges in housing, climate and transport.

As Planning Regulator, my office oversees and drives improvements in the planning process. The OPR also ensures the planning system works within the legislative, regulatory and policy context set for it by the Oireachtas and Government, which has evolved hugely in recent years.

Ireland is one of few countries to have prepared a National Planning Framework as the guiding force behind its National Development Plan. With a strong economy, our linked spatial and capital investment plans are annually coordinating investment of billions of euro of taxpayers monies in the kind of physical and social infrastructure our modern country deserves. They also ensure we meet the needs of citizens, our environment and Irelands long-term competitiveness in an increasingly volatile world.

A major priority for progress in 2025 is in enhancing the capacity and capability of our planning process in light of the recently published Ministerial Action Plan on planning resourcing. Successful implementation of fresh legislation and planning policy will ultimately depend on the availability of people and systems and their innovation and efficiency in the planning process.

At a time of virtual full employment, it can be challenging to attract skilled staff. In Ireland, the output of skilled staff, including professional planners, is currently at 50% of demand. Finding ways to quickly boost graduate intake through to qualification and placement into the many planning roles currently vacant will be key. This skilled work is essential to unlock the full potential of the 2024 Planning Act and many policy initiatives in hand from housing, to renewable energy and delivering better infrastructure for active travel.

It’s never been a better time to consider a planning career in an exciting, purposeful and interesting area of work, whether as a school-leaver or a career change. This year the OPR – with others – will work to promote support for planning education and new pathways. This will be both into approved courses and from learning to employment through graduate programmes.

A sense of the work that planning authorities perform is revealed in our recently published Planning in Numbers. This demonstrates the key gateway role played by planning functions in helping to deliver the housing and infrastructure our country’s future depends on.

Good planning is about communities buying in to a carefully prepared and sustainable vision for their future, linked to wider delivery and investment demonstrating real progress. While media headlines about planning often grab attention, they rarely delve properly into the issues involved and the need for carefully thought through plans and decision-making that stand the test of time.

From rural renewal, small town rejuvenation to major city level regeneration, communities have more expectations about what proper planning and sustainable development can and should deliver. As a result, there is greater competition to develop sustainable communities with a good quality of life, which will increasingly depend on planning ahead.

Considering all these factors and taking on board the ask involved, there is much to be optimistic about in relation to working in Ireland’s planning sector. With colleagues in the OPR, we will continue to support the many sectoral and community stakeholders of Ireland’s planning process in ensuring it delivers proper planning and sustainable development.