Speculators who offered development sites with dilapidated houses for sale with “full planning permission” were making a mockery of the planning guidelines, the February meeting of Waterford Co Council was told.

Cllr Brendan Mansfield (SF) said he saw a large number of these sites in the Waterford and Dungarvan areas being offered for sale on a property website. It was claimed that the demolition of the house on the site entitled the applicant to get a grant of planning for a new house.

Director of Services Brian White said speculation was something the Council would like to deter. If somebody was restoring an old building then a “genuine housing need” did not come into play. But if the houses on the site was demolished it would be necessary to establish a genuine housing need. [Michael Quinn]