Dearey praises people before property approach of Julianstown residents.

Following the launch of Julianstown Village Design Statement last week Green Party Senator Mark Dearey commended the Village Design team on a plan that puts people before property,

"In July I steered the new Planning Bill through the Senate in the face of much criticism from opposition senators. But it is a critical piece of work because while the banks provided the money to developers the old planning laws gave rise to speculative land deals and developments in the first place. Bad planing, bad banking and bad financial regulation have created the appalling mess we are in so there is no point reforming banking without also reforming planning. The new Bill puts community at the heart of planning instead of the quick buck. In time the kind of plan Julianstown is piloting tonight will be commonplace and we will all be the better for it."

Also speaking at the launch of the Design Statement, Minister Ciaran Cuffe said that new National Local Area Plan guidelines for Local Authorities will be published later in the year and will be aimed at encouraging local people to be actively involved in the Local Area Plan preparation process.

"The process of preparing the Julianstown Village Design Statement provides an extremely practical learning experience in supporting the preparation of a new generation of LAPs in Ireland . The Julianstown Village Design Statement has provided a successful example of how local people of all ages can participate and become involved in local village planning and design matters, enhance and revitalise their village's unique ‘sense of place and identity', and also contribute to the formal planning and development system. The community in this village is an important sustainable asset in the long-term and the future for Julianstown looks extremely bright indeed," he said. "The new LAP Guidelines will enshrine the concept that local planning is best progressed by way of local participation and a partnership between the technical resources of the planning authority, the local knowledge of local communities and elected members, and use of external facilitators.