All Local Authorities operate a Development Contribution Scheme to part fund the provision of public infrastructure and facilities in their administrative area.  All planning permissions are subject to this scheme, including permissions granted on appeal by An Bord Pleanála.

It is incumbent on the Planning Authority to correctly apply its scheme when calculating development contributions. However, it is McCutcheon Halley’s practice to review the conditions pertaining to development contributions and undertake an independent assessment to ensure the applicable contributions have been accurately calculated.

Where it is determined that the relevant contributions have been incorrectly calculated, McCutcheon Halley will advise on your options. The most frequently chosen option to resolve the error is to prepare a First Party Appeal to An Bord Pleanála against the financial contribution. Importantly, in such cases, and where there is no other appeal against the decision of the planning authority, the appeal will not result in delays to your development commencing, as the board can only deal with the matter under appeal and the Planning Authority must issue the grant of permission.

We have successfully secured reductions for a range of clients and achieved substantial savings, examples of which include €200,000 for a developer converting an office building to residential use.