Growing vegetables and house-swapping : two of An Taisce’s solutions to Ghost Estates

An Taisce, the private member-funded organisation designated with providing input to planning and development decisions, and whose motto is “Preserving our built and natural heritage for future generations” has chipped in to the debate over the future of so-called Ghost Estates (built or part-built housing estates from the boom which remain completely or substantially unoccupied).

Using the Ghost Estates as allotments for growing vegetables and house-swapping (where a partly-occupied Ghost Estate is de-peopled by swapping them with housing in more occupied areas) are two ideas floated in An Taisce’s latest (May) newsletter which will be available here – the proposals have been referred to an An Taisce advisory committee on NAMA which might explain why the newsletter is not presently available online.

However, An Taisce has also called for greater openness and transparency at NAMA in respect of property holdings and Ghost Estate proposals and that call will attract widespread support. Without a Business Plan, published Codes of Practice, exclusion from the Freedom of Information Act and very limited updates on operations, NAMA is at risk of cutting short whatever honeymoon period the brave efforts of its personnel may have secured.