Alan Harford of Fairy Hill Farm is among seven farmers to have lost An Bórd Pleanála appeals against inclusion in the RZLT to date. A further 569 decisions are set to be published by the board in the coming months. Harford appealed Fingal County Council’s decision to include 3.2 acres of his farm, where he grows Early London cauliflowers for the domestic market, in a map of residential zoned land eligible for the new RZLT tax. However, An Bórd Pleanala has rejected his appeal.
The Residential Zoned Land Tax, part of the Government’s Housing For All plan, is supposed to prevent land-hoarding by developers and release residential zoned land for housing. However, farmers near urban centres, who are farming on land that is zoned residential, say they face tax bills that will put them out of business. Rush, where 70% of Ireland’s market gardening happens, has seen several appeals, with other areas including Kerry Pike near Cork City.
Source: irishexaminer.com
