As an Architect, there are 3 questions that Clients invariably ask when we first meet to discuss extending or renovating their homes:
‘Do I need to apply for Planning Permission for the changes I want to make?’
‘What’s involved in making an application?’
‘How long does Planning Permission take?’
I’m dedicating an article to each of these topics which I hope will shed light on any questions you may have about your own home and extension project.
It is not always necessary to apply for Planning Permission when carrying out work to your home. Under current Irish planning legislation, you can add up to 40m² (430ft²) to the rear of your home, subject to certain restrictions, without having to apply for planning permission – this is known as Exempt Development.
The Exempt Development guidelines relating to housing have been developed to permit small, relatively straightforward projects to go ahead without the need for a formal application. This allows Planning Departments to focus time and resources on larger scale, complex projects which may have a more obvious impact on the local built environment.
The guidelines place restrictions on what is possible without an application in terms of floor area, height of walls, height of roofs, distance from boundaries etc., to ensure that the proposed alterations do not have a negative impact on the existing house or on neighbouring properties.
So what kind of work can you do around your home without having to apply for planning?
- Ground floor extensions to the rear of the house of up to 40m² (430ft²) - any previous extensions will be counted as part of this additional floor area, unless they were built before 1964;
- First floor extensions to the rear of the house up to 12m² for terraced or a semi-detached houses and up to 20m² for detached houses;
- Front porch of up to 2m² (22ft²);
- Demolish existing extension or outbuilding but not an existing house;
- Garage conversion to side or rear of the house, for use as part of the house;
- New garage to side or rear of the house;
- Walls, fences and gates up to 1.8m high;
- Internal alterations;
- External painting & repairs, as long as they don’t change overall appearance of the house;
- Chimney or boiler house;
- Paths, ponds and patios;
- TV Aerial or Satellite Dish to side or rear of the house.
This is not an exhaustive list and further information can be found in the DoEH&LG Leaflet PL5: ‘Doing Work Around the House – The Planning Issues’, available for free on their web-site.
It is worth noting that all of the above items come with restrictions – the Exempt Development guidelines do not give carte blanche to completely change your home. I would always recommend working with an Architect when planning the changes to your home – and not just because I’m an Architect! What an experienced Architect brings to the process is the experience and ability to guide you through the various guidelines, as well as the skills to make the most of the space you have and to help you make the changes that are right for you. See also The Pros & Cons of Exempt Development.
If the work that you want to do to your home doesn’t fall within these categories then you will most likely need to apply for planning permission and I would recommend contacting your local planning department, in the first instance, to check if this is required.
For an example of what could be achieved without applying for Planning Permission, take a look at the Case Study at www.livingroom.ie
If you already know that you need to apply for Planning Permission, then take a look at the other articles in this series, for more information:
What’s Involved in Making an Application?
How Long Does Planning Permission Take?
The Pros & Cons of Planning Permission
Did you find this article useful? Please leave a comment to let us know your thoughts on the subject and also any other home improvement issues you’d like to know more about.
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