Planning permission query

addie

Hi, our house is quite old and has an existing downstairs bathroom (no upstairs bathroom). The bathroom is pretty grotty and small and we want to replace it and extend it a little. It's beside our kitchen so it will mean getting a wall moved, so that the already-small-kitchen is made smaller and the bathroom bigger.

Does anyone have any experience of doing this and is it something that we need to apply for planning permission for? I have a feeling that situating a bathroom beside a kitchen in a new property isn't allowed (I don't know why I think this) but that's where the bathroom has always been in our house, so surely extending it into the kitchen a bit won't need pp?

maidhc

http://oasis.gov.ie/housing/planning_permission/planning_perm_altering_a_house.html

addie

oasis.gov.ie wrote:

We cannot answer specific questions on whether or not your proposed development will require permission. Only your local authority can do this. The following information is just a general guideline but should prove helpful.

I have read through the pages on oasis already and while it is helpful, there is nothing there directly relating to internal bathroom extensions, which I believe aren't as straightforward as other household renovations in terms of planning permission exemption. Especially when it comes to bathrooms adjoining kitchens; I'm sure I've heard that certain planning / health & safety rules apply to bathrooms next to kitchens. Maybe only in the case of commercial properties, but if anyone has any thoughts, knowledge or experience on the matter, I'd appreciate it.

Ian147100

Ring your planning authority and ask them. Also take a look at the Planning and Development Act 2000 which is available on oireachtas.ie. Under the Act you can seek a formal declaration from the planning authority as to whether a particular project would be exempt or not, that's the safest way to go about it.

Idleater

Are you extending the outer perimeter of the house or just rearranging the internal walls?

I also have a house with this configuration of rooms. If your house is listed, you will have to get PP, or at least talk to the council. If it is not listed, then I think you can change the internals if you like, but bear in mind that it does not conform to current building regs.

L.

Victor

Are you doing internal changes only? If so, you only need PP if the house is listed.

While not desireable, I understand you can have a bathroom off a domestic kitchen, but only if its a single household, not shared or commercial. You would be best to look at the building regulations on www.environ.ie