Building a "Mews" house, How to go about seeing if Allowed/Possible?

optimusgrime

Hi Guys,

My mother lives in a pretty big detached house with a large back garden in the Dublin 6 area.

It's a very old house (a listed building I think) and is in pretty poor condition, also a nightmare in terms of heating etc.

What she'd like to do is to build a smaller well insulated etc house in the back garden and move in there, either selling or renting the original.

We have no idea how feasible this is, there is not a lane at the back of the house like a traditional mews house. The house is one of 3 in a row. The one next door was bought a few years ago and the guy that bought it build a house at the back of his garden (although it's not classed as a residence as far as I know). The 3rd house actually has a block of apartments built in its back garden, but it has access to a road at the side.

My mothers house has a garage to the right that if knocked down could provide access to the rear for building etc.

How would we go about finding out how feasible this is to do? Nobody in our family knows anything about planning permission etc?

Any advice would be much appreciated!

Thanks

TheRealPONeil

You need to get a competent architect on board who will engage the council in a "pre-planning consultation" to see how feasible this would be. Major points to consider are drainage, private open space, overlooking and traffic

optimusgrime

TheRealPONeil wrote: »

You need to get a competent architect on board who will engage the council in a "pre-planning consultation" to see how feasible this would be. Major points to consider are drainage, private open space, overlooking and traffic

Thanks for that. So there's nothing above that would leap out as being an insurmountable obstacle to this?

Any ideas where to find a "competent architect"?

Thanks

archtech

optimusgrime wrote: »

Any ideas where to find a "competent architect"?

By recommendation preferably . I'm sure someone here could recommend you by PM if you ask.

optimusgrime

archtech wrote: »

By recommendation preferably . I'm sure someone here could recommend you by PM if you ask.

That would be great if someone could recommend someone!

muffler

Recommendations by PMs only please.

OP, you could probably get the ball rolling on this initially yourself by checking the local development plan and have a search for similar applications in your area. You should be able to do this online by looking up your local council's web site and then proceed to the planning section.

Mellor

optimusgrime wrote: »

The one next door was bought a few years ago and the guy that bought it build a house at the back of his garden (although it's not classed as a residence as far as I know).

I'd say you are wrong here somewhere.
If its a house then its classed as residential.
It might not be a house of course. but it can only be one or the other, not both (and neither) at the same time

optimusgrime

Mellor wrote: »

I'd say you are wrong here somewhere.
If its a house then its classed as residential.
It might not be a house of course. but it can only be one or the other, not both (and neither) at the same time

Thanks for the replies and PMs guys.

Just on this I think he called it a chalet, though it is to all intents and purposes a small house, has bedroom, bathroom etc.

Lantus

When looking for an architect get one that has experience with doing this sort of thing and has done it before. You will also need legal input as you will need to seperate the two pieces of land by ownership and establish rights of access.

The biggest costs may well be services. Getting power, gas and drainage to a new site may well be expensive and depending on how far away they are may require substantial fee's to be paid to Eircom, ESB, etc. If these services cannot cope with such an upgrade (they may be really old or you may be in the country) you will need to contribute towards an upgrade. You can get quotes off all the bodies and your architect will advise on this.

Getting the planning right will be paramount and dependng on the origonal house building a second house that is sympathetic to it may well be an issue.

Modifying a listed house is a nightmare and a labour of love not to be undertaken by the lighthearted.

BryanF

I'm my experience of having done a few similar projects in the Munster/ Cork area, its often the access that's the real clincher + of course the surrounding neighbours:(

If I was you, I'd start making friends of your neighbours or at least outline the reasons you gave above for this proposed home, to your immediate neighbours (around the time you have your pre-planning meeting with the council):)

best of luck

Carlow52

A little off topic....

Explore the options for a new house at the back by all means but consider the following:
The legal costs of 'sorting out' both the plot at the back and the access from the front: will it be shared or will u need a separate 8 to 10 foot entrance at the road etc etc

Resolve and cost the power and sewage issues.

Decide on the spec of the new house and price it up.

Estimate the drop in value of the current house based on the above.

Then add it all up and see how much would need to be spent on the existing house to bring it up to scratch.

IMO a detached house in good nick with D6 with large garden will always have more value and appeal than what you are contemplating.

ps what orientation does the garden have: south facing perhaps