Advice for site purchase ar we crazy?

ABC89

Myself and my other half are looking at buying a .4 acre site at auction in the near future which is located in a town in Co. Meath. The site has decent road frontage and has a gated entrance onto a 50/60kmph road. The site has no planning permission and has never been refused planning in the past. There are individual houses either side of it and across the road. There is a housing estate at the rear of the site.

We would hop to apply for local needs planning as the site is less than 5 miles from both our parents houses and were we both grew up primary/secondary schools etc.

The site is with the A1 zoning for the area.

Are we crazy thinking we can build on such a site?? Or is it worth a punt?? I know you guys cannot say if we will get planning as that is impossible to predict, but I am just looking for peoples opinions as to why we would or wouldnt get planning as this would greatly help me with my decision.

Cheers

JimmyMW

ABC89 wrote: »

Myself and my other half are looking at buying a .4 acre site at auction in the near future which is located in a town in Co. Meath. The site has decent road frontage and has a gated entrance onto a 50/60kmph road. The site has no planning permission and has never been refused planning in the past. There are individual houses either side of it and across the road. There is a housing estate at the rear of the site.

We would hop to apply for local needs planning as the site is less than 5 miles from both our parents houses and were we both grew up primary/secondary schools etc.

The site is with the A1 zoning for the area.

Are we crazy thinking we can build on such a site?? Or is it worth a punt?? I know you guys cannot say if we will get planning as that is impossible to predict, but I am just looking for peoples opinions as to why we would or wouldnt get planning as this would greatly help me with my decision.

Cheers

You may have a problem with ribbon development, rows of houses outside settlements are not desired by the council and they will avoid if possible. Also do you have a housing need, have you other ties to the area like permanent jobs locally etc?

ABC89

JimmyMW wrote: »

You may have a problem with ribbon development, rows of houses outside settlements are not desired by the council and they will avoid if possible. Also do you have a housing need, have you other ties to the area like permanent jobs locally etc?

I work in dublin however my partner works in meath about 10k from the site. We would have 5 or 6 relatives living within 5 miles ( brothers/sisters/uncles/parents ). I am involved with the local boxing club and have been involved with other clubs in the area over the years.

We have never owned a house before and have rented close to the site foe almost 3 years.

I will look up the development plan to get a better understanding of ribbon development.

BryanF

Site should only be purchased subject to planning

Planning will cost 3/5k that's the 'cost' of the 'punt'

Attending a pre-planning with your architect will help reduce this 'punt'

But ulitmately parts of Meath are seen as commuter belts and as such one-off rural housings is strictly controlled.

A relative of mine was refused near maynooth, parents house/ farm was quiet close..

Your girlfriend is working in a local town? You work in Dublin, the councils argument will be why aren't Ye looking for a house in an existing urban settlement..

ABC89

BryanF wrote: »

Site should only be purchased subject to planning

Planning will cost 3/5k that's the 'cost' of the 'punt'

Attending a pre-planning with your architect will help reduce this 'punt'

But ulitmately parts of Meath are seen as commuter belts and as such one-off rural housings is strictly controlled.

A relative of mine was refused near maynooth, parents house/ farm was quiet close..

Your girlfriend is working in a local town? You work in Dublin, the councils argument will be why aren't Ye looking for a house in an existing urban settlement..

I dont think that it is possible to by this particular site subject to planning as it is going to auction.

JimmyMW

ABC89 wrote: »

I work in dublin however my partner works in meath about 10k from the site. We would have 5 or 6 relatives living within 5 miles ( brothers/sisters/uncles/parents ). I am involved with the local boxing club and have been involved with other clubs in the area over the years.

We have never owned a house before and have rented close to the site foe almost 3 years.

I will look up the development plan to get a better understanding of ribbon development.

Id say you will have a difficulty showing your "need" to live in that area, they may view it that your housing need is best served elsewhere when both of ye are technically commuting. Its definitely risky, especially when its A1 zoned as this is the most restrictive area in the Green Belt. Is it money that is worth gambling? IMHO its only something that should only be considered if you can afford to have the money tied up on a site that you may not get planning on.

ABC89

JimmyMW wrote: »

Id say you will have a difficulty showing your "need" to live in that area, they may view it that your housing need is best served elsewhere when both of ye are technically commuting. Its definitely risky, especially when its A1 zoned as this is the most restrictive area in the Green Belt. Is it money that is worth gambling? IMHO its only something that should only be considered if you can afford to have the money tied up on a site that you may not get planning on.

I think with the info I have received so far I am still interested in the site however I may gamble less money on it.

It really is our perfect location but I did not know that A1 zoned was most restrictive for planning.

sydthebeat

if its being sold "as is" without a "subject to planning" condition then treat it as a piece of agricultural land and put a value on it from there....
at the moment its a field, its not a 'site' and its dangerous to think as such.

JimmyMW

ABC89 wrote: »

I think with the info I have received so far I am still interested in the site however I may gamble less money on it.

It really is our perfect location but I did not know that A1 zoned was most restrictive for planning.

Most restrictive in the Green Belt, the RHCZ is more restrictive again

ABC89

JimmyMW wrote: »

You may have a problem with ribbon development, rows of houses outside settlements are not desired by the council and they will avoid if possible. Also do you have a housing need, have you other ties to the area like permanent jobs locally etc?

With regard to ribbon development, I see that this is a no go in a rural area.
Would the likes of Asbourne/Ratoath be considered Rural and have the same rule applied?

Strolling Bones

Outside the towns - yes.
But you can always ask for a pre planning meeting with MCC.
In the meantime look around for fixer uppers.
eg find on old land commision cottage 60m2 extend + 200m2 with permision but without "needs" rigmarole

JimmyMW

ABC89 wrote: »

With regard to ribbon development, I see that this is a no go in a rural area.
Would the likes of Asbourne/Ratoath be considered Rural and have the same rule applied?

Anything outside a development boundary is going to be considered rural, A1 is in the green belt and is definitely considered rural, I would think from the info you have given your chances of planning here are very low, sorry mate.

db

If the site does not have mains sewerage you can connect to, .4 acre may be too small for on-site treatment. As has been said above, if it is not being sold subject to planning then it is just a field.

cocoman

ABC89 wrote: »

Myself and my other half are looking at buying a .4 acre site at auction in the near future which is located in a town in Co. Meath. The site has decent road frontage and has a gated entrance onto a 50/60kmph road. The site has no planning permission and has never been refused planning in the past. There are individual houses either side of it and across the road. There is a housing estate at the rear of the site.

We would hop to apply for local needs planning as the site is less than 5 miles from both our parents houses and were we both grew up primary/secondary schools etc.

The site is with the A1 zoning for the area.

Are we crazy thinking we can build on such a site?? Or is it worth a punt?? I know you guys cannot say if we will get planning as that is impossible to predict, but I am just looking for peoples opinions as to why we would or wouldnt get planning as this would greatly help me with my decision.

Cheers

If the site is not connected to the public sewer and you have to install your own treatment system then you may have a problem. Generally the minimum site area would be 0.5 acres.

Best option would be to get a map and arrange a meeting with the county council area planner. They wont give you a definite answer but may give you a general indication if it's a runner.

JimmyMW

db wrote: »

If the site does not have mains sewerage you can connect to, .4 acre may be too small for on-site treatment. As has been said above, if it is not being sold subject to planning then it is just a field.

Very true, 0.6 acre is the minimum for a septic tank if my memory serves me right

Chisler2

ABC89 wrote: »

I think with the info I have received so far I am still interested in the site however I may gamble less money on it.

It really is our perfect location but I did not know that A1 zoned was most restrictive for planning.

Go to a pre-planning meeting before you take any decisions. The advice from the CoCo Planner is free, unbiased and does not commit you to anything.