Chimney Stack Removal

coL · 06-04-2017 7:39am #1

Can anyone tell me if I need to apply for planning permission to remove a chimney from a dormer bungalow?

The house is located in the West Cork/Kinsale area and I plan to take the whole thing out from the very top right down.

Gumbo · 06-04-2017 12:24pm

coL wrote: »

Can anyone tell me if I need to apply for planning permission to remove a chimney from a dormer bungalow?

The house is located in the West Cork/Kinsale area and I plan to take the whole thing out from the very top right down.

Generally no, planning is not required.
The Chimney stack is a structural item that expels gases from the fire or similar, its not a planning issue*.

*based on my experience in Dublin.

DOCARCH · 06-04-2017 1:51pm

kceire wrote: »

Generally no, planning is not required.
The Chimney stack is a structural item that expels gases from the fire or similar, its not a planning issue*.
*based on my experience in Dublin.

I wouldn't bet on it!

While building a chimney is generally exempt from the requirement to obtain planning permission....removing one is not (specifically) exempt!

If the chimney is original to the house, and, the house is on a street with similar houses with chimneys, removing a chimney to one house can be 'out of character'.

By the way, this view/opinion is subsquent to discussion with a planner in DCC (on this particular subject).

So....the answer is....it depends....

DOCARCH · 06-04-2017 2:51pm

Just to add, as I stated above, removing a chimney is not (specifically) exempt.

The removal a chimney would have to be considered under Section 4(i)h of the Planning & Development Act.

That section states the following to be exempt:

Development consisting of the carrying out of works for the maintenance, improvement or other alteration of any structure, being works which affect only the interior of the structure or which do not materially affect the external appearance of the structure so as to render the appearance inconsistent with the character of the structure or of neighbouring structures.

So, if the removal of the chimney does not render the appearance (of the house) inconsistent with the character of the structure or of neighbouring structures , the removal of the chimney probably is exempt.

On the other hand, if the removal of the chimney does render the appearance (of the house) inconsistent with the character of the structure or of neighbouring structures , the removal of the chimney probably is not exempt.

Gumbo · 06-04-2017 3:28pm

DOCARCH wrote: »

I wouldn't bet on it!

While building a chimney is generally exempt from the requirement to obtain planning permission....removing one is not (specifically) exempt!

If the chimney is original to the house, and, the house is on a street with similar houses with chimneys, removing a chimney to one house can be 'out of character'.

By the way, this view/opinion is subsquent to discussion with a planner in DCC (on this particular subject).

So....the answer is....it depends....

Just to add to this.
Recent complaint to DCC about a chimney removal on a house overlooking the Dodder in D4. Plan Enf ruled it as a non planning breach and closed the file. Owner was speed removed the chimney.

But yeah, it depends I suppose.

BryanF · 08-04-2017 4:07pm

coL wrote: »

Can anyone tell me if I need to apply for planning permission to remove a chimney from a dormer bungalow?

The house is located in the West Cork/Kinsale area and I plan to take the whole thing out from the very top right down.

Can you confirm the year (~) the house was built?

coL · 09-04-2017 8:05am

Thanks for the responses and points of view.

The house was built around 1997 and is in a rural area. There are two slightly older houses beside it (not old style farm houses more 70s style bungalows). There are currently two chimneys so one would be left.

I presume its possible to talk to Cork county council informally to get their opinion to help make a decision?

Gumbo · 09-04-2017 8:07am

coL wrote: »

Thanks for the responses and points of view.

The house was built around 1997 and is in a rural area. There are two slightly older houses beside it (not old style farm houses more 70s style bungalows). There are currently two chimneys so one would be left.

I presume its possible to talk to Cork county council informally to get their opinion to help make a decision?

You could lodge a Section 5 Application to them.
It's basically asking them officially if the works require planning permission.

Download the form, buy the OS Map and include some photos clearly marking which chimney you want to remove.

They will give an official response afterwards.

coL · 09-04-2017 8:09am

How long does that usually take?

Gumbo · 09-04-2017 11:04am

coL wrote: »

How long does that usually take?

4 weeks give or take

BryanF · 09-04-2017 11:44am

coL wrote: »

Thanks for the responses and points of view.

The house was built around 1997 and is in a rural area. There are two slightly older houses beside it (not old style farm houses more 70s style bungalows). There are currently two chimneys so one would be left.

I presume its possible to talk to Cork county council informally to get their opinion to help make a decision?

You could get a local arch to review and provide a letter based on the legislation outlined above

Gumbo · 09-04-2017 4:21pm

BryanF wrote: »

You could get a local arch to review and provide a letter based on the legislation outlined above

+1 OP.
Have a look at the guys replying and see if anyone is near you and you may be able to work out something.

BryanF · 09-04-2017 4:51pm

kceire wrote: »

+1 OP.
Have a look at the guys replying and see if anyone is near you and you may be able to work out something.

(Not interested

)

coL · 11-04-2017 6:01am

I have asked the engineer that is surveying the property for me and he says I don't need planning permission. I wanted to see what everyone else thought and what the general consensus was.

Gumbo · 11-04-2017 6:22am

coL wrote: »

I have asked the engineer that is surveying the property for me and he says I don't need planning permission. I wanted to see what everyone else thought and what the general consensus was.

Ask him to then give you a certificate of exemption from planning regulations. This will show his true opinion on the matter.

jmBuildExt · 11-04-2017 7:44am

I just lodged section 5 application for same thing last week (in dublin 6w)
Does the site location map have to be official licensed OSI map - I printed mine off the OSI website... (map viewer geohive thing)

Gumbo · 11-04-2017 8:36am

jmBuildExt wrote: »

I just lodged section 5 application for same thing last week (in dublin 6w)
Does the site location map have to be official licensed OSI map - I printed mine off the OSI website... (map viewer geohive thing)

Did you buy the map or just screenshot it?

jmBuildExt · 11-04-2017 8:51am

No I defo didn't buy it - I just printed it straight from the website...
http://map.geohive.ie/mapviewer.html (thats where you get redirected to from osi.ie - when you click map viewer)

I assume they will ask for the proper map once they start processing my application.

Gumbo · 11-04-2017 10:30am

jmBuildExt wrote: »

No I defo didn't buy it - I just printed it straight from the website...
http://map.geohive.ie/mapviewer.html (thats where you get redirected to from osi.ie - when you click map viewer)

I assume they will ask for the proper map once they start processing my application.

You should have bought one from the OSi website.
You type in your address and they box out the paper size you require.

Don't know what the LA will do now, I depends on the person validating it I suppose to some extent. May be ok as its not a Planning Application.

This is the OSi map service - http://maps.osi.ie/publicviewer/#V2,578432,756724,0,10

jmBuildExt · 11-04-2017 10:45am

Cheers for that.

The form just said make sure you include;
"site location map with site clearly outlined in red"
...

Someone else actually said it to me about it having to be an OSI purchased map (since I sent it).
I saw somewhere else on the form or the website which says something like "you may be contacted for further information" so hopefully they do that instead of chucking it.

coL · 11-04-2017 11:45am

kceire wrote: »

Ask him to then give you a certificate of exemption from planning regulations. This will show his true opinion on the matter.

Can an engineer give that or does it have to be an architect?

Gumbo · 11-04-2017 2:01pm

coL wrote: »

Can an engineer give that or does it have to be an architect?

Yes, he/she can.

EK_1980_Dublin · 28-10-2021 2:10pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/103184836#Comment_103184836

How did it go for you? I'm about to lodge a section 5 application with exact same question myself.

jmBuildExt · 01-11-2021 2:19pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118085856#Comment_118085856

They didn't say anything about the map I provided.

RE the application, there were 3 separate items in and they addressed each.

the chimney was deemed not to be development.

In same application I had plans for extension. They found an issue whereby one of the windows were too close to boundary wall. We just fixed that in plans.

Then thirdly, we asked about external insulation, they said there was not enough info about original and new materials to give a decision. But they did not give the opportunity to provide more info. I didn't follow it up

Chimney Stack Removal

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