Do I need planning permission to add pedestrian rear access ?

Usjes

Hi,

I'm looking to buy in Dublin but I need pedestrian rear access which really narrows down my options. So I'm wondering if I need planning permission to add a door into my back garden wall ? I guess there are two scenarios:
1. A terraced house which already has a pedestrian/vehicular access lane running behind the terrace but for whatever reason the house I'm looking at doesn't currently have rear access; Can I just knock a hold through the back garden wall and install a door?
2. End of terrace house in a housing estate where a public footpath is just over the back/side garden wall; again can I just knock a hole in my garden wall and install a door?
Or would I need planning permission in either of these cases ?
I guess it really boils down to the question of do I own my garden walls and am I entitled to alter them ?

Also, just thinking, would the answer be any different if the house was in a private housing estate, like with maintenance fees ? In this case might my garden walls 'belong' to the management company and I would need their permission to make alterations even if planning permission wasn't required ?

Thanks,

Usjes.

Gumbo

Usjes wrote: »

Hi,

I'm looking to buy in Dublin but I need pedestrian rear access which really narrows down my options. So I'm wondering if I need planning permission to add a door into my back garden wall ? I guess there are two scenarios:
1. A terraced house which already has a pedestrian/vehicular access lane running behind the terrace but for whatever reason the house I'm looking at doesn't currently have rear access; Can I just knock a hold through the back garden wall and install a door?
2. End of terrace house in a housing estate where a public footpath is just over the back/side garden wall; again can I just knock a hole in my garden wall and install a door?
Or would I need planning permission in either of these cases ?
I guess it really boils down to the question of do I own my garden walls and am I entitled to alter them ?

Also, just thinking, would the answer be any different if the house was in a private housing estate, like with maintenance fees ? In this case might my garden walls 'belong' to the management company and I would need their permission to make alterations even if planning permission wasn't required ?

Thanks,

Usjes.

1. Possibly no planning required but it depend son the ownership of the lane and if you have any access rights to it. It may be privately owned and you will essentially have to pay the owner for access.

2. Planning required.

Usjes

kceire wrote: »

1. Possibly no planning required but it depend son the ownership of the lane and if you have any access rights to it. It may be privately owned and you will essentially have to pay the owner for access.

Well what's the typical situation with these access lanes ? See for example:
https://www.google.ie/maps/@53.3245069,-6.2544211,126m/data=!3m1!1e3
The terraced houses on Elmwood Avenue Lower and Elmwood Park both back on to the same access Lane and lanes like this seem to be quite common near the city centre, who generally own's these ? From walking up and down them it seems arbitrary, some houses have rear access and others don't but I wonder are they all entitled to add a back door without planning permission if they wish ?


2. Planning required.
How do you get information like this, is there some set of rules online somewhere that you can just consult ?

Thanks,

Usjes

Gumbo

Usjes wrote: »

Thanks,

Usjes

Experience and a small bit of knowledge of the Planning and Development Act. Lodging Planning Applications on a regular basis and been in that line of work. That is how most on here will advise.

But you will need to get advice on the ground. There are planning exemptions for access onto private laneways/roadways but you need to determine if it's private or public and if private, who owns it.

The lanes you linked to would appear to be private but you would have to check the land registers maps to ensure you have access or right of way onto the lane.

If they are private and you have a right of way, I would guess that planning would not be required in that case.

But still talk to someone on the ground.