Planning permission modular home

Hello2021

Can I ask why modular homes are sold in Ireland if planning is not granted for them. I rang KCC to inquire about it and was told they don't grant planning for them. I had not submitted any plans etc, I don't have a site, it was my 1st initial point of contact to make inquiries. TIA

Gumbo

Hello2021 wrote: »

Can I ask why modular homes are sold in Ireland if planning is not granted for them. I rang KCC to inquire about it and was told they don't grant planning for them. I had not submitted any plans etc, I don't have a site, it was my 1st initial point of contact to make inquiries. TIA

Modular building technology is a broad term.
There are many developments on the go in Dublin currently that are termed modular but to the layman, they wouldn’t know it.

OP, what is your interpretation of modular building and can you show us an example of your opinion to get a grounding.

Hello2021

Hi Gumbo, thanks for replying. I don't have details of any particular company, I am thinking of modular in terms of a "pop up house". I am trying to secure a home for myself and my daughter and am trying to see what options I have. My first thought was a modular house as I thought buying a site and one of these houses was a cheaper alternative for me especially because I live in a very expensive town in Kerry than buying a house. I suppose I was taken back by the answer no when I rang KCC, it was a clear no. I wasn't asked if I had a site, where was the site located, what size was the site, what size or description of the house. No questions were asked I was just told no. (sorry for long winded answer)

Gumbo

Hello2021 wrote: »

Hi Gumbo, thanks for replying. I don't have details of any particular company, I am thinking of modular in terms of a "pop up house". I am trying to secure a home for myself and my daughter and am trying to see what options I have. My first thought was a modular house as I thought buying a site and one of these houses was a cheaper alternative for me especially because I live in a very expensive town in Kerry than buying a house. I suppose I was taken back by the answer no when I rang KCC, it was a clear no. I wasn't asked if I had a site, where was the site located, what size was the site, what size or description of the house. No questions were asked I was just told no. (sorry for long winded answer)

Ok then when you have an interpretation of your version of modular, please post up.

There are no such thing as “pop up” houses that comply with our building regulations.

Metric Tensor

There is no blanket ban on any "house" type so the local authority should not technically have answered your question as a straight no.

However, they were able to read between the lines and actually gave you the answer to the question you wanted answered but didn't know to ask:

Your Question: "Can I get planning permission for a modular building?"
What I think you wanted to ask: "Can I buy, and live in, a glorified garden shed that doesn't meet the building regulations but the company selling it calls it a house?"

There are "modular" buildings, including houses, all over the country OP but to build one that complies with both planning and building regulations will cost more or less the same amount as building in any other style.

Hello2021

Thanks for both replies. Please bare in mind I am a woman who knows very little about building a house. I do not have a husband / partner or family member to advise me so thats why I have come on here. I do not need sarcasm. If I could afford a contractor to build me a house I would be going down that road. So my interpretation of a modular 'pop up house' is one like a 3 bed dromer or 3 bed bungalow that are sold by a Irish company Big Red Barn in County Mayo.

Gumbo

Hello2021 wrote: »

Thanks for both replies. Please bare in mind I am a woman who knows very little about building a house. I do not have a husband / partner or family member to advise me so thats why I have come on here. I do not need sarcasm. If I could afford a contractor to build me a house I would be going down that road. So my interpretation of a modular 'pop up house' is one like a 3 bed dromer or 3 bed bungalow that are sold by a Irish company Big Red Barn in County Mayo.

Just had a look at their products.
They look “cool”.

The site says nothing about compliance with building regulations. They state many times that there structure is guaranteed for 25 years. This is significantly less than what the Building Regulations require, specifics Technical Guidance Document Part A.

So let’s take it from the start,

First you have to get planning permission for the structure. These structures are all timber clad and have a specific design details so your planning permission for the structure. This is relatively straight forward, you lodge the planning and show the details. Once the planner likes the design (timber clad) then your ok. Not many do.

If you get planning, you now have to design it to comply with the building regulations. My opinion is these don’t.

Do you have a site sorted?
Do you have a budget to build?

I’m sorry if it was my posts that sounded sarcastic, that wasn’t the aim. It’s just we see these questions all the time and people think there’s some miracle house build design that’s cheaper than anything. But the truth is that it’s not, and that’s why you don’t see it being done in vast quantities.

Do you know anyone local that’s involved in the building/planning industry?
Maybe they can sit with you for 30 mins for a chat.

Hello2021

Hi Gumbo. Thank you for your reply and apology. I appreciate you taking the time to reply. I know there are a lot of mixed feelings about these style homes. I plan to contact a local builder with the same house design to compare the price. I am also in contact with the KCC about different schemes that are available to me, just waiting for someone to ring me back. She was supposed to ring last Monday! At this time I do not have a site or a budget. Everything is up in the air, I'm just trying to see what my options are. I see these lovely houses appear on my fb feed and think that might be a option.Thanks again.

Metric Tensor

Apologies if my post came across as sarcastic. Like many others here I'm tired of tactics used by companies who advertise on facebook and elsewhere making people think they can have a house built vastly cheaper than by the more common methods.

The simple fact is that if there was a cheaper way to build houses that complied with the building regulations everyone would be doing it already.

So any ire was not directed towards you OP - more the type of people who prey on people like you.

You need to get advice from a professional (architect, engineer, surveyor, technician, or such like) that will explain to you what is possible within your budget.

Gumbo

Hello2021 wrote: »

Hi Gumbo. Thank you for your reply and apology. I appreciate you taking the time to reply. I know there are a lot of mixed feelings about these style homes. I plan to contact a local builder with the same house design to compare the price. I am also in contact with the KCC about different schemes that are available to me, just waiting for someone to ring me back. She was supposed to ring last Monday! At this time I do not have a site or a budget. Everything is up in the air, I'm just trying to see what my options are. I see these lovely houses appear on my fb feed and think that might be a option.Thanks again.

The first conversation you have with this company in mayo is the following ;

Hi, I am just about to start the planning process for a new house and I like your houses design X. I am going to base my design on this house.

Please god I get planning permission, I will purchase house X from you. Can you confirm how I get certificates of compliance with planning and building regulations once you erect the house for me.

Who looks after the BCAR process?

I’d be very interested in their response to that question.

Hello2021

Thanks Gumbo for that info, it sounds like you know what you are talking about. I will post on here their reply.

Mellor

Hello2021 wrote: »

Can I ask why modular homes are sold in Ireland if planning is not granted for them. I rang KCC to inquire about it and was told they don't grant planning for them. I had not submitted any plans etc, I don't have a site, it was my 1st initial point of contact to make inquiries. TIA

The simple answer is that there is nothing, or very little, in planning law that dictates the construction method.

If a modular kit house met building regs, there is no scope for the council to refuse it based on it being a kit home.


But like others, I have doubts over the abilty of these cheap homes to meet the standard. They are basically sheds.

There are kit homes that meet the requirements. There was a semi-state partnership making them at one point. The standard was amazing, better than the average house. They were not cheap.

Gumbo wrote: »

The site says nothing about compliance with building regulations.

Ahem...

Built to International Building Code Regulations

:rolleyes:

Hillybilly4

Interesting though. I just dug a little deeper into that particular website and they say, "Our on-site engineers’ fees included – (they can create your plans and submit for planning)". Also that there is a rendered finish option. Also "Our factory-built homes meet all planning and building regulations and meet ‘Part L’ standards".

If it were me OP, I'd be asking them to put me in touch with some clients (after all, there are testimonials on their website) and do your own research. Engage the services of an engineer or builder with planning knowledge if you need. Finding a suitable, affordable site is a whole other ballgame!
Good luck.