Local needs - Query re Green Cert (Westmeath)

Nux

Hi all,

I'm looking to build in Westmeath and for the most part you need local needs to do that.

There are some areas where that does not apply or is not enforced as such:

Now I'm not from Westmeath but my family on my mother's side are.

I now currently rent in Westmeath and have two children in school here for the last year.

Nearby my uncle has a farm that I help on and is willing to sell me a site to build on too. (local needs area in green above)

I was wondering if doing a Green Cert would help my case with regards to local needs? (from the link above)

Local Housing Need
Permit residential development in areas defined ‘Rural Areas Under Strong Urban Influence and Stronger Rural Areas’ subject to the following circumstances:

1. Persons who are actively engaged in agriculture, horticulture, forestry, bloodstock and peat industry,
2. Members of farm families seeking to build on the family farm,
3. Landowners for this purpose being defined as persons who own the land 5 years prior to the date of planning application.
4. Persons employed locally whose employment would provide a service to the local community,
5. Persons who have personal, family or economic ties within the area, including returning emigrants
6. Persons who wish to return to farming and who buy or inherit a substantial farm-holding which is kept intact as an established farm unit, will be considered by the Council to be farmers and will be open to consideration for a rural house, as farmers. Where there is already a house on the holding, refurbishment or replacement of this house is the preferred option.

The local area for the purpose of this policy is defined as the area generally within a 10km radius of the applicant’s family home.

I have already spoken to a local Architectural Consultant, they have never heard of the Green Cert. They suggested the obvious buy a site with derelict property or buy a house outright.

Property for sale is scarce enough around here.

Any thoughts?

Also if a site is for sale and already has planning on it for a home does local needs still apply for the purchaser? I know there's a term for it but I can't recall.

Thanks!

Nux

Oh I omitted I'm not in Agriculture myself, I work in IT from home.

Thx

lmk123

Don’t waste your time and money doing the green cert for planning, it costs over €3k and will take about 3 years from when you sign up until you get the cert. Anyway, if you want to convince them that you intend on farming / are an active farmer you don’t need a green cert to farm / set up a herd number. Green cert is more for tax, entitlements and grants for young farmers. If you really want to take this approach, rent a field or 2 from him, put up a makeshift crush and shed and get a herd number, I’m not saying they’ll accept a herd number as proof of being an active farmer but in my view is more proof than a green cert which just shows that you completed a course, might be a waste of time I’d say but would be faster and cheaper than doing the green cert.

sydthebeat

the important word here is "actively"

Persons who are actively engaged in agriculture, horticulture, forestry, bloodstock and peat industry

if you apply for planning and only show a newly qualified green cert, and probably no farming contract, and no agricultural lands in your ownership, then you wont be complying with that requirement.

FJMC

If you are struggling to satisfy the local criteria a new dwelling on your uncle's farm or similar might be a non-starter.

You could get a site with benefit of planning but need to check it does not have any restrictive conditions.

Are there any vernacular buildings on your uncles farm that you could look at - or even a derelict house that could be brought back into use?

F