Protected structure - dispute with school

DumbBrunette · 07-09-2023 2:07pm #1

I'm in the parents' council of my son's school and we're trying to get the school to improve safety by providing a new pedestrian-only entrance. This would involve knocking a small part of the school's boundary wall. The school says they can't do that as the boundary wall and railings are protected structures so they wouldn't get planning.

I have 2 questions about this - one, how can I find out if the walls are really protected structures? Is there a listing or a register I can check? And two, would a small intervention like this require planning permission? Thanks!

muffler · 07-09-2023 2:46pm

Answer to both questions is yes. A bit of googling will get you the list of protected structures. Sorry, I haven't a link handy at the moment.

csirl · 07-09-2023 3:16pm

Local authorities have lists of protected structures in their areas.

DOCARCH · 08-09-2023 4:55am

Google RPS + whatever your local authority is and you should easily find a list of protected structures for your area. RPS = Record of Protected Structures.

If it is a protected structure, planning permission required, even for small interventions. Nothing is exempt for protected structures.

DumbBrunette · 09-09-2023 10:25am

Cheers, I have checked the RPS for my area, and it turns out the school was wrong. The school building and Chapel are on it, but there is no mention of the boundary walls. Thanks!

DOCARCH · 10-09-2023 4:58am

With a protected structure, it's not just the buildings that are protected, it's everything within the 'curtilage' of the site that is protected, which would include the boundary walls.

Mellor · 11-09-2023 1:26pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121088717#Comment_121088717

Unless the boundary walls are specifically excluded, they would be included by default as part of the curtilage.

A protected structure means they would need to apply for planning, but not necessarily that they wouldn’t get it.

AlanG · 11-09-2023 2:17pm

Is there a parents representative on the management board? They would be the person to follow this up. It's more of a board thing than a parents association. If management told you it is protected, you will come across very poorly to be going behind the boards back if they have given an answer. The PA in a schol has a very tight role and while many pricipals allow geaterinput they do not have to. Be careful how you approach this or you could lose all influence.

DumbBrunette · 11-09-2023 8:12pm

Thanks all for your replies 🙏

Protected structure - dispute with school

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