Development fees

spupazza · 14-11-2023 9:42am #1

Hi, I have bought a site in a residential area in which I'd like to build a detached house.

I've read some news about development fees being scrapped from April 2023 to April 2024. What I have not quite understood, is if these development fees are different (or additional) from development levies required to connect new homes with roads, water, and other services.

Thanks in advance for your answers.

yurtyaherne · 14-11-2023 9:57am

Development contributions are in respect of public infrastructure and facilities benefiting development in the area of the planning authority. You're basically paying a contribution towards infrastructure and other facilities. This might not go directly to works carried out in the immediate area of your proposed build but into a central fund that would benefit the whole county.

These contribution rate varies from local authority to local authority.

The current waiver is for all developments that commence between 25 April 2023 and 24 April 2024. A commencement notice would need to be lodged within this timeframe and construction started to avail of the waiver. The development must also be completed by 31 December 2025.

With it taking 12 weeks minimum to get planning permission (without any hiccups), and a minimum notice period for a commencement notice being submitted is 2 weeks before works can start, you would have to submit a planning application by mid-January at the latest and pray there is no further information request or appeals to ABP to avail of this waiver.

Leinster D · 15-11-2023 8:55pm

Hi all,

Thanks for the creating this thread and the info as I am in a similar situation.

I successfully received planning permission from DLRCC to build a small extension to a 3 bed semi detached home and permission was granted in April 2021. We received the date of commencement for October 2023 and we duly started the works already.

DLRCC are stating that as part of the planning permission, development contributions for conditions 7 (Surface Water), 8 (Transportation) and 9 (Community and Parks) are required and the total invoice I received for these contributions is €4,200.

Seeing as these fees will soon be waived, does anyone know if its possible do the council ever waiver ad-hoc cases on an exceptional basis, given the fees are now being scrapped, so this is more of a timing issue.

Thanks,

muffler · 15-11-2023 9:14pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121373203#Comment_121373203

You started works in October 2023 so whats the issue?

Leinster D · 15-11-2023 10:00pm

I think DLRCC state it still needed as application date predated this new regulation but open to correction here if anyone knows? We received an invoice anyway for the payment of these fees.

muffler · 15-11-2023 10:28pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121373423#Comment_121373423

The waiver applies when approved works commence after 25 April 2003 and before 24 April 2024 and is completed before 31 December 2025. I dont see an issue.

muffler · 15-11-2023 10:30pm

And if you dont believe me and the poster above then see for yourself here

Leinster D · 15-11-2023 11:10pm

Thank you so much. I will query again with DLRCC because I did initially and they advised the fees still applied. I will take it up with them again. Thanks

newhouse87 · 27-11-2023 6:25pm

Is this available to anybody building a one off house or just developers for councils?

muffler · 27-11-2023 7:45pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121425406#Comment_121425406

Do you mean applicable to anyone building a house? If yes then yes is also the answer.

Leinster D · 03-12-2023 2:38pm

Hi all,

By way of an update on this topic, I did query it with the county council and it looks like a refurbishment and extension of an existing dwelling falls outside the scope of the Temporary Time-Limited Waiver in respect of Development Contributions.

The guidelines for the Temporary waiver in respect of Development Contribution states that “Residential extensions or the refurbishment of existing vacant/derelict properties are not included in the waiver scheme as the measure is intended to help boost the delivery of new housing supply, address cost and viability issues faced by the construction sector, and incentivise the activation of new housing commencements.”

https://www.gov.ie/en/circular/9b113-circular-pl-082023-temporary-time-limited-waiver-in-respect-of-development-contributions-operational-guidance-for-local-authorities/

Regards,

D