Pre planning query?

Cliona2012

Hi all,

A nearby site is about to come to market soon. Before putting in a bid I'm interested in getting outline planning permission on the site and organising a pre planning meeting as a first step in the process.

I see that I need to have plans to show the planner at the pre planning meeting and to attach to the outline planning form. Obviously I haven't engaged an architect to design purely speculative plans. I was wondering, there's a nearby house that was built a couple of years ago and I would be interested in building something roughly similar. Could I get those plans from the Council website and use them for the above purpose? Also, say if there's another local house that was built a few years ago that I like the design of but not the size, could I use those plans for the meeting and outline planning application and say I'd be interested in these bit on an albeit smaller scale?

Finally, if given outline planning would I be tied to have the rooms located as specified in those plans, say if it was my preference to have the living area on the first floor rather than the ground floor?

Thank you

Clíona

muffler

Just to explain that outline permission is just permission in principle to build something (house in your case) on the site. When applying for it you wont need plans, just maps. Similarly for meeting the planner you wont need actual house plans as they will be looking at other aspects of the site such as sewage disposal, road safety, etc etc. Usually when outline permission is granted it will be conditioned with regards to the type of house that would be permitted when applying for full planning permission such as single storey, 1.5 / 2 storey.

Cliona2012

Thank you Muffler, I'm very grateful.

Is this the case with all councils? I only say that because I've been advised by others that I would need some plans for the pre planning meeting and the outline permission application.

In that case, given that there's a nearby house that was built a couple of years ago and I would be interested in building something roughly similar. Could I get those plans from the Council website and use them for the above purpose?

muffler

In the right order is a pre planning meeting (if its considered necessary) and then followed with an application for outline planning permission. If outline is granted you then apply again for full planning permission.

If the pre planning meeting is regarding a follow on application for outline PP then actual house plans arent necessary. But they could be useful to the planner to give them an idea of what you are actually proposing. A location map and rough sitte layout plan should be enough. I dont see any issue with downloading a copy of another house in the area for the purpose of showing to the planner. You can attend the meeting on your own however it is advisable to have some professional with you.

When you then apply for outline permission you will basically need to everything that would be submitted with an application for full PP with the exception of plans. You should engage an architect, technician or engineer at this stage.

If and when outline PP is granted and you get to the stage of applying for full PP you will then be submitting the whole lot again together with house plans. Again you will need a professional involved.

Cliona2012

Thank you again

So one final question please. In my case I haven't bought the site yet and would only be interested of I could get planning on it. At the pre planning meeting, would the planners usually be able to say if planning permission could be granted to me?

muffler

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121439361#Comment_121439361

They cant give you a definitive answer as it would sort of defeat the purpose of applying for planning permission and they also need to allow for reports during the official planning applications from various statutory bodies and their own engineers etc not to mention potential objections from third parties. However they do give you a fairly strong indication as to what way your application would be considered.

I would hazard a guess and say that probably about 90% of their opinions/views are upheld or approved when the official applications are determined. But just be warned that even if the planner is looking positively at your proposal doesn't necessarily mean that the official application will have the same positive outcome although the omens would be good in those circumstances.

I was thinking again about this meeting and I have never came across such a meeting for an outline planning application. Just make the decision now that you are going to talk to the planners about (full) planning permission for a house and you will get a much better idea about the whole thing.

Mellor

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121434516#Comment_121434516

From a planning point of view, there is noting stopping you using plans from an adjacent site to facilitate discussion with the council. But please bare in mind that the actual design is the intellectual property of the designer. Legally you can't simply take it, but unlikely to cause issue unless a commercial impact.