Planning permission for window reconfiguration in rural detached house

Ferney

Hi,

We are about to start a house renovation including a small extension that is exempt from requiring planning permission.

The house is detached, in a rural area and we have no visible neighbouring properties.

One of the existing bedrooms has a fairly big window on the side gable wall towards the back of the house and we are wondering if we can block this up and add two smaller windows a little bit further apart - it would help us with fitted wardrobe placement, we could then move the bed to the wall where the window is.

Alternatively, could we reduce the size of the window I.e shorten it so we could put the bed underneath it?

Do we need planning permission for any these two scenarios?

We would avoid doing it if so, we are on a tight timeline.

Many thanks.

Mentalina

well, new windows on a side elevation are typically allowed under PD without permission, provided they are of a similar appearance to the original windows on the house and don't result in an overall enlargement that breaches volume limits (unlikely for small windows)

muffler

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058425285/planning-permission-for-window-reconfiguration-in-rural-detached-house

If the window/windows are more than a metre from the side boundary then you are good to go.

Ferney

Thanks for the replies both. Would you know off the top of your heads the approx cost of blocking up the existing window and creating two new openings? It's on the upper floor so scaffolding etc would probably be needed. I'm imagining it would be expensive!

muffler

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123845657#Comment_123845657

Scaffolding wont be a huge extra cost but Im not sure what the overall cost would be. Location is a big factor.

Also just to note that I initially thought it was a bungalow you had but as its a 2 storied house then windows would have to be 11 metres from the side boundary in order to be exempt.

geographica

don’t apply for planning for it, nobody cares

muffler

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123845770#Comment_123845770

Very helpful 😕

bfclancy2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123845724#Comment_123845724

OP states they have no visible neighbouring properties

muffler

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123849860#Comment_123849860

I know but I mentioned that to confirm the exemption and to avoid others who might be reading taking the wrong view when considering something similar in their house but under different circumstances.

Just to add that since January 2024 the guidance for planners is to ensure 16 metre separation between windows in adjacent dwellings.

C3PO

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123845770#Comment_123845770

Until you go to sell!