planning permission for local needs

Barney224 · 12-08-2021 9:00am #1

Looking for some advice here. Myself and OH would love to build our own house, but we'd want to have it as eco-friendly as possible (e.g. passive heating, rainwater collection for toilets, super insulated, solar energy, etc.). We wouldn't want a huge house either, just something we could both retire in.

Looking at some sites around the county, I'm wondering how strict the councils are around planning for local needs? We wouldn't fall into the "local needs" category. Bu would we have a strong case if we were to apply with plans for such a build? Or are we wasting our time?

Penn · 12-08-2021 9:19am

They are very strict with Local Needs. It's one of the biggest things. Your best bet may be to buy an older, somewhat dilapidated house, and do it up to the standard you're looking for.

12-08-2021 9:28am

Local needs is very strict and getting stricter. Agree with @Penn your best bet is to buy an old house and renovate or add the extension you want. Otherwise buy a site in the parish you’re from or live somewhere rural (in same parish) for ten years and then apply under local needs. If you’re going to become local as in live somewhere for over ten years make sure it’s not near any large urban area or any area designated under significant urban pressure. I heard that it’s not so strict in Leitrim/Roscommon but you’d have to read the county development plan to find out.

Barney224 · 12-08-2021 9:40am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117741274#Comment_117741274

OK thanks. We actually live only 3km from the site itself, but not sure if that would entitle us? I still can't get my head around what "lcoal needs" means. It seems to be very unfair.

ascophyllum · 12-08-2021 9:48am

It is to dissuade people from building isolated houses which are disconnected from where they work/socialise/go to school etc.

It has become a problem in a lot of rural areas where people build a house and commute to a job an hour away every day, send their kids to a school far away and rely heavily on long car journeys for every aspect of their life.

If you work close by and are involved with the local community in whatever way then you have a 'need' for housing there.

12-08-2021 10:09am

@Barney224

If from elsewhere:

Are you living in the same parish as the site ? If you are how long have you lived there? Are you involved in local clubs /associations ? Over 10 years seems to be the thing and if you have children that they go to the local school.

If from the parish:

Are you from that parish as in went to primary school there? Are/were you involved in local clubs/ associations ?

They are the general criteria as far as I know.

12-08-2021 10:15am

@ascophyllum In my local once planning is granted they generally put a condition that the property can’t be sold on for a number of years to prevent people building and then selling on to make a profit. It is 25 min drive from a city so it’s designated under urban pressure.

12-08-2021 10:24am

@Barney224 If you own a house also you have no need for housing and this can prevent you from getting planning.

Barney224 · 12-08-2021 10:43am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117741488#Comment_117741488

No, I currently live in the adjoining parish and have been there for over 15 years.

I am invloved in the local residents' association and clubs. I have 2 children, but but grown up now and in college.

db · 12-08-2021 11:03am

Why do you need a house in that particular area? This is the question you need to answer in your application. As said above if you already own your own house you are unlikely to need another one unless there is some reason it is inadequate and cannot be improved. No planner is going to look at a design and grant planning if the local news reinvent requirements are not meet.

12-08-2021 11:55am

@Barney224 They regard local by parish so therefore you would not be local to your adjoining parish. As said if you own the house you live in you do not need housing.

hero25 · 12-08-2021 12:23pm

have had experience with this. ive found local needs is based on length of time youve lived in near proximity to proposed site, rather than parish rule. Depending on councils policy re high amenity areas ...in our case it was either 5km or 10km (as the crow flies) to the site .... and have you been living there for 10 continuous years, or born there etc

as other posters advise, if you have a house, why do you need a house! one way around this in our area, was the council looked favourably on down-sizing, i.e you may be able to build a smaller house than youre currently in. in our case it needed to be smaller by 100 square metres.

12-08-2021 12:34pm

@hero25 That makes sense, apologies for the mistake. In our case we already had a house So we knew we would not get planning as we had no housing need. So we bought an old house and renovated.

aodh_rua · 12-08-2021 1:38pm

You need to check the relevant county council's current development plan; it should have a rural housing policy and it will provide strict rules around who can build and where.

planning permission for local needs

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