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Planning issues - post them here MOD WARNING post #1

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  • Moderators, Regional North West Moderators Posts: 44,109 Mod ✭✭✭✭ muffler


    If Im reading that correctly I think what the planner is indicating is you cant have windows on the East or West facing walls at first floor level. Facing North is probably okay but if not by any chance can you use Velux? Is the roof sloped in that direction?



  • Registered Users Posts: 31 ArtieBucco


    Thank you muffler for the reply. I would hope to think so that is what the planner is indicating. Yes I can place rooflights on the north elevation as the extension roof runs parallel with the existing. I think I will go with the rooflight option to be safe.

    Thank you



  • Registered Users Posts: 17,553 ✭✭✭✭ Thargor


    Hi, Im sale agreed on a semi-detached in an estate, built in the 1970s. My surveyor just told me that the back extension is fine but the small bathroom/utility room extension at the side will require planning as its (barely) visible from the road. I can see from 2009 Streetview that it is more than 7 years old. Im a cash buyer so wont affect a mortgage but its still making me nervous for selling in future.

    Is retention easy to get on this kind of thing? Does retention get refused often? In Limerick if that makes any difference.



  • Moderators, Regional North West Moderators Posts: 44,109 Mod ✭✭✭✭ muffler


    For something small like that there wouldn't (generally) be a problem. If left unauthorised it would be an issue in any future sale.



  • Subscribers Posts: 38,391 ✭✭✭✭ sydthebeat


    in general a single storey side / rear extension isnt usually a planning issue (once its built away from the boundary, isnt unnecessarily high, loads of rear garden space retained etc)



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  • Registered Users Posts: 17,553 ✭✭✭✭ Thargor


    Oh wow really? Thats actually a major relief thanks, is retention much of an expense/hassle when I do get around to it?

    EDIT: Actually Im going to PM you both the listing, would you mind taking a second look please?



  • Subscribers Posts: 38,391 ✭✭✭✭ sydthebeat


    im obviously not giving you any guarantees here, just experience based opinion.


    and yes ill take a look for you.



  • Registered Users Posts: 17,553 ✭✭✭✭ Thargor




  • Moderators, Regional North West Moderators Posts: 44,109 Mod ✭✭✭✭ muffler




  • Registered Users Posts: 746 ✭✭✭ bemak


    [deleted]



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  • Registered Users Posts: 35 MrBumBum


    I bought a house 5 years ago. When going about buying it my solicitor found there was an issue where the skylights upstairs needed to be 20cm or so lower so as to provide an escape route.

    The seller applied for (and got) retention planning for it but didn't carry out the work. We only found that out on closing day and wanted to push on with the purchase so left it. We didnt carry out the work either and now want to sell.

    What way does this leave us fixed? Can we sell it on the open market?

    Can we sell upstairs as storage?

    Do we HAVE to carry out the work?

    Is there an expiry on retention where work has to be carried out?


    A lot of question, thanks in advance for any replies.



  • Moderators, Regional North West Moderators Posts: 44,109 Mod ✭✭✭✭ muffler


    I dont understand this. How could someone apply for retention permission and then not do the works? Was the application for permission to install the rooflights or permission to retain and then move them? Need clarity on this aspect.

    In any event you are pretty much in the same position as the vendor was 5 years ago



  • Registered Users Posts: 35 MrBumBum


    He didn't want the cost of carrying out the work but never told us that, we were under the impression the work was done.


    Permission to lower them enough to provide an escape route.



  • Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 16,806 Mod ✭✭✭✭ DOCARCH


    You could ignore the permission and build a step under the Velux?

    Edit: Having suggested the above, to be compliant, the bottom/cill of the Velux needs to be no greater than 1700mm from the edge of the roof (basically the gutter) for fire escape/rescue. The internal height can be overcome by adding a step.



  • Registered Users Posts: 35 MrBumBum


    None of them are within 1700mm, one in particular is probably closer to 3500mm



  • Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 16,806 Mod ✭✭✭✭ DOCARCH


    If they were lowered, as per the permission granted, would they be?

    If this in relation to an attic conversion? A single room or a number of rooms?



  • Moderators, Regional North West Moderators Posts: 44,109 Mod ✭✭✭✭ muffler


    If its that distance from the eaves then a single internal step will not work - assuming its a fairly average roof.

    I still havent got clarity on what type of permission was granted and for what? If a rooflight is 3.50m from the eaves then moving it by 200mm will have no effect from a fire escape point of view, again assuming a standard sized pitched roof.



  • Registered Users Posts: 35 MrBumBum


    It's 3 skylights in 2 rooms.

    a step would be no use as they are still not within the 1700mm from the eaves.

    I didn’t submit the planning , I just read it afterwards. It says they need to be lowered.

    the thread seems to be getting sidetracked a bit, my original questions were -

    Can we sell it on the open market?

    Can we sell upstairs as storage?

    Do we HAVE to carry out the work?

    Is there an expiry on retention where work has to be carried out?

    Yes, the planning is to lower them so as to provide an escape route, I didn't submit the planning , I just read it afterwards. It just says they need to be lowered.

    A step is no good, still need to be within 1700mm from the eave.

    The thread is getting sidetracked a bit, my original questions.

    What way does this leave us fixed? Can we sell it on the open market?

    Can we sell upstairs as storage?

    Is there an expiry on retention where work hase carried out?

    Post edited by DOCARCH on


  • Registered Users Posts: 746 ✭✭✭ bemak


    My understanding is you will be able to sell it as is if the room is identified as a storage room only and not an additional bedroom or habitable space. A lot of converted attics don't meet the minimum floor-to-ceiling requirement for habitable spaces anyway which means that they still need to be called up as storage even if they had adequate means of escape.



  • Registered Users Posts: 9 Schweizer


    Hi,

    I am currently contemplating the pro's and con's of submitting a complaint to the planning enforcement section of my local council regarding an unauthorised development which has just commenced in my locality.

    Not sure if this is universal but my local council offers the option to do this confidentially. This being Ireland and not wanting to get in the bad books with neighbours, I am wondering if anyone would know if there is a limit to it being confidential? Could a person uncover who made the complaint through a freedom of information (foi) request? If the enforcement action ended up in a court case could I be called to give evidence?

    Thanks in advance.



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  • Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 16,806 Mod ✭✭✭✭ DOCARCH


    As far as I aware, if copies of complaints to planning enforcement are sought under FOI, names/details of complainants are redacted, so it is a confidential process.



  • Registered Users Posts: 352 ✭✭ hkjohn


    if the local council issues someone with an enforcement order for an illegal structure and that someone then loses a retention appeal:


    • what steps will the council take to make them remove the structure? (FWIW, the someone in this case declined to submit a Bord na Pleanala appeal)
    • how long will it take the council to ensure the builder/owner in question obeys the enforcement order?


  • Registered Users Posts: 14,530 ✭✭✭✭ Poor Uncle Tom


    I have found that it varies from Local Authority to Local Authority, a lot of them don't have the stomach for chasing this stuff. I'm currently pushing one for a client and it's a nightmare with changing staff, new enforcement officers not knowing the legislation or not willing to enforce it.

    All these items should be dealt with smartly, 14 days for written replies, 28 days for actions, etc., Section 34 of the Act is the part yourself or your Agent should be studying. I'm lazing on a deck with a nice cold pint right now, soaking up the rays, and I'm not going deeper into it.

    Just to note, they can't lose and appeal, if they don't make an appeal. They can always modify their retention application and submit again, however a local authority can go ahead and take a case anyway, but like I said earlier, LA'S lack stomach for enforcement.



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