Buying potential site for holiday home in Donegal (From NI)

First of all you should check the position regarding holiday homes in the Donegal County Council Development Plan 2018-2024 where emphasis is placed on using existing housing stock or derelict properties. Actually here is the relevant extract from the development plan ...

"Holiday Homes: With regard to holiday home developments, the supply and development of new houses to meet demand from this market only provides a short term benefit to the local economy, and it can add to the strain on local infrastructure and disproportionately affect the ability of members of the local community to acquire affordable sites for themselves. The focus in the Donegal County Development Plan 2012-2018 (As Varied) had been to manage the growth of holiday homes in an attempt to maintain a balance in terms of meeting rural generated housing need and tourism potential over a longer time period. However, given the levels of housing vacancy that currently exists in the County and the objective to support genuine rural housing need, this Plan focuses on satisfying the opportunity for holiday homes in rural areas only through the use/re-use of the existing housing stock or via the refurbishment of derelict buildings."

Log cabin type structures are generally frowned upon as are a lot of timber clad houses. But location does have a bearing. Whatever you decide make sure you get planning permission first before buying any land or houses. Just remember a plot of ground in a field is NOT a site until such time as it has been officially approved for development.

One of the DIY building magazines used to always carry the sage advice about buying plots:

A field with planning permission is a plot (site).

A field without planning permission is just a field!

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