Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Fresh data from the Construction Information Services highlight that the planning backlog is delaying the delivery of about 65,000 new residential units due to being tied up within the planning appeals, judicial review, and strategic housing development processes. To put that in context, that is two years' worth of homes being delayed. In my constituency of Louth and in Meath East, I receive calls weekly regarding planning permission rejections. From 2021, Louth County Council’s planning permission requirements in rural areas, in comparison with the rest of the country, are strict and restrictive, especially in relation to local needs requirements. While the population and housing in County Louth will grow by about 20%, the statistics in the Louth county development plan state that housing in rural areas will only be permitted to grow by 9.4% from 2021 to 2027, greatly impacting rural communities.

Earlier this year Irish architects claimed that a new model of housing density could more than double the number of own-door dwellings on a site. The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland wrote to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, calling for low-rise medium-density housing along the lines of models employed in Sweden, Finland, Australia and New Zealand. The housing market centres on high-rise, high-cost and build-to-rent schemes. That can be changed by ministerial directive by consulting on new guidelines for housing design to meet the need for more diverse and smaller households and, in doing so, we can unlock the potential to deliver twice as many homes on the same locations.

I have previously proposed the use of modular homes as an alternative and innovative housing design to support greater flexibility, to allow for more compact and sustainable forms of development and to provide greater housing choice. The proposed motion is calling for a review of the rural design guide, which will include design guidance on modular homes, with specific reference to log cabins. A clear planning policy on building log cabins could go a long way to addressing the housing crisis. County councils generally only grant permission for such homes to be constructed on the edge of forests. At present, in the midst of a housing crisis, hardworking individuals who are taking the initiative to build low footprint and sustainable log cabins on their land are being met with unreasonable obstacles and unfair uphill battles with local authorities to obtain planning permission. The council should define a clear planning policy with respect to the construction of log cabins in rural areas.

Log cabins can be used as people’s primary residence at a time of housing shortages, rent pressures and pending evictions. They are a relevant solution, particularly considering rising construction costs. They can be constructed quickly and efficiently from €60,000 to €80,000, are eco-friendly, and are relatively cheap to heat. Young couples who cannot afford concrete homes are increasingly seeking this cheaper option to get a foot on the property ladder. To take full advantage of these benefits, easing planning restrictions could help make log cabin construction more accessible and affordable for those interested in this type of housing.

I have been contacted by a number of constituents who had planning applications for log cabins refused. These applicants live in rural areas but not next to forests. As a result of the refusals, the council itself will soon have to house them.

Overall, Irish planning laws are outdated and almost impossible to navigate when it comes to obtaining planning permission for log cabins, leaving individuals facing insurmountable obstacles. Despite some progress being made on housing supply, we believe the Government should be open to new thinking and new initiatives which will help to address the current chronic housing shortage. The provision of log cabins is a response to the housing crisis and should be supported, not inhibited, by planning regulations. It is absurd that the current overly burdensome restrictions on log cabins in rural areas are still in place when the country faces a growing homelessness crisis and needs up to 62,000 homes built per year until 2050 to meet demand. Failure to intervene and to support the provision of log cabins will mean that many more people will go into homelessness.

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