Written answers

Tuesday, 27 July 2021

Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government

Planning Issues

Photo of Brendan GriffinBrendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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693. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will increase the extension dimensions permitted without planning permission on existing structures for first-time buyers by 100% or 400 sq ft to 800 sq ft in rural areas and 50% or 400 sq ft to 600 sq ft in urban areas as a measure to help incentivise the renovation of currently uninhabited or derelict properties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40413/21]

Photo of Peter BurkePeter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Class 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 2 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended (the Regulations), sets out the planning exemption provisions for house extensions, referred to as "development within the curtilage of a house", as follows:

“The extension of a house, by the construction or erection of an extension (including a conservatory) to the rear of the house or by the conversion for use as part of the house of any garage, store, shed or other similar structure attached to the rear or to the side of the house.” .

The use of the exemption is available to all houses whether occupied, vacant or derelict. However, the exemption is subject to a range of conditions and limitations set out in further detail in Class 1, which include factors such as:

- the size of the proposed extension, subject to specified limits;

- whether the house in question is terraced, semi-detached or detached; 

- whether the house has previously availed of the planning exemption;

- how much of the proposed development is at ground level or above ground level;

- impacts on the area of private open space within the curtilage of the house;

- the proximity of the proposed extension, including windows, to adjoining boundaries etc.

Any development of this nature which falls outside of the Class 1 exemption and the conditions and limitations attached to it are subject to planning permission. The exemptions provided for in the Regulations are kept under regular review and I have no plans to amend the Class 1 exemption provisions in this regard at this time.

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