New ROI minister proposes planning exemptions for cabin style homes in the back garden, and stage payments on the €70k vacant homes grant.
In this article we cover:
- What the new planning minister is proposing
- Key differences between current planning rules for extensions and new proposal for free standing units
- Who will benefit
- Timeline for any regulatory changes
- Contrasting views from critics
- Real world impact of planning enforcement
- Potential for stage payments in the Croí Cónaithe grant scheme to support first-time buyers
New planning minister John Cummins is considering making it easier to build modular and cabin-style homes in back gardens without needing planning permission to help tackle the housing crisis.
Right now, you can build extensions up to 40sqm connected to your main home without needing permission. But if you want to put up a detached structure, even if it’s the same size, they have to get approval. The new proposal would change that, allowing freestanding modular units to be built under the same 40sqm limit without the usual planning red tape.
At the moment, this proposal is still in the early stages. Minister Cummins mentioned in an interview on RTÉ’s Today with Claire Byrne that there will be a public consultation to gather feedback before any changes are finalised.
They’ll also reach out to other government departments to evaluate how feasible these changes might be. As it stands, there’s no specific timeline for when we might see new regulations, so we might be waiting a while.
Allowing people to build modular homes in their back gardens would not solve the housing crisis but would allow younger people to live “independently”, according to Mr Cummins.
The Minister of State said that while he does not see the move as a “rental measure”, he believes it could be a suitable option for some people.
“I see it as the ability of people to be able to have that intergenerational movement within their own community and for younger people to live independently,” he said.
If these changes go through, the exemptions would apply only to structures up to 40sqm. Anything bigger would still need full planning permission.
“I’m not saying that this is a panacea, that it’s the solution to the housing crisis. I’m saying that this is a potential option that will suit certain circumstances,” he said.
The Minister added that it would be down to local authorities to look after regulations for the dwellings – despite not being subject to planning.
“It’s a matter for the local authorities, in the context of ensuring that things are compliant with planning and building standards.”
“In the same way as if it…was attached to the main dwelling house,” he said.
The exemption plans may have come too late for Sean Meehan from Co. Tipperary who was ordered to demolish his mobile home clad in timber and is under threat of a custodial sentence for not taking down the house on his land near Cahir.
He was issued with a bench warrant on February 20, reports the Tipperary Star, when he failed to appear for his court hearing in respect of a planning enforcement case which was taken by Tipperary County Council.
In a post on “Save Sean’s Cabin Page” Sean’s daughter says that their legal representative told Sean not to attend on the day, however Judge Brian O’Shea opted to issue a bench warrant for Sean Meehan’s arrest.
Sean Meehan previously applied for “permission for retention” for a mobile home (presently cladded in timber as to appear as a log cabin), as well as two outbuildings and the use of same as a domestic storage.
It had been expected that the case would be adjourned until June with the possibility of planning laws changing over the coming months.
Stage payments for vacant home grants?
Separately, Minister for Housing James Browne is taking a look at the Croí Cónaithe grant scheme. This programme offers up to €70,000 to help refurbish derelict properties.
Right now, grants are only given out after all the work is done and paid for, which can be a barrier for first-time buyers. The Minister is considering ways to introduce staged payments, making this financial help more accessible for lower-income families.
The minister said: “The scheme is a really positive one – to bring life back into our towns and cities by bringing existing properties back into use. It’s also good environmentally for urban renewal.”
He added however: “It can be difficult for young families on lower incomes to avail of it as it requires everything to be paid upfront.”
So far, the proposals have gotten a mixed bag of responses. Both Sinn Féin and the Social Democrats have criticised the government’s focus on modular homes, arguing that we should be prioritising affordable housing instead.
Eoin Ó Broin from Sinn Féin acknowledged that while his party has pushed for more flexibility in planning, it’s crucial to have safeguards in place to prevent potential exploitation by landlords. Rory Hearne from the Social Democrats warned that these measures could lead to overcrowding and unsuitable living conditions, advocating instead for a focus on building permanent affordable homes.
