Public’s views on planning exemptions sought
The Government has opened a public consultation on proposed new rules on planning exemptions.
Under these proposed changes, an applicant would no longer need to apply for and obtain planning permission for certain types of developments.
The Department of Housing said that the changes were aimed at reducing the number of smaller applications that might no longer require a full planning-permission process.
It said that the move would also free up local-authority resources for larger-scale developments, particularly for housing, and allow home-owners to go ahead with small-scale projects more quickly.
‘Unblocking’ planning system
Under the review, proposed planning exemptions include:
- Attic conversions (including rooflights),
- Heat pumps,
- Sub-division of existing dwellings, and
- Detached habitable accommodation within the boundary of a main dwelling, to enable flexible housing for relatives or carers.
Housing Minister James Browne described the measures on exempted developments as “one strand of our determination to unblock the planning system, and the work of our planners, so they can focus on and support us to delivery housing at the scale required”.
He added that public submissions would be “a vital part” of the Government’s considerations as the new regulations were drafted.
The public consultation is available now for submissions and will run for four weeks until Tuesday 26 August.