Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Areas of concern for
planners
Procedure in Ireland differs from that in the
UK. In Ireland, the local council takes the
decision, taking objections into account,
after which building must not commence for
one month. During that month, objections
to the council's decision can be lodged,
on payment of a fee, with an independent
board. The board then makes its final
decision based on the council's decision
and the arguments of the objectors. Beyond
this there is a government appeals system
to which you can refer if the decision is
unfavourable.
What does it look like?
All local authorities will be concerned
primarily with this question. In general, your
building must fit in with local surroundings:
it usually has to look similar to others in the
locality and not be an eyesore. Of course,
what we each define as eyesore can vary
dramatically! Some think concrete bungalows
are beautifully modern, and others hate
them. In areas of the Pennines, for instance,
all houses must be built of local stone.
However, some developers have argued
successfully that it is acceptable to build
out of concrete that looks like stone. And
there's at least one strawbale building in
that area that has planning permission on
the condition that the outside render is
stone-coloured. This illustrates really well
the possibilities for negotiation that exist
within any planning policy.
In the UK the local authority makes the
decision, based on its policies and any
objections raised. If the decision is unfavour-
able it can be appealed against through a
government process.
There are some instances when planning
permission will not be required, or will
be given automatically once the planning
department has been notified. These are
called permitted development rights. This
may be because what you plan to build is
small enough not to require permission, or
because it is within your 'curtilage' (garden
area), or because you are building an exten-
sion - as long as you or previous owners
haven't done so before, you are allowed to
build up to a certain percentage of the size
of your existing house. Listed buildings or
those in designated areas may have more
restrictive planning policy applied to them
in order to preserve our built or environ-
mental heritage.
What will it be used for?
The purpose for the building is important.
Are you going to live in it; open it as a shop;
store machinery in it; hold band practices?
Does it require access for vehicles and a
means of dealing with sewage and waste
water? Is there a risk of flooding, or
vandalism?
What you do in the building has implications
for wider services and the impact you'll
make on the social and physical environment.
Just because you want to live on a green-
field site and make little impact on the
