Laois leader of Irish farmers backs changes to ‘rigid’ rural housing rules
Guidelines say 4,000-5,000 new single rural dwellings are built annually
New Government proposals on building homes in rural areas should help tackle “rigid and inconsistent” planning guidelines that have stopped local people from making their homes in their own communities, according to the IFA President Francie Gorman.
Launched on a farm in Co Louth, the IFA says the Draft Sustainable Rural and Gaeltacht Housing National Planning Statement is a positive step for rural Ireland.
The Association says the planning will also become less onerous for people whose job depends on living in a rural area, but this does not include remote working. It will cover sectors such as farming, equine, forestry, and teachers in local schools.
Planning will be granted on condition that the house is used as a permanent main home for at least ten years, and it cannot be used for short-term rentals during that time.
The guidelines say that an average of 4,000-5,000 new single rural dwellings are built annually. There were 4,842 such single dwelling completions last year, a rise of 10% on the previous year.
Mr Gorman said excessive planning restrictions that prevent access to housing have become one of the main barriers facing young people and families who want to live, work, and be part of a community in rural Ireland.
“We have pursued this issue for some time as it’s something that our members in every part of the country bring up. For too long, rigid and inconsistent planning guidelines have prevented people with genuine local and family connections from building houses and making homes in their own communities. The launch of today’s policy should go some way towards addressing this problem,” said the Laois man. MORE BELOW PHOTO.
Mr Gorman said the IFA would work with Ministers James Browne, Dara Calleary, John Cummins, and Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran to make sure this new policy delivers real benefits across all parts of rural Ireland.
There will be two main ways to qualify, where a person looking to build a new single rural house can show either a social or economic need. The draft changes outline that the standard rule in a rural area is that you have lived in that area for seven or more years at any point in your life, and you can build up to 10km from your current home. Stricter social need criteria may apply in areas under the most development pressure from nearby cities.
In city metropolitan areas, a person must have lived within 3km of the site for up to ten years, which is designed to stop rural areas from turning into commuter suburbs. In certain high-amenity areas, a person must have lived within 5km of the site for up to ten years. This is to prevent encroachment on desirable scenic areas, which are prone to holiday home use.
To qualify under economic need, a person must demonstrate that their main job depends on living in a rural area and that they need to live close to their workplace.
Authorities will no longer be allowed to place a blanket ban on infill, backland or ribbon development.