Planning exemptions for backyard cabins 'will not work' in Laois

A Laois TD has argued that the Government’s new regulations for backyard cabins and small dwellings are “not practical” for most homes in the county.

At the end of July, new planning exemptions came into effect which allow homeowners to build small dwellings on their property.

These dwellings are only subject to planning exemptions once they are between 32 square meters and 45 square meters in floor area.

Such regulations had not been substantially updated in almost 25 years and the changes made now are said to be motivated by the “practical need for homeowners to maximise the efficient use of residential space through enhancements, expansion or adaptation.”

However, Laois TD Brian Stanley has argued that the new regulations will “not work for most Laois households.”

“These have been poorly thought out by the Government and are not practical in most cases. The Government needs to go back to the drawing board,” the Independent TD said.

“While they allow for cabins up to 45 square meters to be placed in back gardens and yards, where there is space to do so, the combined size of existing sheds, garages, stores or greenhouses is taken into consideration as part of the total 45 square meters floor area allowed.

“So, the practicalities of this are that if you already have a shed, store or a garage of 25 square meters for example, the floor area of the cabin that you will be allowed to build would be 20 square meters maximum. This would amount to one room and that is totally impractical.”

Deputy Stanley added: “The outworkings of this will be, if you have an existing garage, shed or store etc it would have to be demolished to allow for a 45 square meters cabin. As most Laois households would have stores or garages for fuel and other purposes, this is simply not practical.

“I already have constituents who have very large back gardens, and they are finding that they are in a situation where they can’t provide one of these small dwellings in their back garden for elderly relatives or family members.”

The Laois TD noted that a number of other issues need to be addressed within these new regulations, such as waste water, the use of existing septic tanks and percolation areas.

He also called for greater clarification on access roads that are national or regional roads.

Deputy Stanley concluded: “The Government has rushed ahead with this as a good news story. I estimate for up to 80 to 90% of Laois households the new regulations simply will not work.”

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme