Roche relaxes restrictions on one-off rural housing

Minister for the Environment Dick Roche has announced new measures aimed at easing restrictions on the building of one-off housing. The measures follow draft guidelines published last year by Mr Roche's predecessor Martin Cullen.

Under the new guidelines people will be allowed to build homes in environmentally sensitive areas as long as planning authorities are satisfied that the integrity of the area will not be adversely affected.

Minister for the Environment Dick Roche

The guidelines do not require the statutory designation of such environmentally sensitive areas to act as an 'inflexible' constraint on rural housing development.

Planning authorities will now be able to grant permission to build in cases where ill-health may require a person to live in a particular environment or close to family support.

The housing needs of returning emigrants will also qualify for consideration and they now will be able to apply for planning permission in their place of origin.

Speaking on RTÉ this morning, Mr Roche said the aim of the guidelines was to end inflexibility in the planning process and to bring an end to property speculation. He said the guidelines were an attempt to bring greater clarity to the process from the point of view of applicants and planners alike.

The Department of the Environment received 105 submissions from interested organisations and individuals in relation to Mr Cullen's 2004 draft guidelines and local planning authorities will now be required to ensure that policies on rural settlement are consistent with the policies as set out in today's guidelines.

The measures allow for improved customer service for planning applicants with a new emphasis being placed on improved co-operation between planning authorities and planning applicants themselves.

Minister Roche said the guidelines represented a "presumption in favour" of one off housing for rural communities, as long as applications meet satisfy requirements such as the disposal of waste water and road safety.

He said "planning for the provision of rural housing must recognise the strong and continuing tradition of people living in rural areas and should promote and support vibrant rural communities."

The Government is organising a series of regional seminars for planners on the practical implementation of the guidelines in conjunction with the local authorities and planning institutes.