Leitrim councillor’s housing proposal to be discussed by Government Ministers

Government Ministers are set to discuss proposed changes to planning permission rules that would allow detached modular homes to be constructed in back gardens.

This initiative was brought forward at a Council level by Cllr Justin Warnock during a meeting of Manorhamilton Municipal District in January, where he called on the Minister for Housing to implement a five-year planning derogation for mobile homes. The proposed change would allow these homes to be connected to the septic tank and services of the existing family residence.

The proposal being considered today by Minister of State for Planning John Cummins, along with Minister for Housing James Browne, aims to allow detached modular homes of up to 45 square metres, built within a back garden, to be exempt from the need to apply for planning permission.

The unit must comply fully with building regulations, and at least 25 square metres of residual private garden space must be preserved. Additionally, the unit must be set back from all boundary walls.

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Under the current regulations, rear extensions to a property are exempt from planning permission provided they do not exceed 40 square metres and remain attached to the main dwelling.

A four-week public consultation on the matter is set to commence from today.

Modular and mobile homes are becoming increasingly common across Ireland, with many young individuals and couples choosing to live in them for several years in order to save for a mortgage. Once they secure a mortgage and purchase a home, they often sell the modular or mobile unit.

When Cllr Warnock introduced the initiative in January, he described it as “an opportunity to stop penalising our young people,” stating that, in light of the ongoing housing crisis, local authorities are not in a position to block such practical solutions.

“People’s children are coming back from Australia and buying mobile homes, so they can put enough money together to build or buy a house. I don’t think that given the housing crisis we’re in, that any local authority is in a position to take them to court to put them out,” Cllr Warnock said.

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“Even if it’s only 20 metres from the family house, it’s their own independence, it’s something that needs to be looked at.”

Other exemptions from planning permission being discussed today by Ministers include measures related to retrofitting, school extensions, health-related outbuildings, and certain infrastructure exemptions relevant to organisations such as Uisce Éireann.