Planning rules for garden cabins to be relaxed – but 'not a solution to housing crisis'

Planning rules on cabins and modular homes in back gardens could be relaxed as part of Government efforts to tackle housing supply issues.

Under current regulations, extensions of up to 40sq m to a home can be built without planning permission, whereas habitable structures of this size must have approval if they are not attached to the home itself.

Under a proposal being developed in the Department of Housing, planning exemptions are being considered which would exempt free-standing modular or cabin-style homes from planning permission.

Minister of State at the Department of Housing John Cummins has met officials in recent days on whether some types of exempted developments could be fast tracked against the backdrop of planning laws passed last year.

However, Mr Cummins said he does not view proposals to relax planning rules on cabins and modular homes in back gardens as a solution to the rental crisis.

“I don't see this as a rental measure. I see it as facilitating intergenerational movement,” he told RTÉ’s Today with Claire Byrne.

“All of these matters are something that will have to be discussed as part of the public consultation that we'll have in relation to this. I also look forward to engaging with members of the Opposition in the context of the Joint Oireachtas Committee.

“All of these will have to be discussed as part of the public consultation that we will have in relation to this. Personally, I don't see this as a rental measure. I see it as the ability of people to be able to have that intergenerational movement that will allow people to live independently.”

However, Sinn Féin’s housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin said the proposal was not a solution to the housing crisis.

“The fact that we already have so many young people spending in some cases up to €40,000 to put up temporary structures in their parents’ back garden just shows the extent of the government's failure to tackle the housing crisis. Having said that, we've long argued for flexibility on precisely this issue.

“Many of our councillors have tabled amendments to city and county development plans to try and get this flexibility and in recognition of the fact that because of the failure of government policy, families are left with no other option.

“We are keen to work with the Minister in a constructive way to get this right. I agree with the Minister that this should operate within exactly the same parameters of the existing exempted development. That is sensible. I do think there should be an explicit exclusion of rental properties.

“This should only be where you have an extended family member, but there are also a set of other issues which do need to be very, very carefully considered. So what I would urge the Minister to do is work with Opposition before bringing the regulations to the committee. I think you'll find many of us have a lot of experience in this area.

“I'm genuinely keen to work with John to get these regulations right, because the mistake here would be to get these regulations wrong and to have unintended consequences”

Mr Ó Broin said he accepted the bona fides of the Minister of State, but to get the regulations right the Oireachtas Committee, the Irish Planning Institute and local authorities needed to be involved to ensure the proposal achieves what was required.

“But it is not a substitute to tackling the bigger issues, which is increasing, accelerating delivery of social, affordable and private for purchase homes.”

Mr Cummins said the only change he was suggesting was that the current restrictions would remain in place, just that the structure would not have to be attached to the main building.

“I believe this is a common sense approach. I also welcome the fact that Eoin is willing to work constructively in relation to this. I know he'll accept my bona fides. I've worked with him on a cross-party basis for the last five years under the Joint Oireachtas Committee, and I do welcome it and hopefully it's the start of a more collaborative approach where our proposals can actually be agreed on.

“But I suppose we're not going to agree when it comes to removing supports for first time buyers. That's not something that either Minister Browne or I will agree with. But where there is a common commonality in relation to policy, I think we can work together in a collaborative fashion. I welcome that.”

Mr Ó Broin added that it was important for the fire services, building control sections in local authorities and the Planning Institute to be involved in consultations.

“I do think there would be merit in looking at some bespoke fire safety certification process to ensure compliance.

“I think we can get this right. But again, I would make the point. These are temporary arrangements. They are not a substitute for long term, permanent, affordable homes in the public or private sector. And therefore, while being very clear, we'll work with the Minister, we will continue to call on Government to put in place real long-term solutions to the housing crisis. Well, obviously supporting people in making whatever temporary arrangements they can to alleviate distress that the Government policy.”