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Eco warrior’s legal victory a worry for self-builders in NI
Recent court ruling against ribbon development in NI indicates self-builders could be denied planning permission in some greenbelt areas. In this article we cover: In a potential landmark legal win, environmental activist Gordon Duff’s challenge to a planning decision by the Newry, Mourne and Down District Council could have “far-reaching” implications for rural development. The […] More
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Site prep on a Co Mayo passive build
Self-builder Enda Kenny explains how he went about the site assessment stage of his self-build project. In this article we cover: Project manager and civil engineer Enda Kenny started his self-build in 2020 and just recently moved in; here he shares what he learned from the initial stages of his self-build. Set your budget It’s […] More
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A killer for one-off housing in Ireland?
As the draft Transport Plan for ROI undergoes public consultation, rural advocates are calling for fairness and equitable treatment for people living and wanting to build in rural areas. In this article we cover: The proposed transport plan by the Department of Transport, aiming to reduce emissions, has sparked criticism from rural advocates and TDs […] More
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in Advice, Basic site checklist, Planning red flags, Road openings, Site access, Wastewater, Water & ElectricityTop 3 site-related issues
Find out what the top 3 site-related issues are when building in the Irish countryside. In this article we cover: Before you start building on your dream site, consider these three elements which could bust the budget before you even start clearing the site. This bit of planning ahead could save you thousands on your […] More
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in Advice, Basic site checklist, Budget & Financing, Securing planning permission, Wastewater, Water & ElectricityWhat local authority fees do you have to pay in Ireland?
If you plan on building or extending a house in Ireland, know that you will have to pay local authority fees in both NI and ROI; this is your comprehensive guide to what you can expect to pay in your own county. In this article we cover: Starting a self-build journey is thrilling, but […] More
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in Advice, Basic site checklist, Buying land with an existing house on it, Planning red flags, Road openings, Site access, Site assessment, Wastewater, Water & ElectricityThe first step to building your dream home
The first step to building your dream home is to assess whether or not the site you have is good enough to build on. In this article we cover: The site you build on may not be given that much thought at first. Yet its characteristics will have a significant bearing on the final build […] More
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Dublin infill house
How a retired couple in Dublin downsized in their own garden by creating an infill house. In this article we cover: “Living and raising our family in our semi-detached house in Rathfarnham, with its beautiful garden, was wonderful for over 30 years,” says Linde. “We loved tending to the vegetables and enjoying the privacy and […] More
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Ep69 – How to get planning permission in Ireland
Architect Mark Stephens, who is based in Co Mayo, chats about how to get planning permission in ROI including: Favourite More
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Local Development Plans roll out in NI ‘unfair’, says planning consultant
Some self-builders are getting refused planning permission in one part of NI when they could have been approved in another, due to the ‘unfair’ roll out of the new Local Development Plans says planning consultant Mervyn McNeill. In this article we cover: “If you’ve applied for planning permission and paid the appropriates fees then you […] More
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in Advice, Budget & Financing, Landscaping: Watchpoints, Provisions for on-site electricity, water, WastewaterLandscaping and groundwork costs
Groundwork costs refer to the preparation of land for future work; here we look at landscaping and ancillary costs. In this article we cover: Groundwork is the term given to the preparation of land for future work. This includes all of the site preparations, including those relating to digging for foundations. Your foundations could cost […] More
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in Advice, Budget & Financing, Cost savers, Direct labour vs main contractor, Insurance and warranty cover, Site access, Water & ElectricityBuild costs you shouldn’t forget about
What you will end up paying to build or extend your home goes beyond the bricks and mortar; here are the non build costs to take into account. In this article we cover: The site If you don’t have one already, it’s easy to spend a third or more of your entire budget on the […] More
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No ban for rural one-off housing
The ROI rural housing guidelines for one-off houses still hasn’t been published but Minister of State Peter Burke said there would be no ban. In this article we cover: The much anticipated ROI rural housing guidelines consultation document will include a right to build your own home in a remote area if you have a […] More
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