Astrid Madsen
The Co Tipperary man who was ordered to demolish his mobile home clad in timber, will now be given ‘social housing supports’.
In this article we cover:
- Why this mobile home clad in timber was refused planning permission
- Council’s decision to bring the matter to the courts
- Petition to reverse the decision
- Council clears up ‘inaccurate information’ on the case
A 65-year-old man who was refused planning permission for his ‘log cabin’ home will now be offered ‘social housing supports’, Tipperary County Council tells Selfbuild.
Sean Meehan applied for planning permission in 2023 for the retention of his home on land he bought in his local area after divorce proceedings. Tipperary County Council turned down both of his planning applications.
The council has been in contact with Sean about the “unauthorised dwelling” since early 2020.
The applications to obtain planning permission to keep his home on his site were assessed according to the Tipperary County Development Plan 2022-2028 and planning legislation.
“The Council had no option but to issue refusals in both instances,” the council told Selfbuild, adding that the applicant could have appealed his case to An Bord Pleanala.
“As the unauthorised dwelling was not removed, there was a continuation of a breach of planning law.” The council added “it was necessary” for the planning authority to address the breach in the context of planning law “which resulted ultimately in a court application”.
Tipperary County Council made a court application to address the breach in planning law and the courts instructed him to demolish his home.
“The matter has been before the Courts, a guilty plea was entered and the Court has made an order indicating the actions that must be taken and the implications of non-compliance with this order,” read the planning statement issued to Selfbuild.
Tipperary County Council tells Selfbuild that “having regard to the implications of this Court ruling, the Council’s Housing Section has engaged with this individual in order to seek a resolution to their housing needs” and that “the housing section is satisfied that it can and will offer social housing supports”.
Petition
Sean’s neighbour Keith O Brien started a petition to reverse the decision on change.org. “He built a log cabin on his own land and now he’s being threatened with jail time,” reads the petition. “This is not just about Sean; it’s about the rights of property owners everywhere.”
“[H]e is being punished for simply trying to provide himself with shelter and asking for no handouts along the way.”
“We believe that shelter is a basic human right and this elderly man should be allowed to live out his days in his home which he has provided himself at no cost to the state.”
Sean told Newstalk that he assumed the mobile home was planning exempt for five years. With the help of friends who work in construction, he clad the mobile home in timber and insulated it to make it warm in winter.
“If I was to open the front of the structure, the wheels and everything, I could actually take the mobile home out,” he said. “It’s like I backed the mobile home into this log cabin”.
Tipperary County Council clears up ‘inaccurate’ information
Tipperary County Council told Selfbuild that it had engaged with Sean Meehan about his mobile home clad in timber since early 2020.
The planners told Selfbuild “it is not Council policy to comment publicly on individual cases having regard to our responsibilities in the context of data protection. However, the Council does have an entitlement to advise in relation to inaccurate information pertaining to its actions and which is repeatedly published.”
Tipperary County Council told Selfbuild that because the unauthorised dwelling wasn’t removed, “there was a continuation of a breach of planning law and so it was necessary for the Planning Authority to address same in the context of planning legislation and its obligations as set out in Part VIII of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, which resulted ultimately in a court application”.
Sean Meehan’s application for retention showed he owned a property in the area, but this was sold as part of divorce proceedings. The planner’s report also noted the applicant’s employment in construction “is not rural based”.
The planning application was denied in part because the planning authority was “not satisfied that the applicant has demonstrated a genuine economic or social need to reside in this location”.
The planners also objected to the “design and nature of the structure”, its “poor aesthetic value” and it being likely to deteriorate “by virtue of the materials used in its construction”.
The planner’s report also stated the log cabin fails to comply with the Development and Design Standards for residential structures as set out in Rural Design Guide of the Tipperary County Development Plan 2022.
The records show the planners were of the opinion it “would set an undesirable precedent for similar type proposals in the area” and “depreciate the value of property in the vicinity”.
The planning records are available on Tipperary County Council’s website.
English