Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 June 2024
60. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the number of notifications of change of use from commercial use to residential use issued to planning authorities under Regulation S.I. No. 75/2022 - Planning and Development Act (Exempted Development) Regulations 2022, broken down by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26355/24]
View answerUnder the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, all development, unless specifically exempted under the Act or associated Regulations, requires planning permission. Exemptions from the requirement to obtain planning permission in respect of specific forms of development are provided for when they are considered to be consistent with proper planning and sustainable development.
The Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2018 provided for an exemption, up until the end of 2021, from the requirement to obtain planning permission in respect of the change of use of certain vacant commercial premises, including vacant or under-utilised areas over ground-floor shops and offices, to residential use. This measure was aimed at facilitating the productive re-use of qualifying vacant commercial buildings as homes, while also facilitating urban renewal and the bringing on stream of increased housing supply.
Under Housing for All, the 2018 Regulations were subsequently extended until the end of 2025 by way of the Planning and Development (Exempted Development) Regulations 2022. These Regulations included a new class of premises eligible to avail of the planning exemption, that of public houses capable of providing up to a maximum of 9 residential units. The inclusion of this new exemption class is designed to ease the burden of converting public houses, which are no longer viable and have ceased to operate - and of which there are many in our cities, towns and villages throughout the country - to residential accommodation.
A table containing the information requested regarding the change of use notifications received, from local authorities in relation to the years 2018 - 2023 is attached.
