New one-off housing plan will 'support' people to build in Kildare

KILDARE South TD and Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine, Martin Heydon has voiced his support for changes to planning rules governing one-off houses in rural Kildare.

This follows the government’s announcement earlier this week to change the very strict but piecemeal guidelines for one-off rural housing which Macra described as “a postcode lottery”.

There are two main ways to qualify, where a person looking to build a new single rural house can show either a social or economic need.

The draft national planning statement outlines the standard rule in a rural area will be that you have lived in that area for seven or more years at any point in your life and you can build up to 10km from your current home.

Stricter criteria may apply in areas under the most development pressure from nearby cities.

In metropolitan areas, a person must have lived within 3km of the site for up to 10 years to stop rural areas turning into commuter suburbs.

In certain high-amenity areas, a person must have lived within 5km of the site for up to 10 years to prevent encroachment on desirable scenic areas which are prone to holiday home use.

To qualify under economic need, a person will have to demonstrate that their main job depends on living in a rural area (remote working will not count) and they need to live close to their workplace.

This includes jobs like farming, equine, forestry, working in essential services such as teaching in local schools, or people starting or running a rural business.

“This will support local Kildare people to build new homes in their communities,” said Minister Heydon.

“These planning changes, which I have pushed for over the last few years, and which we approved at cabinet this week, are the biggest overhaul of rural housing rules for two decades, representing a fundamental shift away from overly rigid and restrictive planning practices that have held rural communities back.

“Working with my colleagues on Kildare County Council and Minister for Planning, John Cummins, these proposed changes will help to sustain our rural communities, our rural Kildare GAA and soccer clubs, small schools and local villages shops, pubs, cafes, and services.

“We are restoring fairness and common sense to the planning system by providing greater clarity, consistency and flexibility — while continuing to protect our unique landscapes and ensure proper planning — these landmark guidelines will help sustain vibrant rural communities for generations to come.

“These new changes will support people in Kildare to construct one off homes in the rural area they are from, even if they have a current house in a town or city."