Ireland to Lift Rural Housing Restrictions, Allowing Ribbon Development from Autumn
Ireland will lift rural housing restrictions, reintroducing ribbon development from autumn. New guidelines, to be approved by Cabinet next week, will simplify planning for single houses for those with economic or social ties to rural areas. This significant policy overhaul aims to increase one-off housing construction by up to 50 percent annually.
Ireland is set to lift restrictions on one-off housing in rural areas, effectively allowing ribbon development to return from autumn. Fine Gael leader Simon Harris confirmed on Wednesday that Cabinet will approve new rural housing guidelines next week. These changes, proposed by Minister for Housing James Browne and Minister of State John Cummins, aim to simplify planning permission for single houses in the countryside.
The proposals will entitle individuals demonstrating an economic or social need to live in a rural location, including returning emigrants, to build a house, subject to standard planning considerations. Refusals based on ribbon or backland development will no longer be permitted. The definition of economic or social need will also be broadened, enabling more people to build in their home or work areas without requiring an agricultural enterprise.
This overhaul, described by Harris as the most significant in two decades, is expected to increase the annual volume of one-off houses, currently averaging 5,000, by up to 50 percent. The new approach will assess applications on individual merits, moving away from restrictive practices introduced by the 2005 sustainable rural housing guidelines. Harris also stated he would remind ministerial colleagues about tackling dereliction and bringing vacant properties back into use, noting that he and Browne would write to Ministers regarding the new derelict property tax.