The Government have today produced an ‘Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness’, which refers to an intention to review planning legislation to allow the change of use of vacant commercial units in urban areas, including vacant or under-utilised areas over ground floor premises, into residential units without having to go through the planning process.
The detail of this legislation will be particularly interesting having regard to the stringent development management standards that now exist to ensure that residential units provide high quality residential amenity.
Hi Sadbh
I’ve recently purchased a vacant unit in a row of 4 vacant shops within a residential complex. There was no way I could have afforded to purchase a residential property. There are flats above and the units appear to have been built to the standard of the residences. I am hoping to refurb it on a limited budget to live in. This legislation would really help me turn it into a legit residence. I have no intention of flipping the property, I’d be just grateful to have somewhere of my own, being nearly forty and house-sharing for years. For now, I will have to live there under the radar, which is a bit stressful and carries other complications such as paying high rates of €200 per month on top of standard service charges. Still, I’m lucky to have the place. The units have been vacant for a long time and show no signs of being actively commercial, the location appears to be bad for retail foot traffic. Any advice on approaching the council/TD and other residents for re-zoning my unit to residential? I appreciate you’re running a business so free advice might not be that appetising.
Hi Kevin,
From a planning perspective, as legislation currently stands planning permission is required to change the use from commercial to residential. It is worth checking if the current zoning permits residential which would allow the Planning Authority to consider a change of use. However, we caution that many Planning Authorities do have policies in their Development Plan which resist residential use at ground floor level in commercial areas. We would thus recommend that you review the relevant Development Plan in this context. If residential is not permitted, you would be best to approach the council with the other landowners of the vacant units to see if they would be willing to vary the Development Plan/support a Material Contravention having regard to the long-standing vacancy of these units and the current housing crisis.
Best of luck with it.
Sadhbh
Hi Kevin,
A further update this afternoon – The Department of Housing, Planning, Community & Local Government are in the process of updating the Exempted Development Regulations. At this juncture, we have been advised that these new Regulations will likely include some form of exemption for a change of use from commercial to residential development in order to help alleviate the current housing crisis.
Thanks Sadbh. Good news.
I have a mixed comercial and resendtial bungalow with vacant shop to front do i need permission to expand the residential into the comercial ie sittimng room and extra bedroom
Hi Pat,
Thanks for getting in touch.
As legislation currently stands planning permission is required to change the use of the vacant shop from commercial to residential.
If you need assistance just give me a call.
Best of luck with it.
Sadhbh
Hi Pat.
A further update this afternoon – the Department of Housing, Planning, Community & Local Government are in the process of updating the Exempted Development Regulations. At this juncture, as are advised that these new Regulations will likely include some form of exemption for a change of use from commercial to residential development in order to help alleviate the current housing crisis.
Hi Sadhah,
My wife and I are looking to buy an old retail office in phibsboro, it looks to be in a residential area, but its was used for office use, just wondering what we could expect trying to have it rezoned to live in,
Thanks
Stephen