Rural housing need must be established through community link

Prospective home owners looking to build in a rural area must first show a local connection in order to secure permission.

Proposed by the Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR), what constitutes a rural generated housing need are persons who are those “who have strong social or economic link or need to live in the area and who are an intrinsic part of the rural community”.

Its recommendation was to delete the word “links” in modifications to material amendments made to the draft Cavan County Development Plan 2022-2028.

The OPR further proposed that it also become essential that the proposed dwelling is their “first home in the locality”.

Returning emigrants who lived for substantial parts of their lives in rural areas, then moved abroad and who now wish to return to reside near other family members are also permitted, as are persons who can demonstrate a “social or economic” requirement for a permanent residence there.

Chief Executive Tommy Ryan said that the recommendation was “considered appropriate”.

But Cllr Feeley described the word “link” as a “loose term” and suggested it would be “hard to manage” for the council. His greater worry would be that the change might affect the number of applications being submitted.

Cllrs Feeley, Clifford Kelly, Sean Smith and Patricia Walsh (FF); Paddy McDonald (SF); and Shane P O’Reilly (Ind) voted against the change.

A second recommendation to delete the word “link” from a requirement for rural housing need where it is recognised that said persons are an “intrinsic part of the rural community” and have a “strong social or economic need to live in the area” was supported by councillors, with 16 in favour.