Driveway planning condition criticised

People building a house have been urged to factor the cost of tarring their front gate into the overall cost of the project.

A lengthy discussion at the July meeting of Cavan County Council centred around a condition attached to planning permission for dwellings, whereby the section from the front piers of a house to the edge of the road must be tarmacked.

Cllr Philip Brady (FF) said architects are refusing to sign off on a project as complete until this is done as it would be non-compliant with the planning permission granted. However, Cllr Brady said this in turn means banks will not allow the final drawdown of a mortgage.

He cited one case where a couple were quoted €4,000 to do six metres of tarmac.

“They don’t want to come and do small jobs with the cost of bringing machines and that,” he said.

“Couples are stressing out and are borrowing from family to be able to get their last drawdown.”

He called for an altering of planning conditions to allow cheaper materials to be used.

Director of Services for Transportation, Environment and Water Services Paddy Connaughton noted the comments made but said there are reasons the condition is attached to planning permission.

“It’s not a particularly onerous cost. It’s a false saving because they’ll have to do it at some point anyway. It centres around drainage and water runoff to the road.”

He said the option of planting grass at the sides could be looked at but he didn’t “know if there’s much scope” to reduce the requirement given it was only 400m bitumen that is needed.

Cllr Craig Lovett (FF) said there are houses that were built 15 or 20 years ago that have no tar and claimed some houses have tar on their driveway but not to the road.

He called for the county council to take on the cost of tarring the small section of road and adding the cost to the overall price of a planning application.

Paddy Connaughton pointed out the section of ground in question belongs to the property owner.

“It is a part of the planning conditions. People should factor it into the overall costs.”

Cllr TP O’Reilly (FG) said people are trying to “side step” their obligations.

“People are fully aware of the regulations. It’s easier to turn a blind eye or try to side step it.”

Cllr Seán Smith (FF) said the condition is a “very reasonable suggestion” and noted the amount of money spent by the council repairing roads, which had been damaged by standing water or water running from private properties.

He agreed that the requirement of tar being used was “extravagant”, noting concrete could be used for “a third of the cost”.

Cllr Clifford Kelly (FF) agreed, remarking that “the people complaining the most are not putting in proper drainage on their properties”.