Editorials

The Irish Times view on easing planning rules: clearing the ground for garden living

While the scale of take-up is unpredictable, there are potential gains for families

Living out the back: the Government is examining easing planning rules for cabins and other structures in back gardens.
Living out the back: the Government is examining easing planning rules for cabins and other structures in back gardens.
Wed Feb 19 2025 - 20:00

The scale of the housing shortage is underlined by the proposal being considered by Government to exempt modular and free-standing cabin-style homes of less than 40 sq meters from planning permission.

The initiative has the potential to create 350,000 homes according to the think tank Progress Ireland ,which is an enthusiastic proponent of the idea. Our fondness for substantial back gardens means that 56 per cent of existing homes could accommodate a dwelling of this nature. Costs would typically be in the range of €80,000 to €100,000, they estimate.

Superficially at least it is an attractive proposition, but a number of issues need to be teased out to establish the gains and potential downsides. A consultation programme is planned and should proceed swiftly.

Progress Ireland point to examples in North American cities where similar policies have produced a significant increase in the available housing stock. Whether this could be replicated here requires further study. The common driver of scale in this area in North American cities appears to be the rental market and small landlords in Ireland are currently squeezed by rent controls, taxes and a significant regulatory burden. Absent reforms in this area, it is not clear what the scale of the likely response here would be.

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There are, however, modest but important societal gains to be made. These include easing the pressure on families where adult children are still living at home through necessity. Almost half of 18 - 34-year-olds are caught in this trap which is unlikely to improve in the short term. A home in the back garden is, at best, an interim solution, but it is a concept worth exploring. There is also the potential to encourage downsizing and facilitate the care of elderly relatives in situ.

The proposal has the virtue of being easily implemented and making common sense, even if its impact may not be as significant as some hope. It is, of course, only one of many measures needed to address the housing crisis in what needs to be a coordinated and long-term programme.