One-Off Eco House ?

pick up a copy of the Cork Rural Design Guide from easons, 20 squid. has lots of info on appropriate forms, site selection, so on and so forth. sets out your options without getting an architect in at this early stage. it’s published by cork county planning office but is applicable anywhere really.

Originally posted by jmiom2004
I also got onto An Taisce to see if they had any guidelines, or literature to guide a person to build a house that they wouldn’t automatically object to, and got told, apply for planning, if we object, we object! I was hoping for something a bit more constructive than that!

An Taisce is a small independent organisation with small resources!
Did you get on to the govermentment & ask them why there are no guidelines for Donegal.
If the government had made sure every county had guidlines like the Cork guidelines several years ago Ireland might not be blighted with so many nasty one-off houses.

Originally posted by Devin

If the government had made sure every county had guidlines like the Cork guidelines several years ago Ireland might not be blighted with so many nasty one-off houses.

or so many shameful dormer bungalows.

you may get lucky with the individual planner.I know someone building a straw bale house in Carlow who happened to get a planner that had done her thesis on them!. sailed through the process

try get a pre planning discussion w/ the council.(probably will be around 2008 though !)

on the CO2 thing that should be easy to work out but your conditions would probably cover a provision for native species so you may not have enough land to indulge in yr own carbon trading/eco-budget

Surely the most eco friendly thing would not to build on the site and ruin the view for ever?

As Paul seems to be in a jovial mood, You could try these guys – they seem to have rural design sussed.

http://www.irishhousedesigns.com/twostorey.htm

(apologies for crossing threads but it IS Friday evening)

Originally posted by jmiom2004

Should I live in or under a tree then? Where do you live?

You should look for a decent site at the edge of the town, many of the County Development plans will only grant planning permission those with links to the local community such as those born there or teachers, Gardai, farmers etc.

I recently called a County Council to discuss a development matter, it was at the edge of a small town and had a lot of development adjacent but on the country side of the site.

I was told quite frankly that because I wasn;t a local I wouldn’t get PP no matter what to develop anything on the site it was ‘reserved for locals’

That is fair enough.

Saw this in Hodges Figis today, but as you seem to be in the Isle of Man I thought I would show you the link to it on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0750657340/ref=sib_db_rdr/002-4580827-6019236#reader-link

Originally posted by jmiom2004

Should I live in or under a tree then? Where do you live?

Seeing as you asked… in the city centre in a house built in 1914 with original period features 😀 not ruining any views for the future generations…. 😀

Find a local architect who knows the planners, and will be able to tell you what sort of thing they’re likely to go for.

“The land is on the coast, so it would be a shame not to build something that took advantage of the views of the atlantic, but I am a bit concerned about local planners attitudes to a non-traditional house.”

The first porblem is zoning, will a one off house be allowed on the land. If zoning is a problem this may be overcome if there is an older house on the land whcih is to be replaced or refrubished. Regardles of the above th elocal authority may have a residency (family/work) link requirement. Even though I think this is constitutionally flawed and in clonflict with a number of EU declarations/regulations it can be the most problematic. It does appear that you have the requiste linkage with the area.

Option 1 where there is no impediment and no restriction on a one off house.

The site is the key issue. A full analysis of the site will indicate the correct approach form an architectural (including enviornmental) poiint of view. (“Views” may compromise this approach).

Option2 where is some impediment but there is an existing building.

The site is also key but re-occupying the existing is a more appropriate approach.

Option 3 where there is a lot of impediment to building anything

Employ a suitablly ualified and experienced architect and argue the case first at local level and then at ABP level.

Option 4

Instigate a mini competition, through Archeire or others to establish best practice.

Am very intereseted in how you are getting on. Am also in Donegal with site and wish to build eco friendly house with large windows. Have yet to source eco friendly architect locally and have same concerns with planners.