Urban Site – minimum size?

Hmmm theres no such thing as a minimum size plot for development since development can mean lots of things. However to build houses for example you would need to comply with space requirements for residential units,including open space. Depending on where you are (ie what zoning your area has) there are different plot ratios that apply, different site coverage standards, different density guidelines. You are best consulting the Development Plan. You’ll get to see a copy at the Council Planning Desk.

Area is zoned Z2, and there has been similar “house at bottom of garden”-type developments nearby. I am trying to figure out if it is even feasible to talk to the owner (my landlord) about this, or whether it’s a complete non-runner.

As I said, plan would be to build a 800 sq ft house (2 storey, 20×20 each) with a 20×10 garden. Nearby houses are all 2 or 3 storey, so being 2-storey shouldn’t be an issue.

Thanks for the help 🙂

Its not as simple as minimum sizes… as stephen has stated, the best thing to do to find out if it is feasible is to consult the local development plan and check issues such as seperation distances (very important), private amenity space (equally important), car parking standards, access standards, etc…..

Z2 also has a conservation element so you will need to take this into consideration..is the exsiting structure protected, etc.

@massamann wrote:

Area is zoned Z2, and there has been similar “house at bottom of garden”-type developments nearby. I am trying to figure out if it is even feasible to talk to the owner (my landlord) about this, or whether it’s a complete non-runner.

As I said, plan would be to build a 800 sq ft house (2 storey, 20×20 each) with a 20×10 garden. Nearby houses are all 2 or 3 storey, so being 2-storey shouldn’t be an issue.

Thanks for the help 🙂

you’d be lucky to get a 1 bedroom gaff planned in that floor plate under the current part M / DCC space standards

There is no rule of thumb as land is a hetrogenous commodity!

I’d agree with Stephen C’s caution in relation to any potential protected structures and or potential impacts on adjoining and or neighboring protected structures.

I further would add that for an application on a tight site to be successful a very high quality standard of urban design would be required so when weighing up the financial maths I would add additional sums for higher costs on external finishes.

A recent ABP decision that I am familiar with gave 2000 sq feet on a 1100 square foot site with an additional 2 car spaces (enclosed) and 650 sq feet of roof gardens equating to 93% site coverage. The architect really did a fantastic job and minimised all impacts on adjoining occupiers and as a result of the quality of the architecture I believe strongly that the new addition will lift the tone of the area including an adjoining consevation area.

What you really need is the opinion of a conservation specialist who could advise from the stand point of a hypothetical objector of the closest protected structure.

Thanks for the advice. Is there a copy of the Development Plan for DCC available online? All I’ve found so far is very is high-level bumpf, that doesn’t give me any guidelines whatsoever.

Does anybody have a link to the actual document?

Cheers.

http://www.dublincity.ie/shaping_the_city/future_planning/development_plan/CONTENTS.PDF

The individual chapters are accessible on the Contents page.

I never knew this! I always thought it wierd the whole document wasnt online.

Well you learn a new thing everyday.

@ctesiphon wrote:

http://www.dublincity.ie/shaping_the_city/future_planning/development_plan/CONTENTS.PDF

The individual chapters are accessible on the Contents page.

It’s an absolute pain in the hole and goes against any intuitive use of the internet. Those fond of conspiracy could say it’s an attempt to stop the plebs from accessing it.

http://www.dublincity.ie/shaping_the_city/future_planning/development_plan/15.pdf

Theres very good quantitive standards included in this section……

Thanks everyone for the advice. Where I was slightly confused before, I can happily say that after trawling through the DCC guidelines, I am now totally bemused.

The guidelines really are just that – guidelines. From what I can make out, every case it judged on its individual merits – which I suppose is exactly the way it should be. I know I would much prefer to see a well-designed house being built on a tiny site, than a poorly constructed shack on a bigger plot.

As for my own particular case, well, I have no idea. According to the guidelines, it looks like being a tight squeeze, but then you look at the new copper-curved mews house by Architects TM just off the ranelagh road by the canal, and from what I can make out it’s a bigger house but with less open space than I would have in mind. (And a super design in my opinion). So I’ll just keep ploughing ahead until I get a definite “no”…. 😀