Planning Permission Ireland

House design guide

What Cork wants your home to look like

Cork County Council wants rural homes to look simple, well-proportioned, and naturally integrated with the landscape. Rather than building bulky, suburban-style houses on exposed ridges, homeowners are encouraged to construct narrow, low-profile homes that blend with the hills and fields. The council highly values the preservation of local boundaries, the use of native plants, and a small, carefully chosen selection of traditional, high-quality building materials.

Accepted house types & forms

cottagelong housestorey-and-a-half (1 + half storey)simple 2 storeylong 2 storey and lean-tolong 2 storey and 't'2 storey and 'l'combined longdoubled and slippedhipped single storeyhipped simple 2 storeyhipped 2 storey and 'l'hipped 2 storey and 'u'hipped 2 storey and 't'

What they want to see

Encouraged by the guide

  • Narrow Plan Form(68)

    Designing homes that are narrow (one room deep, typically 4.5m to 5.5m wide) to make building on slopes easier, reduce heating costs by up to 30%, and balance glass and masonry naturally.

  • High Solid-to-Void Relationship(60)

    Ensuring there is a larger surface area of solid wall compared to window and door openings to maintain a sturdy, traditional Irish rural look.

  • Siting for Solar Gain and Shelter(18, 33)

    Orienting main living spaces within 15 degrees of south to utilize free solar energy, and selecting sites tucked into hollows or backed by trees to block wind.

  • Preserving and Planting Native Hedgerows(22, 42, 47)

    Keeping existing roadside boundaries intact and planting mixed native species (like Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Holly, and Hazel) to shield the house and attract local wildlife.

  • Traditional Chimney Stacks(80)

    Placing chimneys through and across the roof ridge to add substance and traditional character, and positioning them flush with gables (or proud in East Cork).

  • Quality and Locally Consistent Finishes(94, 96)

    Using natural local stone, slate hanging in areas like Kinsale, or simple painted plaster/render finishes in earth or natural tones that fit the region.

What gets refused

Discouraged by the guide

  • Exposed and Ridge Siting(18, 20)

    Building on prominent ridgelines or highly visible, unsheltered hillsides, which ruins the visual landscape and causes severe heat loss.

  • White PVC and Plastic Elements(11, 78, 86, 88)

    The widespread use of white plastic for fascias, soffits, cladding, doors, and window frames is highly discouraged as it separates the house from its rural setting.

  • Bulky and Deep-Plan Houses(66, 71)

    Building double-room deep 'box' homes or typical 70s-90s bungalows, which require oversized, dominant, and awkward roof profiles.

  • Suburban Landscaping and Garden Layouts(20, 42)

    Creating flat, artificial grass platforms surrounded by concrete, using non-native species like Leylandii or Grisellinia, and removing natural boundaries.

  • Fussy, Over-Elaborate Entrances(48, 49)

    Using pre-cast decorative concrete blocks, ornamental iron gate frills, decorative brickwork, or artificial lighting on gateway stonework.

  • Imitation and Mock Features(90, 94, 96)

    Using fake stone cladding veneers, random mixes of brick and stone for effect, mock Tudor trims, and non-functional classic porches.

Materials & finishes

  • Blue grey slate
  • Thatch
  • Painted corrugated sheeting
  • Painted plaster / roughcast render
  • Limewash greys, off-whites, and soft yellow ochres
  • Earth colors
  • Native stone of the locality (e.g., East Cork limestone, Baltimore blue slate/shale)
  • Painted timber windows with deep, three-dimensional profiles
  • Sustainable painted or natural hardwood doors
  • Black round plastic rainwater goods
  • Local gravel and tar for driveways

Roofs & form

  • Simple shapes: hipped or gabled
  • Traditional slope/pitch of 35 to 55 degrees
  • Low eaves and narrow plan widths
  • Minimal eaves and verge detailing
  • Simple wall-plate (traditional eaves) dormers instead of prominent mid-roof dormers
  • Flush-fitting rooflights with slate roof flashings
  • Strong chimneys located through and across the ridge

Siting & landscape

  • Siting within natural tucks in the landscape, hollows, or beside existing woodlands for shelter
  • Stepping floor levels to follow the natural slope of the land rather than excavating large, flat platforms
  • Orienting the house within 15 degrees of south for passive solar heating
  • Retaining at least two, preferably three, existing natural boundaries
  • Keeping existing roadside hedgerows and ditches intact to buffer the house from view
  • Locating car parking out of sight, to the side or rear of the house rather than directly in front
  • Planting native trees and shrubs (under 1.5m tall at 60cm intervals) during the dormant winter period (November to March)
  • Reducing the size of mown lawn areas and replacing with wild meadows or strimmed grass

Auto-generated summary of Cork Rural Design Guide — read the official source ↗. Last updated 22 June 2026.

Based on: Page 11, Page 15, Page 18, Page 20, Page 21, Page 22, Page 33, Page 40, Page 41, Page 42, Page 44, Page 47, Page 48, Page 49, Page 60, Page 64, Page 66, Page 68, Page 71, Page 78, Page 79, Page 80, Page 86, Page 88, Page 90, Page 94, Page 96, Page 99, Page 116.

For information only — not legal or planning advice. Always confirm requirements with Cork County Council and a qualified professional before relying on them.