Clare Rural House Design Guide

1. Page 81

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   81Checklists Checklist CHECKLIST OF SITE CHARACTERISTICS • Road frontage and sight distances (Are you on bend in the road?, do you have permission to reduce hedgerow height?) • Slope of ground (You will need a site contour survey) • Trees & Hedgerow (Assess for screening and shelter) • Orientation: Sun-path on site • Vegetation as indicator of drainage • Rock outcrop • Neighbouring Buildings • Farms and Farmyards – vicinity thereto • Are there services? (Mains water, sewerage, electricity, telephone, public transport etc.). • Have you local knowledge of site? (it may have been filled, or it may be subject to seasonal flooding, e.g. a turlough!) • Streams, rivers or drains close to the site. • Size of site. • Views to and from the site. Remember, if you see, you can be seen. • Recorded archaeological monuments (check with your local library —Record of Monuments and Places)

2. Page 82

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   Checklist 82 Checklist for Building a New House • Do you have a site already? • Does the site have outline planning permission (OPP). (You must comply with all OPP conditions in your design). • Have you appointed an architect? (see Design Brief and Elements of House Design page 50) • Are you purchasing a site subject to outline planning permission or full planning permission. • Do you have a choice of site. (see page 36 & 37). • If you have a choice of site, consult your architect. (see Inappropriate and Appropriate House Design, page 60–67). • Are you building on a family farm. (see page 36 & 37). • Have you considered restoring or extending an existing building (see chapter on Alterations, Conversions and Extensions, page 69). If you are looking for an appropriate site in a specific area, your architect may be able to assist in the selection process in advance of purchase.

3. Page 83

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   Useful InformationUseful Information 83 Maintenance and Alterations :: Keep your house in good repair in order to avoid major repairs at a later date. :: When undertaking minor repairs or improvement to the existing house consider the changes carefully with reference to the guidelines, particularly taking care to preserve special features. If your house is listed as a protected structure, you will need permission to do any alterations or changes (internally or externally). :: Use permitted improvements to make the house more suited to present day living. :: Maintain and protect where necessary boundary hedges, gates, gardens, mature trees and other landscape features. :: Tenants should check the conditions of tenancy and bring defects to the attention of landlords. Tenants are entitled to demand certain repairs and improvements. :: Communicate with your neighbours on the upkeep of the area. Help those individuals who may be unable to manage some aspects of maintenance such as the elderly or disabled. :: Some buildings are listed and will be in the Record of Protected Structures or ACAs. The Conservation Officer can provide guidance with respect to particular problems. Useful References: 2005 – 2011, Clare County Development Plan 2005, North and East Clare Local Area Plans 2003, South East and West Clare Local Area Plans 2003, Ennis and Environs Plan 2003, Corofin Local Area Plan 2002, Kilrush Development Plan 2005, Rural House Design Guidelines, Department of the Environment Planning and Development Acts 2000 – 2004 Planning and Development Regulations 2001 Stone Wall Building Guidelines, Conservation Officer, Planning Department, Clare County Council. Planning Application Guidance leaflets available from Planning Office Government Policy on Architecture 2002 – 2005 List of Protected Structures, Conservation Officer, Planning Department, Clare County Council. Environmental Protection Agency Manual 2000 on Waste Water Treatment Systems Architectural Conservation Areas, County Clare (Brochure, Planning Department) Other Web Addresses: Clare County Council: www.clare.ie Environment Protection Agency: www.epa.ie Department of Environment, Heritage & Local Government: www.environ.ie Environmental Information Office: www.enfo.ie Architects: www.riai.ie Contacts/Professionals County Council Officers Architects Planners Engineers Landscape Architects Historians Horticulturists Interior Designers Conservation specialists Heritage specialists Archaeologists

4. Page 84

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   84 The list does not include many well established garden plants that are widely distributed throughout Ireland that may be appropriate for planting within the site rather than on its boundaries. Advice should be sought from local landscape contractors and horticulturists. The Following are species of trees and shrubs native to Ireland SPECIES SOIL PREFERENCES HEIGHT (m) GROWTH RATE BIODIVERSITY ACTRACTIVE FEATURES Alder, Common Damp. Medium to Heavy texture. Medium to Alkaline acidity 5–15 Fast Birds/Bats, Red Squirrels Nuts / Cones Ash Average Moisture. Medium Texture. Medium to Alkaline acidity 15+ Medium Birds/Bats, Red Squirrels Birch, Downy Damp. Medium to Heavy texture. Acid to Medium acidity 15–15+ Medium Birds/Bats, Red Squirrels Flowers / Catkins, Autumn Colour Birch, Silver Dry. Light to Medium texture. Acid to Medium acidity 15–15+ Fast to Medium Birds/Bats, Red Squirrels Flowers / Catkins, Autumn Colour Blackthorn/Sloe Average moisture. Light to Heavy texture. Acid to Alkaline acidity 5–15 Medium Birds/Bats Flowers / Catkins, Berries Buckthorn, Alder Damp. Medium texture. Acid acidity 5 Medium Birds/Bats Flowers / Catkins, Berries, Autumn Colour Buckthorn, Purging Damp to Average moisture. Medium texture. Alkaline acidity 5 Medium Birds/Bats Berries Cherry, Bird Damp to Average moisture. Light to Medium texture. Acid to Medium acidity 5–15 Medium Birds/Bats Autumn Colour Flowers / Catkins, Berries Cherry, Wild Average to Dry moisture. Light to Heavy texture. Medium to Alkaline acidity 5–15 Fast to Medium Birds/Bats Autumn Colour Flowers / Catkins, Berries Crab Apple Average moisture. Medium to Heavy texture. Medium to Alkaline acidity 5–15 Slow Birds/Bats Autumn Colour Flowers / Catkins, Berries Elder Damp to Dry moisture. Light to Heavy texture. Medium to Alkaline acidity 5 Fast Birds/Bats, Red Squirrels Flowers / Catkins, Berries Elm, Wych Damp to Average moisture. Medium to Heavy texture. Medium to Alkaline acidity 15+ Slow Red Squirrels Autumn Colour Guelder Rose Damp to Average moisture. Medium to Heavy texture. Medium to Alkaline acidity 5 Medium Birds/Bats Autumn Colour Flowers / Catkins, Berries Hawthorn Average to Dry moisture. Light to Heavy texture. Medium to Alkaline acidity 5–15 Fast to Medium Birds/Bats, Red Squirrels Flowers / Catkins, Berries Appendix 1: Boundary Planting

5. Page 85

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   85Appendices Appendix 1: Boundary Planting SPECIES SOIL PREFERENCES HEIGHT (m) GROWTH RATE BIODIVERSITY ACTRACTIVE FEATURES Hazel Average to Dry moisture. Medium to Heavy texture. Medium to Alkaline acidity 5–15 Fast to Medium Birds/Bats, Red Squirrels Flowers / Catkins, Nuts / Cones Holly Average to Dry moisture. Medium texture. Acid to Medium acidity 5–15 Medium to Slow Birds/Bats Flowers / Catkins, Berries, Evergreen Juniper Average to Dry moisture. Light texture. Medium to Alkaline acidity 5 Slow Berries, Evergreen Oak, Pedunculate Damp to Average moisture. Medium to Heavy texture. Medium acidity 15+ Medium Birds/Bats Nuts / Cones, Autumn Colour Oak Sessile Average moisture. Light to Medium texture. Acid to Mediumacidity 15+ Medium Birds/Bats Nuts / Cones, Autumn Colour Pine, Scots Dry moisture. Light texture. Acid to Medium acidity 15+ Medium Birds/Bats, Red Squirrels Nuts / Cones, Evergreen Rowan Average to Dry moisture. Light to Medium texture. Acid to Medium acidity 5–15 Fast Birds/Bats, Autumn Colour Flowers / Catkins, Berries Spindle Damp to Average moisture. Medium to Heavy texture. Medium to Alkaline acidity 5 Medium Berries, Autumn Colour Whitebeam Damp to Dry moisture. Light to Heavy texture. Medium to Alkaline acidity 5–15 Medium Birds/Bats Flowers / Catkins, Berries Willows Damp to Average moisture. Medium to Heavy texture. Medium to Alkaline acidity 5–15 Fast Birds/Bats Flowers / Catkins, Autumn Colour Yew Average to Dry moisture. Light to Medium texture. Medium to Alkaline acidity 5–15 Slow Birds/Bats Berries, Evergreen NATIVE SHRUBS Blackthorn, Broom, Purging Buckthorn, Alder Buckthorn, Dog Rose, Elder, Gorse, Guelder Rose, Hawthorn, Juniper, Spindle, Privet INTRODUCED TREES Beech, Douglas Fir, Field Maple, Hornebeams, Horse Chestnut, Larch, Limes, Lodgepole Pine, Norway Spruce, Poplars, Sitka Spruce, Sweet Chestnut, Sycamore… IN ADDITION, consider some of the following shrubs for your garden, attracting an abundance of bees, butterflies and birds; Aucuba, Berberis (barberry), Buddleia (butterfly bush), Ceanothus, Chaenomeles (Japanese quince), Cistus, Cotoneaster, Escallonia, Fuchsia, Hebe, Hypericum, Mahonia, Olearia, Philadelphus (mock orange), Potentilla, Pyracantha (firethorn), Ribes sanguineum (flowering currant), Rosa canina/rugosa (dog/ramanas rose), Skimmia, Spiraea, Syringa (lilac), Viburnum and Weigela.

6. Page 86

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   86 The Building Regulations and Dwelling Houses The Building Control Act 1990 establishes a statutory duty to design and construct in accordance with the Building Regulations. Every building to which the Building Regulations apply should be designed and constructed in accordance with the provisions of such Regulations and the responsibility for compliance rests with the designers, the constructors and the building owners. The Building Regulations set out the technical requirements for the design and construction of building works. The Building Regulations are divided into 12 parts, and for private dwelling houses, the most common areas to be addressed are as follows Appendix 2: Part Description Requirements A Structure • This requires buildings to be designed and constructed so as to ensure that they can withstand the combined loads without impairing the stability of any part of the structure B Fire Safety • Mains powered fire detection and alarm system. • Bedroom windows sizes for escape or rescue. • Design and positioning of staircases. • Adequate fire separation within and between dwellings. • Access for fire brigades. C Site Preparation • Site preparation, drainage. • Dangerous substances (e.g. Radon). • Resistance to weather and moisture. D Materials & Workmanship • Fitness of materials and adequacy of workmanship. • Height of letterboxes. • Requirement of safety glazing. E Sound • Resistance of noise pollution between dwellings. F Ventilation • Ventilation of habitable rooms. • Mechanical ventilation of bathrooms/WC. • Prevention of condensation in roofs. Part Description Requirements G Hygiene • Installation of adequate washing and toilet facilities. H Drainage & Waste • Installation of adequate wastewater drainage and septic tanks. • Water disposal. J Heat Producing Appliances • Appliances designed to burn solid fuel, oil or gas. • Protection of the building and oil storage tanks. K Stairways, Ladders, Ramps and Guards • Safe and adequate design of stairs. • Guarding/protection from falls. L Conservation of Fuel and Energy. • Limiting heat loss & maximising heat gains. • U-Values and thickness of insulation. • Zoned Heating. M Access For People with Disabilities. • Approach to access into and circulation within dwellings. • Access to electrical switches, doorbells, etc. • Provision of sanitary accommodation. The above-tabled information is a guideline and not a detailed review of the Building Regulations. Persons should seek professional advice for their own specific situations and should consult the current Technical Guidance documents and the current Regulations. In accordance with the Building Control Regulations 1997 a Commencement Notice must be submitted to the Building Control Section of Clare County Council, Central Fire Station, Ennis, 14 to 28 days before the commencement of works. All queries on Building Control issues and Building Regulations can be directed to the Building Control Section of Clare County Council at (065) 6846302.

7. Page 87

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   Index & GlossaryIndex 87 Illustrations Submitted by Practices House at Chapel Pass, p66, pic A. O Donnell & Tuomey, Camden Row, Dublin 8. Ros Kavanagh Photography, 29–31 South William Street, Dublin 2. Weekend House, p66, pic B & p67, pic M. John Dorman Architects, Merrion Building , Merrion Street Lr. Dublin 2. Ros Kavanagh Photography, details above. House at Roslea, p66, pic C. House at Cong, p66, pic D. Aughey O Flaherty Architects. Swanville Place, Rathmines, Dublin 6. Inbetween House, p66, pic E. Dominic Stevens, Cloone, Co. Leitrim. Ros Kavanagh Photography, details above. Ceann Tra, Clew bay Mayo, p66, pic F & G. Simon J Kelly & Ptnrs, Patrick McCabe. Corrib Castle, Waterside, Galway. Seafield, Coney Island, p67, pic H, J & L. Robinson House, Bangor, p67, pic R. Robinson Patterson Partnership Ltd, Clarence Gallery, Linenhall St, Belfast BT 2 8BG. Photographer: Chris Hill Dirk Cove House, Clonakilty, p67, pic K. Niall McLaughlin Architect, 31–51 Highgate Road, London. NW5 1RS UK. House at Killeenanan, Co Galway, p67, pic N. Richard Murphy Architect, The Breakfast Mission, 15 Old Fishmarket Close, Edinburgh, EH1 1RW. Stone House Extenison, Wicklow, p67, pic P, & p71. Henchion-Reuter Architects, Martin Henchion 8 Parkview Place, Ringsend Dublin 4. Castlequarter, Cratloe, p48, p62, p67, pic Q. Healy & Partners Architects, Barrow House, Michael Street, Limerick. Other Illustrations Submitted Page 52 Siobán Mulcahy Architect, Affick, Tulla, Co Clare. Page 62 (lower right) Kostas Wootis, Finangh, Quin, Co Clare. Photographer: Jeremy Phillips, 72 Millford Road, York, England. Y023 1 NQ Page 49 (‘scale’ image) & Page 54 (second down) Fergus Quinlan, Doonin, Burrin, Co. Clare. Page 75 (right) Tom Byrne, Byrne O’Donnell Scully, Carmody Street, Ennis. Other Information Submitted Appendix 1, Boundary Planting information, p54 & 85 Steven Meyen (forestry adviser Teagasc), Crann publications Designing your House image spread pp 66 & 67 A B C D E F G H J R P M K L N Q

8. Page 88

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   Glossary ACA Architectural Conservation Area EPA Environmental Protection Agency NHA Natural Heritage Areas NPWS National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government OPP Outline Planning Permission PVC Polyvinyl Chloride RIAI The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland SAC Special Areas of Conservation SMR Sites and Monuments Record SPA Special Protection Areas 88

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