Design guide · Laois County Council
Rural Design Guide (County Development Plan 2021–2027, appendix 7)
The council's guidance on siting and designing a house in the countryside.
Laois County Council · 2021 · 26 pages
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- 2021 - 2027 LAOIS COUNTY COUNCIL CHOMHAIRLE CHONTAE LAOISE APPENDIX 7: RURAL DESIGN GUIDANCE Laois County Development Plan 2021 – 2027: January 2022
- 2 INTRODUCTION Laois County Council has produced this Guidance for all those who are thinking of building a house in the countryside. It has been prepared to show the importance of good siting and sensitive design for one-off houses in the rural areas of County Laois. The aim of the Guidance is: ➢ To describe the site planning and design issues that need to be addressed; and ➢ To clearly set out what is acceptable and what is not acceptable in terms of one-off houses in County Laois. Laois County Council recognises the need to improve the quality of house design in the countryside and, in particular, that new houses are better related to their surroundings. The Guide does this by identifying crucial site planning and design principles that need to be taken into account when considering building a new house. The Council promotes a creative interpretation of the key principles so that individual and contemporary house designs are achieved. The County Council will expect all planning applications for one-off houses to demonstrate how these guidelines have been taken into account. Proposals which fully reflect the guidelines are likely to reduce requests for further information, while those that do not are unlikely to be successful. Objectives: ✓ To foster greater consistency in planning decision making; ✓ To inform and inspire applicants, builders, designers and planners; and ✓ To help conserve and enhance the landscape, environment and visual amenity of County Laois. Each Section of the Guide provides details on the steps that need to be taken when considering an application for a one-off house in the countryside.
- 3 • Draft a design brief • Appoint an architect or suitably qualified designer • Choose a suitable site Assess your requirements • Landscape character and context • Landform and vegetation • Views into and out of the area • Settlement pattern • Micro-climate and sustainable energy • Vehicle access requirements • Service infrastructure Select the site • consider the effects of • topography • energy efficiency • building proportion and set back • means of access and parking • plot boundaries • garden design Plan the site • Consider • building scale and form • elevational treatments • materials and colours • roof profiles and chimneys • fenestration- windows and doors Design the house • ensure that all drawings and required information are submitted in the right fornmat and to the correct scale Make the application • SITE SELECTION • SITE PLANNING • BUILDING FORM • PLANNING APPLICATIONS CHECKLIST
- 4 The first step is to make a detailed list of your needs for the new house, or brief, for the agent to follow. Consider employing a suitably qualified agent at the start who can bring both experience and inspiration to the design process. A suitably qualified agent will advise you on the choice of the right site and the correct approach to addressing the various constraints and requirements of the brief, the site, and its relationship to the landscape setting. The end result should be a well-designed house that is a desirable place to live, that is visually pleasing, energy efficient and appropriate to the context. Many rural houses in County Laois have developed over centuries and traditional forms of building are usually well integrated into their landscape setting. However, much of the more recent house construction has occurred without due regard to the effect on the receiving environment and the wider visual impact, particularly when viewed from key vantage points such as public thoroughfares. The careful siting of new houses in the open countryside is essential to achieving acceptable development. Your designer will be able to interpret the landscape, identify the more suitable locations and, if the need arises, advise on alternative sites for potential development. CONSULT The County Development Plan 2021-2027 and any Local Area Plan that may be applicable particularly in relation to: • Landuse zoning; • Policies for particular landscape areas as outlined in the Landscape Character Assessment of County Laois; • Ground water protection policies; • Roads Policies; • Areas designated for heritage and amenity, such as Natural Heritage Areas [NHA’s], Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas; • Areas of Archaeological Interest, Record of Protected Structures, Record of Monuments and Places STEP 1 ASSESS YOUR REQUIREMENTS STEP 2: SELECTING THE RIGHT SITE
- 5 and Architectural Conservation Areas. If the site falls within or is situated on or in close proximity to any of these areas, the applicant is strongly advised to engage with the Planning Authority through the medium of a pre-planning meeting. Having secured a potential site which is more than likely to satisfy most if not all of the normal requirements, the process now moves onto stage 3-the landscape context. Landscape Context The landscape analysis will determine the suitability of a potential site in terms of landscape character and the capacity of the wider area to absorb new development without detracting from that character. A creative response to the particular characteristics of a site will help secure a design solution that integrates comfortably with the landscape surroundings. The following is a non-exhaustive list of the main factors to be considered: • Will the new development interfere with long and short distance views in the area? • Can the local topography readily accommodate the new development? • Is there existing vegetation on and in the vicinity of the site to help absorb the new development? • What is the likely impact on existing on-site vegetation? • Can the long established front boundary ditch be maintained and still achieve adequate sight distances? • Is the new development compatible with the prevailing local settlement pattern? • Does the proposed site optimize the potential for use of renewable energy sources? • How far is the proposed site from key local services such as schools, shops, health centres, churches? • Do ground conditions on the site allow for satisfactory foul effluent drainage? • Is the proposed site connected to essential services including water main, electricity, telephone? If the potential site scores negatively for the majority of these criteria, an alternative location should be examined. Landform The impact of new development on the landscape can be highly variable depending mostly on the landform, topography and the nature and extent of vegetation cover. As detailed in the Landscape Character Assessment of County Laois, the seven (7) Landscape Character Types of County Laois range from the mountain areas [Slieve Blooms] of the northeast, the upland areas of the south and southeast [Cullenagh Mountain, Cullahill Mountain, Wolfhill, Killeshin] and the rolling hills, lowland areas
- 6 and river valleys of the centre, southwest and northeast. AVOID - Instead there should be a concentration on sites which offer variations in landform and topography and have mature vegetation in the form of trees and ditches that enable buildings to be readily absorbed into the receiving landscape, New houses in lowland areas can be especially conspicuous. Sites with existing vegetation should be selected rather than those which are devoid of planting. Setting a building against a backdrop of trees or behind an existing hedgerow can be one of the most successful ways of blending new development with the landscape especially in flat or gently undulating areas. Settlement Pattern Respecting the existing settlement pattern in the vicinity of a potential site is fundamental to how well a new house will integrate with the landscape. The most intrusive form of new development is the suburban style plot that bears no resemblance to the rural character of the locality. The traditional rural settlement pattern is one of scattered development surrounded by land, with the buildings always subservient to the landscape; while the suburban pattern is of regular plots with buildings and their gardens forming the dominant image. Such development changes the character of the countryside for the worse, and when repeated leads to ribbon development and a loss of rural amenity. Ribbon Development In all cases new sites should not contribute to ribbon development along roads or within undeveloped areas between existing building clusters. Any prospective site that would exacerbate ribbon development, or lead to the coalescence of existing ribbon development, should be avoided. Sites on exposed hilltops which lack natural shelter and where new buildings would be very obtrusive, Sites in large expansive fields in low lying areas where much of the original vegetation cover and field boundaries have been removed as a result of intensification of farm production, Sites in floodplains and on marginal land.
- 7 ‘Ribbon development’ is defined as 5 or more houses on either side of a given 250m of road frontage. It is undesirable because: • It extends urban influences into the countryside; • Results in numerous accesses onto rural roads; • Leads to the loss of roadside features (hedgerows, sod-and-stone banks, ditches, etc.); • Sterilises backlands and landlocks farmland; • Interferes with traditional land drainage patterns; • Creates servicing problems (e.g. water supply, drainage, footpaths, street lighting, etc.); and • Intrudes on public views of the rural setting Family Farmsteads The provision of accommodation for family members on existing farmsteads can often be achieved by locating the new building as an integral part of the overall farm composition, as opposed to a more isolated location in poor proximity to the main buildings, or where new building may result in or contribute to ribbon development. Where a grouping around the original buildings is not practical, consideration could be given to providing new dwellings for family members in suitable locations elsewhere on the farm holding, in reasonable proximity to the farm and with vehicle access via internal lanes from the existing entrance. Certain clusters may also be especially suitable for sensitive restoration, combining traditional built form with contemporary building materials and living spaces. In all cases, the need to achieve sensitive location in the landscape, as well as appropriate good quality building design, will be essential requirements. Sustainable Energy Site selection should be strongly influenced by energy saving objectives, including being able to maximise on passive solar heating gains through site orientation and selecting a location sheltered from the wind. In many rural locations it should also be possible to consider specific renewable energy installations, such as solar panels, wind turbines, ground (or air) heat pump systems, and ‘grey-water’ recycling facilities. A potential site needs to be assessed to determine whether it can support such sustainable energy objectives. Sustainable Energy Ireland promotes and assists the development of sustainable energy and can provide wide ranging advice on current technologies (refer www.sei.ie). Likely travel patterns are another important factor when selecting a suitable site. Energy used in driving from place to place can amount to a significant proportion of a household’s total energy consumption. By locating a new dwelling closer to every day needs, such as the workplace, existing schools, shops, church, public transport routes, etc. transport energy consumption can be greatly reduced. Service Infrastructure The available services in the area should be assessed at an early stage. In particular, a constant water supply and a site that can accommodate the safe disposal of wastewater and sewage effluent are essential requirements. When selecting a site, ensure that: • The ground conditions are suitable, with adequate percolation for a sewage treatment system, in accordance with the EPA Code of Practice ‘Waste Water Treatment and DISPO SAC systems serving single houses (p.e.≤10)’.
- 8 • It complies with the Council’s current ‘Ground Water Protection Scheme’. • It is large enough to accommodate the requirements of a sewage treatment system. • A maintenance agreement with an approved agent can be put in place to upkeep the system. • That water supply from a public source is available - if joining a group water scheme, confirmation from the group secretary will be required. • It is large enough to locate a well (if this is the only option) at least 10m from the septic tank or treatment system and 30–60m from the percolation area (depending on the percolation rate). • It is connected or in reasonable proximity to existing telephone and electricity services. If a potential site does not satisfy the above requirements, it may be unsuitable for development. Site Selection Summary A well considered site for a new house in the countryside is one which: • Will not have adverse impacts on sensitive landscape areas, protected structures or other aspects of heritage; • Is located in an area that has the capacity to absorb another building, without adverse impact on visual amenity; • Is capable of being visually integrated into the landscape through variations in landform and the presence of established trees and boundary hedges; • Suits the existing settlement pattern of the locality; • Will not contribute to ribbon development; • Can take full advantage of renewable energy sources; • Is in reasonable proximity to essential community services; • Is safely accessible from the existing road network; • Is capable of connection to existing service infrastructure and can accommodate safe disposal of wastewater and sewage effluent; and • Meets other planning criteria and policy requirements.
- 9 Site Layout Having found a location that satisfies the selection criteria set out in the previous section, the next step will be to examine more closely the existing features of the proposed site. New dwellings are often placed to be seen, and conceived in a far too fussy and over-complicated manner, and with minimal new landscaping. The outcome is invariably suburban, with buildings that appear awkward within their surroundings, especially when adjacent properties vie for attention, rather than unobtrusively settling into the landscape. Understanding the details of a proposed site is essential to achieving an acceptable design solution. The analysis should provide the basis for your designer to develop a site layout that is more sympathetic and integrated into the landscape. Show all existing features, including: • The contours of the land; • Vegetation cover including hedgerows and individual trees; • Rock outcrops; • Water courses, ditches and wetland areas; • Location and type of boundaries; • Existing buildings, including outbuildings; • Other structures, such as wells, gate piers, and historical or archaeological features; • All pipes, culverts, septic tanks, storage tanks, percolation areas, and land drainage. • Roads, rights of way, footpaths and access tracks. Topography The position of a new dwelling in undulating and hilly areas needs to be carefully considered to achieve a practical design which does not look out of place. • Use the natural folds of the landform to help absorb the new house. • Select naturally-occurring shelves or the gentlest part of a slope so as to minimise earth moving and to avoid excessive scarring of the landscape. • For steeply sloping sites (e.g. in excess of 1:5) consider suitable split level (stepped) schemes that relate more closely to existing ground levels. • Avoid the need for excessive cut and fill. • Carefully shape the land around the building so that it blends more successfully with the surroundings while creating further shelter. • Either remove excess fill or carefully grade it around the building to suit the natural slope of the land. • Let the natural slope of the land dictate the building form. STEP 3 PLANNING THE SITE Prepare a plan of your site showing all existing features and the proposed layout. Carefully consider the effects of: • Site layout • Topography • Energy performance • Building form and orientation • Creating shelter • Internal layout • Means of vehicle access and parking • Plot boundaries • Open space design
- 10 An example of a house which is integrated within the contours of the landscape Energy Performance As described in Step 2, being more efficient in how we use energy in our daily lives can strongly influence the selection of a site. Considering increased energy efficiency at the site planning stage can also have immediate benefits such as: • Saving money on electricity and heating bills; • Creating a more comfortable and convenient home; • Making a vital contribution to reducing climate change. The EU Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings requires every home for sale or rent in Ireland to be rated as to its energy performance. Building Form and Orientation Traditionally buildings in the countryside were positioned to take advantage of available shelter, such as natural folds in the landform, orientating the building in relation to prevailing winds and the path of the sun, and using sheltered areas next to woodlands. Such factors are equally relevant to present day houses for energy conservation reasons. A compact building form is best for reducing heat loss. A rectangular building with one of the longer facades facing south can allow for increased solar heating, day-lighting and natural ventilation. Pitched roofs should also have one slope orientated south to allow for optimum performance of a roof-mounted or roof-integrated active solar heating system. Creating Shelter • Use existing natural features of the site to help protect the building from the elements. • Arrange the site to guide the wind over and around the building. • Use the house, out-buildings and garden walls to create a more enclosed micro-climate. • Introduce shelter planting of native species to help dissipate the wind. • Retain existing boundaries such as hedgerows, stone walls or earth and stone banks. Internal Layout Organise the internal layout of the house to make best use of sunshine and daylight - locate the most used rooms on the south side and least used rooms to the north side. As well as reducing energy costs, sunny south-facing rooms have high amenity value. Try to minimise projections such as bay and dormer windows, which increase the surface-to-volume ratio of a building and thereby increase heat loss. They also tend to be more difficult to insulate effectively.
Source Laois County Council: Rural Design Guide (County Development Plan 2021–2027, appendix 7) (2021) · Licence the publisher's termsText read from the publisher’s PDF; tables, maps and drawings do not survive as text, and page numbers are the PDF’s (its first page is 1). Check the original before relying on a passage.