Rural Housing Design Guide (County Development Plan, volume 3)

1. Page 21

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   TIPPERARY COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022 – 2028 VOLUME 3 19 Biomass Energy Biomass energy is obtained from organic materials such as wood (chips or pellets) and the domestic stove is the most common example. A wood burner or pellet boiler is simple to install, and there is very little adjustment needed to existing plumbing if converting from a conventional system. Water Recycling and Rainwater Harvesting Techniques for harvesting rainwater to be considered at the site planning stage for reducing domestic water consumption include: • Water butt - a simple, low cost method for collecting rainwater from the roof and storing if for use in the garden (e.g. instead of a mains-water hosepipe for lawns, etc). • Rainwater harvesting - provides an efficient and economic means for utilising the rainwater coming from roofs to supply toilets, washing machines and irrigation systems. • Greywater recycling - enables slightly polluted water from the bath, shower and washbasin to be reused in the house (e.g. for toilet flushing, washing machine, watering or for cleaning). For rainwater collection, the external drainage of the roof needs to be designed to bring the water to a central point. If designing a rainwater recycling system, you should consider: • Access for an underground storage tank and excavation is required. • A pumping system with electrical supply and housing may be required. • Internal plumbing should separate out the drinking (including bathing) water from the nondrinking water (WC, washing machine, outside tap). Sustainable Surface Water Drainage All domestic buildings and sites should designed with sustainable surface water drainage considerations to manage surface water from the roof and other surfaces. Run-off must be managed in the site to avoid it entering public roads and adjoining properties and surface water discharge should be managed in a way that will not endanger the building or environment. Consider measures to reduce runoff, for example reduce to a minimum the use of hard surface and paved areas. Instead use permeable and natural surfaces i.e. gravel, permeable paving, green/planted areas in your site, sustainable infiltration

2. Page 22

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   TIPPERARY COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022 – 2028 VOLUME 3 20 systems can also be used for example planted soak aways, cattle grids etc. The discharge of stormwater from roofed and paved areas to a foul water sewer or onto the public road is not permitted. 3.5 Site Proportion and Set-Back At an early stage it is essential to consider the proportion of the proposed house in relation to both the size of the available plot and the size of existing buildings in the vicinity. The new house will also need to be set-back an acceptable distance from the public road to provide adequate frontage for planting and to reduce the visual impact of development. The set-back distance will vary according to plot size, adjacent building line and the natural features of the site generally, the larger the house the greater the required setback from the road. A general guide to house sizes and appropriate plot sizes and setback from the public road is set out below. Figure 10: Illustrative guide to appropriate setback

3. Page 23

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   TIPPERARY COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022 – 2028 VOLUME 3 21 Figure 11: In general, the bigger the house the greater the required setback 3.6 Vehicle Access and Parking The space around the new building should be considered as an integral part of the site layout, not as an afterthought. In particular, vehicles need to be carefully provided for: • All parking requirements should be met on site and off the road. • The driveway should preferably be indirect, gently crossing the natural contours of the site or curving subtly around existing site features, as opposed to taking a harsh straight line from the road. • Surface materials should be sympathetic to the rural character of the site (such as gravel with soft edges as opposed to tarmac with pre-cast concrete kerbs). • The garage should be subservient to the scale of the building.

4. Page 24

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   TIPPERARY COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022 – 2028 VOLUME 3 22 Figure 12: Plot Boundaries, Entrances and Garden Design Destruction of existing roadside boundaries should be avoided, except to the extent necessary to create a safe entrance to the new house and where required by the roads section of the Council. New road boundaries and entrances need to be designed sympathetically, especially where several different frontages are adjacent to one another: • Entrance sight lines must be designed according to standards set out in the Appendix 6 Development Management Standards of the Plan and clearly illustrated on the site layout plan submitted with the planning application. • New front boundaries should be restricted to a simple range of materials that are already common to the area, such as hedgerows, sod and stone banks and stone/rendered walls. • Gateways should also be simple, constructed from timber or metal and defined by restrained piers of stone or rendered block. • For side boundaries, existing hedgerows are preferable or simple timber fencing with new hedge and tree planting may be provided. Figure 13: Existing Natural Features should be used to integrate the new house.

5. Page 25

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   TIPPERARY COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022 – 2028 VOLUME 3 23 Figure 14: Entrance suggestions In setting out your site boundaries consider the following: • Retain trees, hedgerows and other existing features (e.g. streams, rock outcrops) to provide a framework for the garden. • Consider planting the space between the house and front boundary with trees. • Create new hedgerows of mixed native species (see appendix for suggested species). • Trees and shrubs which are locally native will be easier to establish, and in keeping with the character of the area. • On exposed sites, consider more substantial shelter planting of native trees to help reduce the effects climate. Figure 15: New Hedgerow of native species

6. Page 26

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   TIPPERARY COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022 – 2028 VOLUME 3 24 • Incorporate practical needs sensitively into the overall design of the site, such as fuel and refuse storage areas, a compost/recycling area, clothes drying area, and a safe place for children to play. 3.8 Neighboring Amenity When choosing your new site, be conscious of your neighbors. Avoid building close to farmyard both active and disused. The normal day to day operation of farmyards generates noise and smells from machinery, slurry and animals which are not compatible with residential amenity. Be conscious of the privacy and amenity of others who are already resident in the area when selecting a new site. Seek to avoid disrupting established views or vistas from existing houses in as much as is reasonable. Ensure that any new development does not overlook or overshadow existing property. Step 4: Design the House 4.1 Traditional Building Forms The traditional buildings of the County tend to be simple, with little or no decorative detailing and built of a limited range of locally available natural materials. Many were only one room deep, giving a narrow rectangular plan form, which could be extended sequentially, and with consistent roof pitches. Aspects of traditional design can be incorporated into modern dwellings. Figure 16: Examples of good contemporary design incorporating traditional principles

7. Page 27

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   TIPPERARY COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022 – 2028 VOLUME 3 25 4.2 Contemporary Approach The Council promotes the contemporary design of new houses and particularly passive houses in the countryside where the principles set out in this Manual are satisfied and where the proposed house is appropriate to the site, the existing character of the location and its neighbors. 4.3 Scale and Form Consider how the scale and form of a proposed dwelling will complement its setting, its visibility in the landscape, and its relationship to nearby buildings, this applies to both modern and traditional designs. The traditional linear plan form provides a versatile shape that is equally applicable to contemporary buildings. Rectangular narrow forms can adapt to most plot sizes and different landforms - running along a slope, stepping down a slope, or enclosing spaces such as courtyards. Aim to Achieve: I. Simplicity in design, particularly in the front elevation II. Rectangular, narrow plan forms with excellent passive solar gain III. Consistent roof slopes IV. Well-proportioned windows and doors V. Quality, predominantly natural materials VI. Minimal ornate decoration Try to Avoid: I. Complicated and fussy designs and finishes II. Boxy, irregular plan forms, shallow pitched roofs III. Horizontally proportioned or arched windows IV. Over-use of artificial materials V. Large overhanging roof verges and barge boards

8. Page 28

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   TIPPERARY COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022 – 2028 VOLUME 3 26 Figure 17: Examples of inappropriate suburban design features Refer to Figure 18 below for a general guide to features and finishes appropriate to a rural house. 4.4 Development Contributions Development Contributions will be required by condition as part of any planning permission granted. These are calculated based on the floor area of the proposed dwelling, therefore, the bigger the dwelling the higher the development contributions that will apply. Charges may apply for the following: • Roads and Amenity – due to Tipperary County Council • Water supply and Wastewater services – due to Irish Water. For further information of development contributions refer to www.tipperarycoco.ie

9. Page 29

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   TIPPERARY COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022 – 2028 VOLUME 3 27 Figure 18: General Guidance to scale, form and finish

10. Page 30

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    TIPPERARY COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022 – 2028 VOLUME 3 28 4.5 Detailed Design Considerations appropriate for Tipperary. Take care that new buildings enhance rather than detract from rural Tipperary. Consider the following recommendations: • Avoid ‘off-the-shelf’ designs and use of inappropriate standard materials. • Avoid using ‘images’ of past architectural styles, such as medieval leaded lights, mock Georgian porticos and doors, ornamental barge boards and half timbering. • Take care not to overuse ornamental detailing such as coloured brick banding, applied quoins and unusual window shapes. Materials Consider the use of contemporary materials such as copper and zinc that can be successfully combined with timber, glass, slate, rendered and painted blockwork to create attractive houses. If these are out of your price range aim for a simple design that can support simple finishes. Tipperary houses usually have a painted plaster or plaster dash finish and this is often the best finish to use. If you need to use stone, use it sparingly to provide contrast and in suitable locations to help integrate the building with the landscape. Natural stone garden and boundary walls can be especially effective in linking the new house with the landscape. Where stone is used it is best to be natural stone. Roof and Chimneys For your roof form and finish consider the following: • Simple and consistent pitched roof form works best on standard designs. • Limit use of oversailing roofs unless as integral part of a contemporary design. • Simple roofing materials are best, such as flat dark tiles and natural slate. • Rainwater goods should be as discrete as practicable. • Chimneys proportion and location appropriate to the size and style of house.

Source Tipperary County Council: Rural Housing Design Guide (County Development Plan, volume 3) · 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.