Declan Burgess welcomes new agri planning exemptions to support farmers and cut red tape
Changes allow more housing and slurry storage without planning permission limits
New planning exemptions for agricultural development have been welcomed by Councillor Declan Burgess, who said the changes would provide practical support for farmers while maintaining environmental protections.
The updated regulations allow farmers to increase slurry storage capacity and construct additional cattle housing without having to apply for planning permission.
The measures are intended to reduce administrative burdens, cut costs and enable more timely investment in infrastructure that supports animal welfare and environmental standards.
Councillor Burgess said the changes would remove unnecessary red tape and make it easier for farmers to respond to regulatory and operational demands.
He also acknowledged the role played by Minister of State for Planning John Cummins in advancing the measures, along with Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon for his continued advocacy on behalf of the sector.
Under the revised rules, the size of individual animal housing structures permitted under Class 6 of Part 3 of Schedule 2 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 has been increased by 50 per cent, rising from 200 square metres to 300 square metres.
The total aggregated allowance for animal housing on a single farm holding has also been increased, from 300 square metres to 450 square metres.
In addition, a new exemption has been introduced to allow the construction of a stand alone slurry storage tank of up to 1,000 cubic metres, subject to an overall farm storage limit of 1,500 cubic metres.
Councillor Burgess noted that, as with all exempted developments, planning permission will still be required in cases where an Environmental Impact Assessment or Appropriate Assessment is necessary.
He said the changes strike a balance between supporting farm viability and ensuring continued compliance with environmental safeguards.