A protected structure is a structure that a planning authority considers to be of special interest from an architectural, historical, archaeological, artistic, cultural, scientific, social or technical point of view. If you are the owner or occupier of a protected structure, you are legally obliged to prevent it becoming endangered whether through damage or neglect. This document describes the protection given to these structures under Part IV of the Planning and Development Act 2000.
A structure must be listed on the planning authority’s Record of Protected Structures (RPS) to qualify for protected status under the Act. Each planning authority is obliged to keep a RPS as part of their development plan. The RPS must include every structure in its area which the planning authority considers to be of special interest. By including them in the RPS, the importance of these structures is recognised, they are legally protected from harm and all future changes to the structure are controlled and managed through the development control process (for example, planning permission) or by issuing a declaration under Section 57 of the Planning and Development Act 2000.
If a structure is included in the RPS, the protection extends to the interior of the structure to the land in its curtilage and to any other structures on that land and their interiors. Curtilage means the land and outbuildings immediately surrounding a structure which is (or was) used for the purposes of the structure. This obligation also applies to all fixtures and features forming part of the interior and exterior of the protected structure or any structure on the grounds attached to it. Owners or occupiers of protected structures can apply for a conservation grant from their planning authority for conservation and repair works.
The planning authority can add and delete structures from its RPS when reviewing its development plan or at any other time. Three stages must be gone through before a structure can be added to the RPS:
A planning authority can use a number of different sources to help it to identify structures for protection. These include:
A planning authority decides whether a structure should be included in the Record of Protected Structures (RPS) by identifying characteristics of special interest under the following headings: architectural, historical, archaeological, artistic, cultural, scientific, technical, and social. The assessment process is impartial and objective.
If the planning authority decides to consider a structure for inclusion in the RPS, it must go through the process laid down in the 2000 Act. It must notify the owner and occupier that the structure is a ‘proposed protected structure’. This means the structure has the same protection as a structure already on the RPS pending the final decision of the planning authority.
The planning authority must also inform a number of bodies prescribed by the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 including the Minister for the Heritage Council, the Arts Council, Fáilte Ireland and An Taisce of the proposed addition. Details of proposed additions to the RPS must be displayed in public for at least six weeks (10 weeks if it is done during the making of a development plan), during which time anyone (including the owner or occupier of the structure), has the right to comment on the proposal to the planning authority. These comments will be taken into account before the authority’s elected members decide whether or not the structure should become a protected structure.
The decision to list the structure in the RPS must be made within twelve
weeks of the end of the display period. The planning authority must notify the
owner and occupier of the structure of their decision within two weeks.
If a structure is to be deleted from the list, the same process must be followed. Details of the structure proposed for deletion must be displayed in public and any comments or objections from the public or the owner/occupier must be taken into account by the elected members of the planning authority when making their decision.
Owners or occupiers of protected structures are legally required to make sure that the structure does not become endangered through neglect, decay, damage or harm. Generally, if a structure is kept in habitable condition and regular maintenance is carried out (cleaning out gutters, repairing missing slates, repainting external timberwork, etc.), it should not become endangered.
If a protected structure is endangered, the planning authority can serve a notice on the owner or occupier, requiring them to carry out any work that it considers necessary to protect the structure. The work must be done within eight weeks of the date of the notice. The planning authority can also service a notice to require the ‘restoration of character’ of the protected structure. This could include removing, changing or replacing any parts of the structure specified in the notice.
Owners or occupiers can make written representations to the planning authority about the terms of the notice. They may request more time or financial help to comply with the notice. In many cases, they may be eligible for a conservation grant. The planning authority will take these representations into account when making their final decision. Owners and occupiers can appeal against the notice to the District Court within two weeks of their last response from the planning authority, if they are still not satisfied.
If a notice to prevent a structure from becoming endangered has been ignored, the planning authority can take enforcement action. in the case of endangerment or restoration of character notices, the planning authority can carry out the work itself and recover the costs of the work from the owner or the occupier. In exceptional cases, the planning authority may buy the protected structure from the owner, either by compulsory purchase or by agreement. This would only be done if the planning authority considered it the only way to save a protected structure.
Under the Planning and Development Act 2000, there are penalties for owners or occupiers of protected structures who endanger the structure or who fail to carry out work that has been ordered by the planning authority. If they are found guilty, they could be liable for fines of up to €1.27 million and/or a term of imprisonment of up to five years.
Planning permission is needed for work carried out on a protected structure that would materially affect its character. This means that many types of work, which in another building would be considered exempted development, may not be exempted where the building is a protected structure. Depending on the nature of the structure and the features of interest even work such as painting the interior or replacing windows could affect its character and require planning permission.
If you are unsure about what works require planning permission for your particular building you can apply in writing to your planning authority for a declaration under Section 57 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 about the structure and its curtilage (or grounds attached). This declaration states what types of work can be carried out without affecting the character of the structure. A declaration cannot exempt any works which would otherwise require planning permission. A planning authority will issue this declaration within 12 weeks of receiving a request. There is no fee for this service. You can take a case to An Bord Pleanála if you disagree with the declaration issued to you.
You must apply for planning permission in the usual way if more extensive work is planned. However, you will need to include more detail, such as drawings, photographs or any other material necessary to explain how the proposed alterations would affect the character of the structure. The newspaper and site notices for the planning application must state that the structure is a protected structure. You should check with your planning authority to find out what additional information they require when applying for planning permission on a protected structure. If the planning authority has refused planning permission, you can appeal this decision to An Bord Pleanála.
The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht has a number of useful publications in this area.
Copies of these publications can be purchased from the Government Publications Sales Office or downloaded free from the Department’s website.
If you want to recommend a structure for protected status or if you have any questions relating to your protected structure, you should write to your planning authority Conservation Officer or the planning department of your local authority.
You may also find it useful to contact the following:
If you have a question relating to this topic you can contact the Citizens Information Phone Service on 0761 07 4000 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm) or you can visit your local Citizens Information Centre.