Our Crossabeg Passive House has been prominently featured in the latest edition of Passive House Plus magazine!
This in-depth 11-page article explains the intricacies of our project, presenting it as a comprehensive case study. It highlights our commitment to sustainable building practices and our ambitious goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions.
Discover how we have seamlessly integrated energy efficiency and innovative low-carbon solutions into this home. The article provides details about the design strategies and technologies that make this Passive House a model of sustainability.
Substantial increases to the existing planning exemption thresholds for solar panels are now available.
Two new sets of regulations entitled the Planning and Development Act (Exempted Development) (No.3) Regulations 2022 and the Planning and Development (Solar Safeguarding Zone) Regulations 2022 which have immediate effect have been published on the 7th October 2022 .
Additionally two new classes of exempted development have been introduced.
For clarity, works that benefit from Planning Exemptions do not require Planning Permission.
What are the main changes?
In a nutshell,
the 12sqm/ 50% roof limit which applied to houses has been removed nationwide. There is no rooftop limit on houses, regardless of whether the house is located within or outside of a Solar Safeguarding Zone (SSZ). Houses are now able to erect unlimited rooftop solar panels subject to certain conditions.
The 50sqm/ 50% roof limit which applied to other specified classes of development has been removed for solar developments that are located outside of an SSZ. Such developments, located outside of an SSZ, are able to erect unlimited rooftop solar panels subject to certain conditions.
The Planning and Development (Solar Safeguarding Zone) Regulations 2022 (S.I. No. 492 of 2022) support the Planning and Development Act (Exempted Development) (No.3) Regulations 2022 and set out 43 Solar Safeguarding Zones (SSZs) within which a rooftop limit on solar panels continues to apply. The SSZs are applicable to all classes of development other than houses.
Wexford Town Solar Safeguarding Zone
Conditions and Limitations
The Planning and Development Act (Exempted Development) (No.3) Regulations 2022 (S.I. No. 493 of 2022) set out the main amendments to the existing solar planning exemptions contained in the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 (the Principal Regulations). These regulations set out the updated conditions and limitations which apply to the various pre-existing classes of development (e.g. houses, industrial, light industrial, business premises and agricultural).
UPDATE 23.11.2021: The webinar is now available on YouTube:
Passive House, County Wexford, designed by Isabel Barros Architects
As Architects, it is important to move forward with the times, not only to modernise design but to look at a more sustainable and environmental zero-carbon future.
Isabel will be joining Pat Barry, Chief Executive Officer, Irish Green Building Council, Daria Blanc-Mathieu, Senior Sustainability Consultant, Meehan Green. and David Murray, Head of Technical Affairs & Ireland Sales, MEDITE SMARTPLY on AT live webinar at 10:00 am on Wednesday 17th November to discuss intelligent specification for a zero-carbon future.
They will be covering a wide range of topics including:
Meeting the challenges facing the construction industry
Understanding government targets
Green Building Council incentive programmes
The importance of green building certifications
Making positive specification and informed material selection for sustainability, ethics and health
The importance of EPDs and how to use them
Building differently towards a carbon vernacular
Supporting specification in line with green build certification
Taking wider responsibility – delivering building fabric solutions with guaranteed and enduring performance
To join this discussion and learn more about what we can do to have a zero-carbon future Register Here .
Isabel Barros Architects - Wexford is driven by a passion for creating high quality contemporary Architecture. Our goal is to make good design available to the general public while maintaining a strong focus on the energy efficiency and sustainability of our designs.
A graduate of Lusíada University in Lisbon, Portugal, Isabel is a Senior Architect with over 28 years experience. She is a registered member of both the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) and the Portuguese Association of Architects. Isabel is also Accredited in Conservation at Grade 3.
