COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, November 14, 2022

QUESTION NO. 4

QUESTION: Councillor Yvonne Collins

What are the consequences if a daylight and sunlight assessment report is not submitted with a planning application for a residential development, but permission is granted, and the building is not compliant with BRE standards?

REPLY

The BRE Daylight and Sunlight Report (Site Layout and Planning for Daylight and Sunlight) A Guide to Good Practice 2022 is one of many tools that can be used to inform planning application decisions. The Guidance contained in the BRE Report contains generalised recommendations and provides for exceptions and departures from its recommendations. It is not a rules-based set of standards. Most commonly the Planning Authority would consider BRE Daylight and Sunlight Assessments when consideration planning applications for major developments such as apartment blocks. BRE Guidance is not enforceable as a standalone standard or a legislative code. The Planning Authority's Enforcement Section have no role in relation to BRE Guidance unless specifically provided for in a planning application decision.