MAKING CENTS: Plan ahead before you submit housing plans

Consumer advice with Gráinne McGuinness

DREAMING of building your own home? Many Irish people do, while others extend and renovate their current homes. In either situation, applying for planning permission is a cause for trepidation.

Planning permission is obtained from your local planning authority and the cost of submitting an application to build a house is €65. But each authority has its own guidelines for building and applicants’ plans must conform to these.