Back-garden cabin proposals: All you need to know  

'Tiny homes, factory builds, and timber structures are not the problem. Suitably designed, sited, insulated, ventilated and maintained, a quality cabin can do exactly what bricks and mortar can do'

An A-frame wooden cabin house. Currently, we can only build 25sq m detached structures behind the house. File picture

There's a swirling storm of misinformation on social media regarding the proposed changes to planning permission for siting modular buildings in gardens as living solutions. We don’t have the legislation in its final form, and it will have to go through several stages, including a public consultation. Here’s what we do know is under discussion between the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and other relevant departments of Government.

Just as a preface, for anyone who thinks I have a prejudice regarding modular, CAD-made homes or timber buildings — I have lived in a B1-rated timber-framed, timber-clad house for 25 years, and set up house for extended periods in a motor home.