The Pat Kenny Show Call for the removal of a set of modular homes in Brittas
Dec 8, 2025
Mary Carolan, Legal Affairs Correspondent at the Irish Times, teams up with Orla Hegarty, Architect and UCD Assistant Professor, to tackle the controversial case of modular homes in Brittas. They discuss the developer's claim of exemption from planning permission amidst local residents' objections. Key concerns include drainage, foundation integrity, and broader implications for planning policy. Hegarty emphasizes the risks of setting precedents in housing planning and how governance failures impact affordability and standards.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Residents Spot Rapid Modular Build
- Local residents reported 28 new modular homes built and foundations for 12 more at Brittas without clear planning permission.
- South Dublin County Council said the site used to be a dilapidated mobile home and caravan park and challenged the developer's exemption claim.
Case Hinges On 'Exempt Development'
- The legal core is whether the works are 'exempt development' or a new change of use requiring permission.
- Judge O'Connor emphasised he must decide the legal question separately from residents' operational concerns.
Council Shows Photos Of Permanent Structures
- Council lawyers showed photos and argued the new units are permanent with masonry and new roofs, unlike the previous mobile units.
- They also pointed to foundations being built and larger unit sizes as evidence of a new development.