Proposed new planning exemptions from planning permission for slurry storage on farms are expected to be assessed by the cabinet on Tuesday morning, the Irish Farmers Journal understands.

Minister of State for planning John Cummins is to bring a series of proposals to cabinet, which would exempt certain developments from the requirement to seek planning permission.

It’s understood that Minister Cummins, following engagement with Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon, is bringing forward the planning exemption for slurry storage in a bid to have it in place to coincide with the application window for TAMS 3 this autumn and the proposed exemption will be prioritised when the Dáil returns.

ADVERTISEMENT

A four-week public consultation will go live at 2pm on Tuesday and it’s understood Minister Cummins wants new exempted development regulations to be in place by the end of the year. Farm organisations and members of the public are being urged to make submissions to the public consultation.

Slurry storage

It’s understood the public consultation will say that, in support of compliance with the nitrates directive, it is proposed to provide additional slurry storage capacity on farms with a total maximum capacity of no more than 1,500 cubic metres.

The proposal is expected to consider the aggregated total of slurry storage capacity and appropriate separation distances between farm holdings and adjacent properties.

Exempted development

Under current planning rules, exempted developments must be 100m away from adjoining residential properties or be accompanied by a letter from the neighbour supporting the development.

It’s understood that the maximum total of 1,500 cubic metres of slurry storage would include existing slurry storage exemption provisions associated with structures for the housing of animals under class six and a new exemption for a stand-alone slurry storage tank of up to 1,000 cubic metres.

Under the planning regulations, class six relates to roofed structures housing cattle, sheep, goats, donkeys, horses, deer or rabbits, with a gross floor space not exceeding 200 square metres (whether or not by extension of an existing structure) and any ancillary provision for effluent storage.

It’s understood the proposal would increase the exemption under class six in relation to animal housing size from 200 square metres to 300 square metres in the interest of animal welfare.