THIS WEEK, THE government’s public consultation on changes to planning permission requirements closed, and it’s understood almost 900 submissions were made by members of the public.

Central to this has been the proposed changes to regulations relating to modular homes or cabins in gardens.

There has been huge interest from the public in the proposed changes, which are being sold by the government as one measure that could help alleviate the housing crisis.

First mooted by John Cummins, the junior minister in the Department of Housing with responsibility for planning permission earlier this year, he envisions that changes can help young couples and older downsizers.

Under the current rules, a freestanding building can be built in an area of 25sqm before planning permission is needed.

Under the new proposals, a modular-style home up to 45 square metres could be built at the rear of a house.

Opposition parties have held back any criticism of the plans, with many acknowledging that flexibility is needed in this area.

But how popular are these modular homes and how much will one set you back?

We caught up with Alan McCoy, the general manager of Eco-Home, an Offaly-based seller of cabins and modular homes, who told us business has been booming despite the regulation change not yet taking effect.

“I would say my job is like counselling. People come in and tell me what their problems are.

“People are stuck, rents are stupid, and maybe a mortgage is too far away. So I suppose this is a short-term solution to the problem,” McCoy said.

There are two types of customers McCoy sees regularly: the couple under 30 who can’t get a mortgage, and the older parents who are planning to move to the modular home in the garden to free up the main house for the next generation.

All in, with plumbing, electrics and a completed kitchen and bathroom, a one-bed modular home will set you back somewhere between €35,000 and €45,000.

A two-bed will cost approximately €40,000 to €60,000.

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McCoy said there has been a noticeable increase in interest since the proposed regulation changes were announced earlier this year.

“The biggest confusion at the minute is that the regulations haven’t changed yet. So a lot of people come in and, I don’t know if it’s misread over the internet or if other companies are kind of half-telling lies or something, but a lot of people come in and think it’s changed already,” McCoy said.

He hopes that one of the other benefits that could come from the planning change is that the government might act to get rid of the “cowboys” in the sector.

“There’s a lot of lads who maybe can use a drill, but probably aren’t building correctly. So when you’re Googling prices, you’ll see a variation between prices. But it’s what’s included in the price that is the big thing,” he said.

“The biggest problem though, is that if they do change the rules, there aren’t enough tradespeople to keep up with demand,” McCoy added.

The changes to planning regulations are expected to be in place by the end of this year.