Planning Guidance

It is an applicant’s responsibility to ensure that the plans and particulars of any planning application are appropriate. It is important that all accompanying documentation addresses planning and environmental requirements, for the development permissions being sought. The following is recommended to provide clarity to Planning Authorities and help avoid delays within the consenting process.

Uisce Éireann provides guidance on feasibility of water and wastewater connections to service developments via it’s Pre-Connection Enquiry process. Uisce Éireann strongly recommends that a Confirmation of Feasibility (CoF) issued by Uisce Éireann, is submitted as part of your planning application for development types under Part 8 and Section 34 of the Planning and Development Act 2000.

It is a mandatory requirement under SI No 716 2021 of the Planning and Development (LRD) Regulations 2021, that a planning application for an LRD is accompanied with a Confirmation of Feasibility (COF) issued by Uisce Éireann.

Where applicants are seeking planning permission for developments that require an Environmental Impact Assessment (applicants are strongly advised to submit an EIAR Scoping Request to Uisce Éireann at least 6 months ahead of lodging a planning application, irrespective of whether the proposals require a connection to the public network or not).

Early pre-planning engagement with our Development Management Planning section, provides Uisce Éireann with the opportunity to review development proposals in advance of the consenting process. Uisce Éireann will work with you to address connection feasibility, ensuring Uisce Éireann’s standard requirements are met and/or potential impacts to drinking water sources have been considered.

Uisce Éireann does not permit Build-Over of any assets, so we strongly recommend you demonstrate in your planning application, that separation distances from public infrastructure can be achieved. For more details, please visit our dedicated Diversions page. Where a diversion is required, you are strongly advised to secure a Diversion-specific Confirmation of Feasibility, issued by Uisce Éireann, as part of your planning application.

Applicants should be aware that it is a requirement of the Water Framework Directive, that waters used for the abstraction of drinking water are protected to avoid deterioration in quality. Protection of drinking water source(s) is a priority for Uisce Éireann.

Our Development Management Planning section is available to discuss any queries you may have relating to the topics above. Queries should be sent to planning@water.ie.

EIAR Scoping Requests should be sent to planning@water.ie.