Bringing Back Homes  Manual for the Reuse of Existing Buildings

The Bringing Back Homes manual was prepared by the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. It was developed to support and facilitate the reuse of vacant buildings in our towns and cities for residential use, with the primary objective of increasing the number of viable residential properties.

The manual aims to provide property owners, members of the public, Local Authorities and those involved in the construction industry with clear guidance on how current regulatory requirements apply to common, existing building types. Guidance on how best to facilitate the reuse of these building types is also provided. It should be noted that the manual is intended to serve as a reference guide only and is not envisaged as a substitute for compliance with legal obligations.

The Bringing Back Homes manual complements the new planning exemption, which allows the change of use of vacant commercial buildings to domestic use without having to go through the planning process.

Access the Bringing Back Homes guidelines