Site Suitability

Cork County Council has been advised by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government of new arrangements with regard to the assessment of on-site wastewater disposal systems for single houses. From the 8th January 2010, Planning Authorities are required to implement the current EPA Code of Practice in respect of all applications received on, or after the 8th January 2010.

 

For all Planning Applications received on, or after the 8th January 2010, Planning Authorities must ensure that every individual dwelling that is granted planning permission in an unsewered area has first undergone site suitability assessment using the methodology set out in the EPA Code of Practice and the site assessment has fully met the required standards, as overseen by an appropriately trained, qualified and accountable assessor and designer. 

 

The site assessments are carried out by private operators not Cork County Council . The most up-to-date list of assessors approved by Cork County Council is available to view and download by Clicking This Link, or at the Planning Department public offices in the County Hall and Norton House Skibbereen. Only site assessments carried out by these approved assessors will be acceptable to Cork County Council. Please note that when hiring private operators to carry out a site assessment test you are entering into a private contract between you, (the applicant), and the private assessor.

 

In accordance with article 22(2)(c) of the Planning and Development Regulations 2006, applicants are required to submit the site assessment at the time of making the application. The standard Site Characterisation Form must be used to record this information. You must submit two copies of the site assessment with your planning application.

 

It should be noted that applications for multiple-house schemes, where it is proposed to provide an individual treatment system for each house, must be accompanied by an individual site assessment report for each individual site. The submission of a single assessment form in such circumstances will not be accepted.