The Development Regulations 2008 and superseding Planning, Development and Infrastructure (General) Regulations 2017 define a Home Activity with reference to the current Regulations:
Home activity means a use of a site by a person resident on the site –
(a) that does not detrimentally affect the amenity of the locality or any part of the locality;
and
(b) that does not require or involve any of the following:
(i) assistance by more than 1 person who is not a resident in the dwelling;
(ii) use (whether temporary or permanent) of a floor area exceeding 30 square metres
(iii) the imposition on the services provided by a public utility organisation of any demand or
load greater than which is ordinarily imposed by other uses of the services in the locality
(iv) the display of goods in a window or about the dwelling or its curtilage;
(v) the use of a vehicle exceeding 3 tonnes tare in weight.
Expanding on part (a) activities which may “detrimentally affect the amenity of the locality“
Would include anything that :
- creates noise, smoke ,fumes or dusts
- operates for extended or continues periods
- operates outside of reasonable hours
- generates high levels of carparking or traffic than would normally happen in a residential
area - erect a sign of 0.2 sq. metres or greater advertising the activity of business on the property.
Home activities have been around for decades and have a very legitimate place when a resident wants to use a couple of rooms, or a garage or something similar for a commercial activity within their dwelling or on their property. The appeal of such activities has only increased with the COVID Pandemic and people avoiding gathering en masse in office buildings and the like and risking being infected. But I suspect some people have actually found such home setups suit their requirements and has other advantages like avoiding peak hour traffic, traffic jams parking hassles and family responsibilities. Any issues about isolation are mostly dispelled by modern technology i.e. mobile phones, computers, zooming, and the internet generally.
Where the services of a Town Planner are often required is in addressing the possible effects on the amenity of the locality. Usually residential properties are not able to accommodate a lot of car parking on site. Therefore if two consulting rooms are not to generate high levels of parking and traffic they may need to operate with only one maybe two consultants possibly part time and not necessarily onsite together. Similarly the availability of surrounding on street car parking needs to be considered so neighbours are not detrimentally affected by loss of on street car parks for their use.
Similarly trading hours and things like noise and fumes should be compatible with surrounding residential properties so as not to detrimentally affect the locality. This can be established and explained by a Town Planning Consultant.
Home Activities (Office) can suit peoples modern life styles