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Conservation

Architectural Heritage

County Louth has a rich and diverse architectural heritage. The protection of this heritage is under the Planning and Development Acts 2000 (as amended). It is a statutory requirement that the protection of buildings of artistic, architectural, historical, cultural, archaeological, scientific, technical or social interest be a mandatory objective of each local authority's Development Plan. 

Owners and occupiers of protected buildings are required to ensure that buildings do not become endangered through harm, decay or damage.

Protected Structures

Each planning authority is obliged to have a Record of Protected Structures (RPS).
The Record of Protected Structures (RPS) is part of the County Development Plan and can be found here.

Review of the Record of Protected Structures in the County

This review will consider additions, deletions, or amendments to the Record of Protected Structures. This includes, but is not restricted to, property owners whose property is currently included in the Record of Protected Structures or property owners who would like their property to be added to the Record of Protected Structures.

To assist in the review process it would be beneficial if submissions included supporting documentation such as photographs and a rationale as to why the building/structure should be added or deleted to the Record of Protected Structures or if an amendment to the description of the building/structure in the Record of Protected Structures is required. Submissions can be made here.

Closing date for submissions is Wednesday 30th April 2025 at 4:30pm. 

Traditional Farm Buildings Grant Scheme

The Heritage Council, in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, manages the Traditional Farm Buildings Grant Scheme. The principal objective of this scheme is to ensure that traditional farm buildings and other related structures that contribute to the character of the landscape and are of significant heritage value are conserved for active agricultural use.

The 2024 Traditional Farm Buildings grant scheme will open for applications on 23rd February 2024.

Information Webinar

for applicants interested in applying for the 2024 traditional farm buildings grant scheme on 1st March 2024 at 12pm.  Registration now closed.

Buildings that Qualify:

Traditional (also known as ‘vernacular’) farmhouses are a key part of our rural landscape and shared heritage. Sometimes described as ‘cottages’, these buildings generally comprise old houses constructed using traditional techniques and locally available materials such as thatch, stone, slate, earth, wattle, and timber. Later on, corrugated iron, despite its imported, industrial origin, was also used. 

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine confirmed that participants in the following Department schemes were eligible to apply for this grant scheme:

  • Active agri-environment scheme participants including ACRES. Note: Active ACRES and REAP participants only
  • Participants in EIP Calls 1, 2 and 3, Hen Harrier and Pearl Mussel projects and The Burren Project who were an active participant as of 31st December 2022 or had completed the full term of the contract for the relevant EIP or have completed a five-year project as appropriate.
  • Approved participants of the Organic Farming scheme

Full details available at Traditional Farm Buildings Grant Scheme | The Heritage Council

Guides & Information

New - Improving Energy Efficiency in Traditional buildings (Guidance for Specifiers and Installers)
Prepared by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Minister Noonan launches A Living Tradition

Malcolm Noonan TD, Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, has launched A Living Tradition: a strategy to enhance the understanding, care and handing on of our built vernacular heritage.

Traditional Building and Conservation Skill and Trades Register (2024)

Fire Safety in Thatched Properties (2023)

A Guide to Protected Structures

A Guide to ACA's in Louth

Planning Leaflet Series 2022 - Leaflet 12 A Guide to Architectural Heritage

An Action Plan for the Sustainable Future of the Irish Historic House in Private Ownership, 2015 (DAHG)

Protected Structures - Advice Series

A series of links to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage publications and statutory guidance, relevant legislation, local contacts, resources and reports which may be of assistance to you as an owner or as an agent working on a protected or any historic structure. The most important documents are the Planning and Development Act, 2000 (as amended); the Planning and Development Regulations, 2001 (as amended); and the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht’s guidance document Architectural Heritage Protection – Guidance for Planning Authorities (2011).

Government Advice

Maintenance: A Guide to the Care of Older Buildings, 2007

Windows: A Guide to the Repair of Historic Windows, 2007

Thatch: A Guide to the Repair of Thatched Roofs, 2015

Bricks: A Guide to the Repair of Historic Brickwork, 2009

Iron: A Guide to the Repair of Wrought and Cast Ironwork, 2009

Energy: Energy Efficiency in Traditional Buildings, 2010 ; and

Improving Energy Efficiency in Traditional Buildings, 2023

Roofs: A Guide to the Repair of Historic Roofs, 2010

Ruins: The Conservation and Repair of Masonry Ruins, Government of Ireland, 2010

Access: Improving the accessibility of Historic Buildings and Places, 2011

Places of Worship: The Conservation of Places of Worship, 2011

Paving: The Conservation of Historic Ground Surfaces, 2015

Disaster: A Guide to Preparedness

Section 57 Declaration

The Planning and Development Act, 2000 (as amended) provides that notwithstanding section 4(1)(a), (h), (i),  (j), (k), or (l) and any regulations made under section 4(2) of the Act,  the carrying out of works to a protected structure, or a proposed protected structure, shall be exempted development only if those works would not materially affect the character of: 

(a) the structure, or

 (b) any element of the structure which contributes to its special architectural, historical, archaeological, artistic, cultural, scientific, social or technical interest.

 As an owner or occupier of a protected structure you are entitled under the above Act to make a written request to the Planning Authority to issue a Declaration as to the type of works which it considers would or would not materially affect the character of the structure or of any element (as set out in Section 57(3) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 as amended) of that structure.

S57 Declaration Application Form

S57 Declarations - Issued 

 Online Planning and Maps 

Traditional Building & Conservation Skills: Register of Practitioners, Irish Georgian Society available here

The National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH) surveyed the Architectural Heritage of Louth in 2005.
Highlights from this survey were published in 2008 as 'An Introduction to the Architectural Heritage of County Louth' and is available from bookshops.

 Architectural Heritage

Published:2008
ISBN:0755774426
Price €12

Please see also Louth Heritage

Contact: conservation@louthcoco.ie / planning@louthcoco.ie