Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a process of assessment of the effects of a proposed development on the environment, which helps to ensure that the environmental consequences of the project are understood before a decision to grant planning permission is reached. In Ireland, the formal EIA process is undertaken by a local planning authority or
As Ireland moves towards its net zero carbon targets, as set out in the government’s Climate Action Plan 2023, the role of renewable energy generators such as solar farms are of growing importance. However, the process of bringing new solar farms to completion and connecting them to the national grid presents a significant challenge.
The Strategic Housing Development The Strategic Housing Development (SHD) process was first introduced in 2016 and was set up to fast-track residential units. SHD application processes were submitted directly to An Board Pleanála for consideration as opposed to the relevant local authority. This process was envisaged to provide swifter procedure in getting large scale planning
The Importance of a Project Manager The expansion and growth of the construction industry in Ireland over the past few years has led to the increased demand for competent project managers to ensure that projects are delivered safely, on time, within budget, and to the required specifications. The project manager is also responsible for managing
As Assigned Certifiers for some of the largest residential developers in Ireland, ORS takes on a crucial role in ensuring compliance with Building Control regulations. We act as the eyes and ears for Building Control, collating all relevant certificates from the Design Team members, sub-contractors, and specialists. This includes installation of and commissioning certificates, as
A Flood Risk Assessment (FRA) varies in complexity and scale. Stages 1 and 2 FRAs are desktop based and identify whether there may be flooding, and qualitatively assess and review the flood risk. Stage 3, however, involves more detailed and uncontrollable variables. It is a detailed quantitative assessment of potential flood events and involves site
Introduction When designing and constructing multi-storey residential or commercial buildings, ground-floor retail units are sometimes an afterthought. This is predominantly due to uses of the upper floors taking precedence from a design, financial and size point of view e.g. residential and office space. Tenants will typically conduct feasibility reviews of several potential units at
Measured Building Surveys A measured building survey is an accurate representation of a building, detailing architectural elements and structural features. It is an essential part of the design and planning process, especially during a building renovation or restoration. During the design stage for some projects, architects may require more detailed drawings, depending on project needs:
With the pressing need to address climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, renewable energy has become an increasingly important topic in recent years Renewable energy is energy that comes from sources or processes that are constantly replenished, such as wind, solar, geothermal, and hydroelectric power. These sources offer a sustainable alternative to finite and
The ‘Safety File’ for construction projects is also called many other things; e.g. handover file, operation & maintenance manuals, health & safety file. These files can also vary widely in terms of the contents. The Safety, Health & Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2013 set out the requirements for a Safety File to be prepared,