IrishCycle.com could not find any bicycle sheds designed for cargo bicycles measuring close to the allowed 3.5 square metres.Housing Minister James Brown has said that its not sensible for planners to be focused on issues like bicycle sheds and said he is laser focused on cutting red tape, reducing bureaucracy and streamlining systems, but the exemption on bicycle sheds at the front of houses will fail most people who need such a shed in their front gardens. The regulations are now signed by the the Departments Minister for State John Cummins exempting bicycle and bin storage at the front of houses from planning permission. But as covered by this website two weeks ago, the expetion only applies tor structures up to a maximum of 3.5 square metres and a height of only 1.4 metres.The square meter footage and height limitations of the regulations are significantly below many standard bicycle sheds and lockers which are designed for three or more bicycles to be accessed individually. The regulations are even more so out of scope for structures designed for cargo and adaptive bicycles and trikes, used by a range of people including families, disabled people and busineses.In its press release issued yesterday, Minister Browns Department said: A new exemption will provide for cycle or bin storage at both the front and back of the property, with enough space to hold either 3-4 adult-size bicycles, 2 cargo bikes or 3 wheelie bins.In the release, Minister Brown was quoted as follows: As Minister for Housing, I have been laser focused on cutting red tape, reducing bureaucracy and streamlining systems to get Ireland building better and faster. Engaging with our planning system has been a bug bearer for so many people, costing time and money for things that shouldnt be on the desk of planners in reality.He added: Sensible and considered planning guidance is absolutely necessary for communities as our villages, towns and cities grow and expand but not for things like bike storage and velux windows by and large.But IrishCycle.com searched a range of projects designed so that more than the bicycles are accessible and lockable without stacking or locking the bikes to each other, in a way that enables daily use by a family or household, and all of these would still require plannng permission at the front of houses.ExamplesAs an example, CycleHoop, a well-known UK manufacturer of bicycle lockers, has a standard Bikehangar product with a width of 2578mm and a depth of 2030mm, which equates to 5.2 square meters. Their cargo bike version is 5.8 square meters, and even the Mini Bikehangar, described as a compact version, measures 1838mm x 2030mm with an area of over 3.7 square metres. Other manufacturers also offer similar-sized products.Under the Bikebunker branding, Dublin City Council is rolling out these structures on streets outside houses without rear access, and in many cases without any front garden or yard. The Bikebunkers are mainly in city centre locations, whereas all reported planning cases relating to bicycle sheds at the front of houses were in more suburban areas with driveways or larger gardens.Other similar products, such as the Dutch-produced Fietslocker, would be of a similar area, and also slightly fall foul of the 1.4 metre height limit.Most square wooden or steel products are designed to hold three or more standard bicycles, with access to each bicycle individually, also break the height limit.These generally come in at 3.7 or more square metres. For example, the two sheds pictured below, sold by the Kildare-based company Coola Living, are between 3.7 and 4.1 square metres. These would also exceed the height allowance by more than 60 cm.This website could only find one such bicycle locker or shed of under that size from Sheds Direct Ireland, but this would still exceed the height allowance.A balanced and proportionate approachFor the recent article, a spokesperson for the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage said: A balanced and proportionate approach was adopted in framing the exemptions.The Department added: Larger structures, such as the one set out in the query [sent by this website], may still be accommodated where planning permission is obtained from the relevant planning authority.