Written answers

Wednesday, 9 February 2005

Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government

Housing Design

9:00 pm

Photo of Paul Connaughton  SnrPaul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 143: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the initiatives he intends to introduce to encourage excellence of design in housing, particularly in regard to high density developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3709/05]

Photo of Noel AhernNoel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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To assist designers of social housing, my Department has published social housing design guidelines which provide general design guidance at the levels of both the overall scheme and the individual dwelling unit. The purpose of these guidelines is to identify principles and criteria that are important for the design of social housing and to highlight specific design features, requirements and standards that, from experience, have been found to be particularly relevant. These guidelines are being reviewed currently in my Department and it is intended that an updated set of guidelines which will contain specific advice on urban design and higher densities will be published later this year. Guidelines for residential developments in areas designated for urban renewal have also been issued by my Department with particular emphasis on apartment developments.

My Department's inspectorate through its work on the social housing programmes promote architectural quality within local authorities and the voluntary and co-operative housing sector. The standards applicable to the planning and design of private housing schemes are governed by the requirements of the development plan for the area in which the housing is to be constructed. Planning permission is required for all private housing developments and, in making its decisions, the planning authority will have regard to the criteria for planning and design of housing developments contained in its own development plan.

The guidelines for planning authorities on residential density which were published in September 1999 indicate that higher residential densities must not be achieved at an unacceptable amenity cost to the surrounding dwellings and the residents of the proposed development. A high quality of design and layout and a good quality living environment, including the availability of adequate shopping, social, transport and leisure infrastructure, are essential if increased residential densities are to be acceptable.

A joint housing committee, representative of my Department and the Royal Institute of Architects in Ireland, organise periodic national housing conferences. The agenda for this year's conference, which is to be held next May, will address issues relating to the quality of housing including urban design and management of high density developments. In addition, this Department hosted an international conference last year for the European Forum for Architectural Policy at which the issue of excellence of design was addressed.

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