Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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156. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will outline the rationale behind proposals to reduce minimum standards for apartment size, window dimensions, and green space provision in new housing developments; and how he intends to address concerns that such changes may negatively affect residents’ well-being and overall quality of life; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40192/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The Planning Design Standards for Apartments Guidelines for Planning Authorities, 2025 “the Guidelines” were issued under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended). Section 28 of the Act provides that planning authorities and An Coimisiún Pleanála shall have regard to Ministerial guidelines in the performance of their functions. Where the Guidelines contain specific planning policy requirements (SPPRs), planning authorities and An Coimisiún Pleanála are required to comply with these requirements in the performance of their functions.

The revised National Planning Framework (NPF) sets out the need to plan for approximately 50,000 additional households per annum to 2040, and reaffirms the Government’s commitment to sustainable development and compact growth. This will require a substantial increase in housing output of all types, and need a renewed focus on the delivery of apartments, particularly in central urban areas and in locations accessible to high quality public transport services.

Viability presents an ongoing challenge to housing delivery. This is particularly relevant for the delivery of apartments, where a considerable gap has emerged between the cost of delivering apartment development and comparable general housing market prices. Increased costs also present an ongoing challenge to the delivery of social and affordable housing schemes. The overall purpose of the Guidelines is to reduce costs and strike an effective regulatory balance, ensuring that apartment development meets the needs of society in terms of standards and quality, while promoting an increased level of output overall.

The minimum basic 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartment sizes remain unchanged from the previous Guidelines issued in 2023. Restrictions on smaller 2-bedroom three-person apartments have been removed and a new smaller 3-bedroom four-person has been introduced in recognition of changing household needs. The size of a studio apartments has been reduced to 32 sq.m in recognition of the fact that the previous minimum studio (37 sq. m) was only 8 sq.m smaller than the minimum 1 bedroom apartment.

Dimensions for windows are specified within building regulations. The Guidelines contain standards relating to the % of apartments that must be dual aspect. The previous Guidelines required at least 33% or 50% of dual aspect apartments in urban locations and in suburban locations, respectively. The operation of two standards at different locations has caused some confusion with the higher standards also adding to overall cost of apartment developments. The new Guidelines create a single standard of 25% to create greater certainty and allow for increased standardisation in building design and flexibility. New apartment schemes are subject to a technical assessment to ensure acceptable levels of natural light is provided within.

The minimum sizes of balconies/terraces remain and requirements for communal open space are generally unchanged from previous Guidelines. The new Guidelines enable planning authorities to accept a reduced provision of private open space in certain circumstances where high quality, usable communal open space can be provided in the scheme, or where the amenity value of balconies/private open space would be negligible, such as where units front onto major sources of noise and/or air pollution. The Guidelines recommend that the number of units without direct access to private amenity space within apartment schemes not exceed 50%.