Doolan outlines radical proposals for larger apartments

Daithí Doolan

Proposals to significantly increase the size of new apartments built in Dublin city are likely to be made compulsory for all developers there within the next two months. This follows the September meeting of Dublin City Council which saw councillors approve guidelines designed to encourage families to live in apartment complexes. The draft guidelines Achieving Liveable, Sustainable New Apartment Homes for Dublin City, were published in May and approved by city councillors last Monday when they were proposed by Sinn Féin Councillor Daithí Doolan, chairperson of the city’s planning, economic development and European affairs committee.
Speaking after the council meeting Daithí Doolan outlined the effect of the radical proposals.
“Dubliners can now look forward to a better standard of housing. With 90% of Dubliners soon to be living in apartments, Dublin needs to take charge of its own housing developments. As a major stakeholder, the City needs to ensure housing developments are socially & environmentally sustainable”, Doolan said.
“This radical reform of building standards demands that any new apartment developments will include a dramatic 25% increase in apartment size, family friendly design, facilities for children, extra storage space, developments to include social infrastructure and a minimum of 10% public open space.
“The purpose of these proposals is to improve the quality of life for Dublin’s residents and is an attempt to stem the current haemorrhage out to the suburbs and into surrounding counties. It will radically change how families view living in the city of Dublin and will encourage people to stay in Dublin rather than being forced to commute long distances to and from work.
Now that proposals will have been endorsed by the City Council a process will be set in motion to make them policy for the city and dramatically improve the quality of live for those who live here.”
Dublin City Council is to host an international conference on the subject later this month. Successful Apartment Living: Combating Urban Sprawl will take place on 17 September in the Croke Park Conference Centre, Dublin.