Sustainable Residential Development in Urban Areas

Chapter 1 National policy objectives
Introduction
1.0 Forecast growth in the Irish economy and population indicates that
strong demand for housing will continue with the number of homes
in Ireland possibly rising from its current level of 1.8 million to over
2.5 million by 2020. With the majority of these houses to be built in
urban areas, it is vitally important that this is achieved in a way
which supports the development of sustainable, integrated
neighbourhoods within our cities, towns and villages. In some cases,
residential development will be part of a mixed use scheme, where
there will be design challenges in ensuring the amenity of residents,
but there are also inherent benefits if these challenges can be met.
1.1 The aim of these guidelines is to set out the key planning principles
which should be reflected in development plans and local area plans,
and which should guide the preparation and assessment of planning
applications for residential development in urban areas.
1.2 These guidelines are accompanied by a non-statutory residential
design manual prepared on behalf of the Department by a team of
consultants led by O’Mahony Pike Planning Consultants. The best
practice design manual is intended to be read in tandem with these
guidelines, because it illustrates how policy principles can be
translated into practice by developers and their design teams and by
local authority planners. The design manual cites examples of good
practice from across the spectrum of development locations, ranging
from major brown-field sites to village infill sites. Also, “Green City
Guidelines: Advice for the protection and enhancement of
biodiversity in medium to high-density urban developments” (2008)
are a useful reference for planning authorities and planning
professionals.
1.3 These guidelines should also be read in conjunction with the
Department’s planning guidelines on design standards for new
apartments (which were published in September 2007). Those
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Planning Guidelines