Ministers O’Brien and O’Donnell call for public views on the draft sustainable and compact settlements guidelines

• new Guidelines for Planning Authorities’ aim to meet housing needs of more diverse and smaller household
• guidelines aim to support ‘own door housing’ and responsive, flexible innovative housing design in communities

The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, and the Minister of State with responsibility for Planning and Local Government, Kieran O’Donnell, today called for public views on draft policy aimed at creating more sustainable and compact settlements and supporting more diverse housing types.

Publishing the Draft 'Sustainable and Compact Settlements Guidelines for Planning Authorities' for consultation, the Ministers emphasised that the aim of the consultation is to secure views on new national policy that supports more compact and diverse housing in all settlements, increased housing supply and greater housing choice.

The draft guidelines will expand on government policy in the National Planning Framework, in particular policies in relation to compact growth and in relation to the creation of attractive, liveable, well-designed, high quality urban places.

Following the consultation, the finalised guidelines, to be published in October 2023, will build on - and update - the existing Sustainable Residential Developments in Urban Areas: Guidelines for Planning Authorities (2009).

Launching the consultation today, Minister O’Brien said:

The proposed policy approach focuses on the interaction between residential density, housing standards and quality design and place-making. It proposes:

• density ranges that respond to settlement size (e.g. cities, large towns, small and medium sized towns) and general locality in each settlement (i.e. central, urban and suburban or edge areas)
• highest residential densities at the most central and accessible urban locations, and more compact and sustainable forms of urban development overall. The preferred policy approach states that very high densities should be developed on a plan-led basis only
• greater flexibility in design standards for housing such as building separation distances and open space standards. This is in support of the construction of more compact ‘own-door’ housing, alongside traditional housing and apartment developments

Among the key proposals for consultation are:

Housing Density: to achieve compact growth, and reflecting the variety of settlements and settlement contexts where residential development takes place, the proposed approach recommends density ranges for cities, metropolitan towns, large towns (10,000+ population), small and medium sized towns (>1,500 to 10,000 population) and rural towns and villages (>1,500 population).

Housing standards: recognising the significant population growth forecast and changing demographics, and to achieve compact growth, medium-density housing models should be facilitated, alongside traditional housing and apartment developments. (Details are contained in the Notes to Editor/Further Information below)

Quality design and place-making: the guidelines set out quality design and place-making indicators, that should be applied in the preparation and consideration of individual planning applications. Examples of this could include sustainable and efficient movement, mix and distribution of land uses, integration of natural assets and green infrastructure and built form.

The Minister of State for Planning and Local Government, Kieran O’Donnell, said:

Submissions on the proposed policy approach can be made up until 5pm on 5 October 2023. All submissions will be taken into consideration when finalising the Sustainable and Compact Settlements Guidelines for Planning Authorities, which will be published in September 2023.

A copy of the Draft Sustainable and Compact Settlements Guidelines for Planning Authorities is available on the department's website.

To make a submission or observation email: nrupconsultation@housing.gov.ie or write to:

Compact Sustainable Settlement Guidelines Consultation, National, Regional and Urban Planning Section, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Custom House, Dublin 1, D01 W6X0.

Housing standards: recognising the significant population growth forecast and changing demographics, and to achieve compact growth, medium density housing models should be facilitated, alongside traditional housing and apartment developments. Among the standards contained in the draft guidelines are:

• separation: minimum separation distance of 16 metres between opposing windows serving habitable rooms at the rear or side of houses, duplex units and apartment units, with provision for further reductions in certain circumstances
• Private Open Space: minimum private open space provision of:

1 bed house 20 sq.metres

2 bed house 30 sq.metres

3 bed house 40 sq.metres

4 bed + house 50 sq.metres

with provisions for further reductions where an equivalent amount of semi-private open space is provided in lieu of private open space.

• Public Open Space: public open space requirement for new residential development in statutory development plans not to exceed 10% of the total net site area, and provision to be made for public parks in development plans
• Car Parking: car parking in more accessible urban areas to be minimised, substantially reduced or wholly eliminated based on location and access to public transport. Car parking requirements for new residential development in statutory development plans to be maximum standards

The guidelines, when finalised, will constitute Ministerial Guidelines under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. Section 28 provides that planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála shall have regard to Ministerial guidelines and shall apply any specific planning policy requirements (SPPRs) of the guidelines, within the meaning of Section 28 (1C) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended), in the performance of their functions.

Under the government’s Draft Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2022, these Ministerial guidelines and policy directives will be updated to form National Planning Statements. The National Planning Statements will be approved by Government and alignment with Policies and Measures contained therein will be mandatory, in that there will be a requirement for other plans to be materially consistent with them. Associated Policy Guidance will outline how these policies may be implemented. This will bring greater clarity and consistency to where national policy and guidance interacts with the planning system.