Quality Housing Design Series

The department provides professional and technical advice on the design and delivery of publicly funded homes, by Local Authorities and Approved Housing Bodies, so that dwellings are:

• of good quality rationally and economically designed to deliver value for money
• well located to foster Sustainable Communities and deliver Compact Development
• delivered consistent with planning policy and best urban design principals to deliver quality in the public realm

The following documents form part of the Quality Housing Design Series.

• Quality Housing for Sustainable Communities (2007)
• Employers Requirements for Detail Design of Quality Housing (Revision 1 September 2020)
• Design Manual for Quality Housing
• Domestic Violence Refuge Accommodation - Project Brief Design Guidelines 2024

These above manuals should be read in conjunction with the following guidance documents published by the department.

• Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets (DMURS) (2013)
• Sustainable Residential Developments in Urban Areas (SRDUA) (2009)
• National Planning Framework - Ireland 2040 Our Plan (NPF) (2018)
• Sustainable Urban Housing Design Standards for New Apartments Guidelines for Planning Authorities (2022)
• Urban Development and Building Height Guidelines (UD&BHG) (2018)
• Residential Caravan Parks for Travellers
• Accommodating Transient Traveller Families
• Group Housing for Travellers