Reforms to boost supply of apartments
NEW property development guidelines will be published today aimed at boosting the number of apartments.
With homelessness at an all-time high and the supply of homes being so low, Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy is seeking new ways to tackle the crisis.
And one of these reforms is focused on getting more people to avail of apartment living.
The proposed reforms will do away with the need for underground car parking, bring in ‘shared living’ options, and see more onebedroom and studio flats built.
Minister Murphy pointed out that only 12% of our population live in apartments nationally, well behind the European and UK average of 40% to 60%.
He will publish the updated draft guidelines for planning authorities on apartment development today, and said we need to consider couples and people living alone when making rules around housing.
Changes also include increasing the number of units allowed per floor – previously eight, this will be upped to 12 – changing the height restrictions of buildings; and clarifying how childcare and children’s play area needs are calculated.
He said: ‘The evidence shows us that the overwhelming pressure in the rental market is from smaller one- to two-person households, like the thousands of young people able to stay in Ireland working and wanting to rent a place of their own. That is why the new guidelines ease restrictions on the mix of apartment types enabling more studio-type and one-bedroom apartments.’
‘Shared living’ would see housing built where occupants have their own bedrooms, but share kitchen and living quarters, similar to the accommodation layout at colleges.
Minister Murphy said he is also changing the rules so that it will no longer be necessary for all apartments to include underground parking, as he believes public transport means individual car spaces are no longer a requirement. He said: ‘We also know that things like underground car parking requirements can add anything from €20,000-€30,000 to the cost of developing apartments and where these are not really needed, like near city centres and other areas with good public transport access.’
He added there will be ‘new guidance on a new form of shared and serviced rental accommodation’.
Draft guidelines will be published this week, followed by a call for submissions and a workshop in January. New information received during the next phase of the process will be taken on board to finalise the guidelines in tandem with the National Planning Framework.