Sir, – In reporting on the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council Draft Development Plan 2022-28, which directs that greater numbers of new three-bedroom apartments should be built in key areas ("Crunch time looms in battle over rules for bigger apartments", News, January 8th), a third-party opinion is given indicating that "there is limited demand for three-bed apartments in large-scale developments at the quantum proposed".
It should be noted that the imposition of a minimum requirement that 40 per cent of units in developments over 50 units (in certain areas, such as new residential communities) should be three-bedroom homes is borne out by assessed future demand indicated by the Draft Housing Strategy and Interim Housing Needs Demand Assessment (HNDA) appended to the development plan. This appendix is very comprehensive and features sophisticated demographic-based demand forecasting. The need for more family-friendly apartments is influenced by numerous factors such as the fact that Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown has strong net inward migration and resultant new young family household formation, plus a need for more units that adhere to the concept of being lifetime adaptable homes.
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown is one of the most expensive places in the country for a family to be raised, a problem exacerbated by the low numbers of new three-bed homes being built within Strategic Housing Developments (SHDs). As such, it is perfectly appropriate for the council to insert prescriptive guidance to ensure that future adequate accommodation for young families, as well as for older persons wishing to downsize, will be constructed.
It should not be expected that councillors would disregard the council’s own Draft Housing Strategy and Interim HNDA when contemplating future housing demand needs. – Yours,etc,
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Cllr JOHN KENNEDY,
Fine Gael,
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown
County Council Offices,
Dún Laoghaire,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – I congratulate David Earle for his support of Dún Laoghaire County Council's requirement for three-bedroom apartments to be made compulsory for major housing developments (Letters, January 12th); also congratulations to the council for its enlightened action. There has been much talk and regret about the demise of towns and villages in Ireland. Without the return of domestic dwellings to the centre of towns and cities, we can never hope to establish a healthy community.
Local councils must be supported if they follow Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Council’s example of good planning; they must enforce the derelict building regulations and insist on domestic development within the towns and cities. It is imperative that the Government fully support the councils in their development plans. The present regulations ruling large developments pay little heed to the community they should support. The mantra most developers spout is that they are supplying a community need. But at what cost? A recent development of one- and two-bedroom apartments is providing a creche. How could you raise a family in a two-bed apartment? As a mother, words fail me! – Yours, etc,
ROMNEY KEANE,
Churchtown,
Dublin 14 .