Urban Development And Building Heights – New Guidelines

Against a backdrop of a housing shortage and a homeless crisis, legislative steps have been taken to permit the construction of high-density residential accommodation in urban areas.

On 7 December 2018, the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government issued the Urban Development and Building Heights Guidelines (the "Guidelines") after a public consultation process. The Guidelines have statutory footing under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000.

The Guidelines seek to change the current development patterns for urban areas by:-

1. Elaborating on key policies outlined in the National Planning Framework, in particular the restrictions on building heights within urban areas. The Guidelines call for developments of at least six storeys as the new "default objective"; is suitable for the provision of housing or in an area zoned for residential use; and