John Gormley, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, revealed the guidelines, which are focused on how sustainable communities can be created via design standards and a co-ordinated approach to the delivery of essential infrastructure and services.
Also included with the documents was a best practice urban design manual that illustrates how the various guidelines can be effectively put into place.
“An ever-expanding footprint of our urban areas is not sustainable,” Mr Gormley said.
“We must implement policies and practices to consolidate our urban areas by providing for high-density residential development in the right locations which are well-serviced in terms of public transport and community facilities and which are built to the highest possible standards.”
Specifically, the new document aims to establish stronger planning requirements to make sure new developments consider sustainability, and look to ensure the most efficient use of urban land through housing densities that are appropriate to the location involved.
James Cooper