Dublin apartment height restrictions ‘crazy’, warns Ibec

Dublin’s “attractiveness” will be undermined if “unreasonable” restrictions are put on the height of apartment buildings, business lobby group Ibec has warned.

Ibec’s senior executive Aidan Sweeney said it was “crazy” at a time of an acute housing shortage that “impractical height restrictions” were being proposed as part of the new Dublin City Development Plan which comes into force later this year.

Ibec is among a number of business organisations, including the Dublin Chamber of Commerce, supporting calls from Minister for Housing Simon Coveney for Dublin City Council to reverse plans to restrict the height of apartment blocks. They cite risks to housing supply.

In May, councillors voted to limit apartment heights in low-rise areas of the inner city to 24m and to 13m in low-rise areas of the suburbs. Most of Dublin, apart from 14 areas, falls into the low-rise category.

Council chief executive Owen Keegan wanted to set 28m as the maximum height for low-rise apartments in the city centre (the same as for office blocks) and 16m for suburban apartments.

City centre land

Mr Coveney wants councillors to revert to Mr Keegan’s proposed heights, which would allow one extra storey on an apartment building.

“At a time of acute housing and commercial space shortages, it is crazy that tougher and unreasonable height restrictions are being proposed in the current draft plan,” Mr Sweeney said.

Established practice internationally was to assess each site’s suitability for taller buildings, Mr Sweeney said. “Instead, the hands of Dublin city’s planners will be tied by these new and impractical height restrictions.”

Dublin was well positioned to attract a new wave of investment and jobs, as firms realign business strategies following the Brexit vote, but the “housing squeeze” undermines the city’s attractiveness, Mr Sweeney said.

Councillors appeared unwilling to deal with density issues facing the city, he said.

“A more sensible approach is needed, which recognises that taller buildings can make a beneficial contribution, besides accommodation, to urban regeneration and their surrounding streetscape and skyline.”

In its submission to the council, Dublin Chamber of Commerce said it was disappointed by the councillors’ decisions to reduce the proposed low-rise heights.

“Ensuring the development potential of the small amount of available land in the city centre is maximised is crucial to addressing the current housing crisis facing Dublin and to meeting the future needs of a city that is forecast to grow significantly.”

The chamber’s submission also calls for planners and architects to be allowed use their creativity to determine what is appropriate for individual sites.