Sir, – I write in relation to the article on low-rise apartment heights in Dublin ("Dublin City Council asked to reverse apartment height limits", August 18th). It is reported that last May, councillors voted to "limit" the heights of apartments in "low-rise" areas of the inner city (by and large the area between the canals), to 24 metres. The Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government Simon Coveney wishes this to be increased to 28 metres.
Is the Minister aware that a 28m apartment building is nine storeys high and that in other cities in the world a 28m apartment building would be considered a high-rise building? In Frankfurt, for example, buildings over 20m are high-rise and are not permitted in the city centre; they are restricted to three specific areas. Dublin, on the other hand, has 13 areas designated for buildings over 28m and in four of those areas there is no limit placed on height, yet it is still considered necessary to have high-rise throughout the city by introducing a “low-rise” height of nine residential storeys.
All this while we are seeking World Heritage status for the city due to its remarkable Georgian architectural heritage. A four-storey over-basement Georgian house is approximately 14m high! – Yours, etc,
VALERIN O’SHEA,
Dublin 4.