TD blasts Government's plans to reduce minimum apartment size as "utter madness"
The planned overhaul of building regulations that are expected to be put forward by Housing Minister James Browne are designed to cut the cost of construction by up to €100,00 a unit.
But it could mean that buyers and renters will be forced to live in Hong Kong-like living accommodation with no green or communal areas.
Restrictions are also to be lifted on the number of one-bedroom apartments built in any future development leading to fears that blocks of tiny studio flats will spring up in cities and towns around the country and do nothing to accommodate families.
Sinn Fein's housing spokesperson Eoin O Broin said the plan was 'utter madness' that fails to address the housing crisis.
He added: 'Minister James Browne's plan to reduce minimum apartment sizes is a copy-and-paste of Fine Gael policy that failed utterly.'
The proposed changes to apartment building guidelines set to be brought forward by the Housing Minister includes measures around dual aspect windows, and the ratio of units to lifts and stairs. The new guidelines reduce the minimum size of studio apartments from 37 square metres to 32 square metres.
In an attempt to improve delivery costs of apartment schemes, they will also remove any restrictions on apartment mix. Currently, guidelines restrict the number of one-bedroom apartments within a scheme to 50% – with no more than 20 to 25% consisting of studio apartments.
It is also proposed to remove any limitation on the number of units per lift and stair core per floor, subject to compliance with building regulations. This will allow developers to exceed the current maximum of 12 units.
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