Vol. 553 No. 2
636 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his legislative proposals to make it compulsory for developers to provide larger green areas in housing developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13501/02]
The criteria to be applied to the provision of public open space in housing schemes is a matter for each planning authority in accordance with its development plan. When deciding on planning applications a planning authority must have regard to the policies set out in the plan and may attach conditions to permissions requiring the provision of appropriate facilities. The planning guidelines on residential density published by my Department in September 1999 indicate that public open space is one of the key elements in defining the quality of the residential environment. The guidelines recommend that the achievement of higher densities must be coupled with a higher standard of residential environment: the provision of higher quality communal and public open spaces is therefore highly important. The guidelines recommend that any acceptance of lower quantitative standards of open space must be accompanied by a parallel increase in qualitative standards of open space. The guidelines recommend for higher density developments that in greenfield sites public open space should be a minimum of 15% of the total site area and in all other cases it should be a minimum of 10%.
The social housing design guidelines published by my Department in September 1999 contain recommendations regarding open space within social housing schemes. They recommend that regard should be had by local authorities to the size of the scheme, the nature of the accommodation being provided, existing open space provision in the area and the requirements of the development plan for the area in deciding on the extent and nature of provision for public open space within a scheme.
