Vol. 407 No. 9
29 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment if he proposes to introduce any regulations or guidelines to ensure that house design is sympathetic to the local environment; if his Department has undertaken any studies in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
National guidelines on this matter, unless they were to be of a very general nature, would not be appropriate. However, planning authorities, in general, have policies and objectives in their development plans in relation to siting, house design, integration into the local environment, etc. Many authorities also provide guidance to potential developers on these matters by way of consultation, and booklets, and several authorities have co-operated in the preparation and publication by other agencies of design guides tailored to the circumstances of particular areas.
