Guidelines on residential density were not issued by my Department prior to the issue of circular letter PD 4/98, which issued on foot of a recommendation contained in the first Bacon report, An Economic Assessment of Recent House Price Developments. The circular letter, in a general way, provided advice to planning authorities in relation to promoting increased densities in appropriate locations, the safeguards required and the steps that should be taken, pending the preparation of detailed plan ning guidelines on residential density by my Department.
The draft planning guidelines on residential density, which issued in March 1999, set out in a detailed manner the locations appropriate for higher residential densities, the range of densities appropriate to various locations and the need to achieve a high quality of residential environment. For example, in relation to outer suburban greenfield sites, the guidelines recommend that development at densities of less than 20 dwellings per hectare – eight per acre – should generally be discouraged. On greenfield lands, which are proximate to existing or proposed public transport corridors, densities in excess of 50 dwellings per hectare – 20 per acre – are recommended.
The draft guidelines, which were issued for public consultation, received general support. All comments received were considered in full in preparing the final guidelines. Most of the changes in the final guidelines are changes of emphasis or points of clarification.