Future Kildare apartment dwellers 'will have to keep their clothes in a suitcase - rather than a wardrobe'

Smaller apartments built across County Kildare will mean occupiers will have to use a suitcase to store clothes – rather than a chest of drawers.

Independent councillor Pádraig McEvoy also said that it is a retrograde step to permit smaller apartment sizes and the power for making these decisions should rest with the planners.

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He told a Kildare County Council meeting that the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland and the Irish Planning Institute, which represent architects and planners respectively, are opposed to it.

He was among a number of councillors who condemned the proposals and Kildare County Council is to seek a meeting with the Minister for Housing.

They say the new provisions will reduce local authority discretion and risk undermining the proper planning and sustainable development of housing, as well as public confidence in local and national democracy.

Any future standards, they said, should “reflect a locally informed and community-led approach to housing delivery.”

Cllr Chris Pender said the standards are not conducive to the community or the environment and would allow developers to “build shoeboxes for the same or less money.”

The new size of a single bed dwelling is the size of two and a half car park spaces and would do nothing to promote living in town centres.

He said KCC needs to be aware of what is happening now – rather than dealing with issues which arise ten years from now.

“We’re going to create ghettos,” said Cllr Aoife BResing adding it is a strep backwards.

She said the idea had not been thought through and it is not a solution to the housing crisis.

Cllr Seamie Moore said that some KCC-managed apartments in Naas had been expanded to take in adjacent apartments because the original dwellings were deemed to be too small – and now it’s proposed to construct even smaller homes.

“If we learned anything from Covid 19 it was that space is important,” said Sinn Féin councillor Noel Connolly.

He added: “This will line the pockets of developers (and) the government is clutching at straws.”

Even before this, developers were trying to avoid building creches and the minister is happy to encourage this, said Cllr Peter Melrose. He said it would have an undesirable effect in towns like Maynboth, which has a university.

“You cannot build sardine can-like apartment blocks without sustainable infrastructure,” he said, adding that people affected by the changes “should be furious.”

Cllr Bill Clear criticised the minister for overlooking the need for amenities like playgrounds and green spaces – which are vital because apartments don’t come with gardens.

“Squeezing more into less space is not a good idea,” said Cllr Clear.

Fine Gael’s Fintan Brett said that while one room apartments will be smaller than in England, two and three bedroom units will still be larger. He said councillors should wait to see how the KCC planners deal with new applications.

Cllr Rupert Heather said the plan will only pander to developers and the buy-to-let market. He added it will disadvantage sections of the community.

Ireland First councillor Tom McDonnell said “you cannot live” in a one bedroom apartment less than 45 square metres.

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