I know I
shouldn’t really do this, but…
Talking up high rise distracts from the substantive
issue: low-rise high density development is key to delivering the housing we
need in Dublin.
Besides, our
Development Plan allows for tall buildings (50m+) in four locations, and medium-rise (50m) in ten more. Have a look at Page 318 of the Dublin City Development Plan 2016-2022
Years ago
Richard Rogers in the 'Towards and Urban Renaissance' Report showed that high rise often doesn’t achieve more than low-rise. That's why I feel Minister Murphy should focus on financing affordable housing.
He could also seek more European Investment Bank funding for this, as well as introduce
a Site Value Tax to reduce price of land as advocated by the Green Party and the Irish Planning Institute. He could increase the Vacant Site Levy from 3% to 10% or a more meaningful figure, and lower
the 400 sq. m. threshold. It is crazy that these houses in Phibsboro don’t currently qualify for the levy as the sites they occupy are too small to qualify.
Another
source of funding would be Credit Unions. Currently their surpluses go to
German Bond markets and elsewhere. They should be allowed invest in Ireland Inc.
How about
using 20% of Semi-State Pension funds to provide housing? CIE for instance had €1,332,000,000 in their pension pot in 2014, (see page 77), it seems
crazy some of this is not used for housing, perhaps for the sons and daughters of CIE workers.
Cost Rental
: this is what the Green Party and the National economic and Social Council want to see happen to break down ghettoisation in
housing policy. Let’s do this. It’s also time the Department of Housing gave back powers to Councils. It currently takes years for
us to build, as Central Government smothers local authorities with red tape every step of the way.
It’s time the Department of Housing gave back powers back to Local Authorities. It currently takes years for us to build, and Central Government smothers councils with red tape every step of the way.We also need to take the cowboys and cowgirls out of the rental market and increase standards in the private rental sector.
There’s thousands of underused or empty homes in Dublin and elsewhere, so let’s simplify the Living City scheme and make sure it delivers. How about making available sites for small builders or groups of those who wish to house themselves in our towns and cities: look what the Dutch are doing. And there’s lots of prefabricated home suppliers around Europe: here’s one developed by IKEA and Skanska
Finally, let’s
focus on quality, That’s what Herbert Simms as Dublin City architect did back in the 1930s, we should do
the same, and architects and others
are there to help.
Over to you Eoghan...
