Government To Replace Apartment Planning Guidelines After Challenge Involving Clane-Maynooth Cllr

Monday, 17 November 2025 14:36

By Martin Osborne - Head Of News. Got a story? Email news@kfmradio.com

The move comes during a legal challenge brought by councillors, including Clane-Maynooth Cllr Padraig McEvoy, Darragh Moriarty, David Healy, Dan Boyle, along with journalist Frank McDonald.

The High Court has been told the Government is replacing its proposed apartment-planning guidelines and will instead draw up a new national planning statement - and carry out an environmental assessment.

The move comes during a legal challenge brought by councillors, including Clane-Maynooth Cllr Padraig McEvoy, Darragh Moriarty, David Healy, Dan Boyle, along with journalist Frank McDonald.

The revised apartment guidelines - published in July - would increase the proportion of studio apartments developers can include in new schemes, reduce minimum studio sizes to 32 square metres, and lower the requirement for dual-aspect units from 33 per cent to 25 per cent.

They also permit fewer lifts, windows and private open spaces.

The case was mentioned in court this morning.

The plaintiffs received a letter from the Chief State Solicitor stating the dispute could end up before the European Court of Justice, and could face appeals, potentially delaying housing projects.

The Government says it’s taking a “pragmatic approach” by starting fresh under new 2024 planning laws and running an environmental assessment “as a precautionary approach”.

However, it insists it still believes the original July guidelines were lawful and says it will continue to defend them.

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