elphin local area plan 2009 - 2015 - Roscommon County Council

Chapter 10: Development Management Guidelines and Standards
Further minimum requirements can be found in the Design Standards for Apartments (DoEHLG
2007)
• The subdivision of existing dwelling houses into apartments/ flats will not generally be permitted
within residential estates designed and developed for single-family occupancy.
• The maximum heights of apartment developments in residential zones or in areas with a suburban
residential character will be determined on a site-by-site basis by the Planning Authority and the
scale and character of existing developments in the area will be taken into consideration. To this
end, it will be necessary to have adequate open spaces in addition to parking space and tree
screening so that a satisfactory transition from the scale of any neighbouring buildings of lower
height may be achieved.
• In the case of apartment blocks, particular attention must be paid to the location of the communal
open space for the residents. This open space should not be unduly overshadowed by the blocks
and shall be laid out in such a fashion to provide for ease of maintenance. The issue of public
open space is addressed in the DoEHLG guidelines, Sustainable Residential Development in
Urban Areas: Guidelines for Planning Authorities (December 2008) and Urban Design Manual:
A best practice guide (Parts 1 and 2) (December 2008).
• It should be required that, in the case of apartment and duplex style schemes, private open space
will be provided in the form of landscaped areas, courtyards, terraces/patios and balconies. Roof
gardens should also be considered, provided that they are easily accessible, secure and attractively
landscaped. Fuel, recycling and bin storage areas shall be provided at ground floor level.
• Car parking areas should be broken up by planting in an inconspicuous manner and yet provide
for reasonable convenience of users. Only minor areas of car parking, primarily for visitors, will
be permitted between the block and the road boundary. The form of construction of garages must
be considered from the visual viewpoint not only at ground level but also from the upper floors of
the flat blocks.
• Car parking spaces will be calculated on the basis of 2.0 spaces per residential unit. Where
development is likely to involve significant letting, an innovative car-parking layout should be
proposed to accommodate increased car parking within the curtilage of the site, above the
standards outlined above. Visitor car parking will be calculated on the basis of 1 space per 2
apartments.
10.3.6 House Extensions
Extending existing dwelling houses to meet changing family needs is an acceptable form of development
which is viewed positively by the Council. The design should ensure that the extension forms an integral
part of the main dwelling unit capable of reintegration for single family use. Development proposals
should have regard to the following:
1. The DoEHLG guidelines, Sustainable Residential Development in Urban Areas: Guidelines for
Planning Authorities (December 2008) and Urban Design Manual: A best practice guide (Parts 1
and 2) (December 2008) or any updated versions, in considering the existing site density and
remaining private open space.
2. The size of the extension should be suitably designed, having regard to the size of the existing
house and houses in the vicinity;
3. High quality designs for extensions will be required that respect and integrate with the existing
dwelling in terms of height, scale, materials used, finishes, window proportions etc.
Elphin Local Area Plan 2009-2015 Page 125