The Irish Times

Far too many development projects coming before An Bord Pleanála are badly designed and show "scant regard" for location, including a "particular lack of concern" for architectural heritage, according to the board's chairman. John O'Connor said this applied especially to new housing schemes where proposed apartment blocks were "banged up against each other" with "too much emphasis on the car and car parking" and not enough on residential amenities. Although the appeals board favoured higher residential densities in urban areas, he said these should not come at the expense of existing neighbours and future occupants of new apartments - particularly if they were single-aspect and north-facing.