Local authorities have been told to place more emphasis on street design considerations in the assessment of applications for planning permission in respect of new housing developments.

The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Alan Kelly TD, said it is very important that new urban streets and roads in new housing estates are designed so that excessive vehicle speeds are discouraged.

He said: "This can be done by the incorporation of features such as the narrowing of carriageway width, the avoidance of long straight stretches of road, appropriate warning signage, well-sited crossings as well as other appropriate traffic calming measures.

-- Advertisement --

"As a parent of young children, I have been very taken and impressed by the Jake's Legacy campaign which has raised awareness of the issue and this new initiative is a tangible response to that campaign seeking enhanced road safety measures in both existing and new residential housing estates.

"Both Minister Donohue and I are anxious to ensure that all housing estates are safer places for children to play and grow up in. That is why I have called on local authorities to adopt a more holistic and proactive approach in the assessment of planning applications for new housing developments in the future."

(CD/JP)