RTE star Dermot Bannon has slammed the new plans for cabins and modular homes to be built without planning permission.
The TV architect said that the new Government solution is only a temporary fix, with the general picture being much more dire.
Dermot slammed the plans saying people are “basically living in sheds” as he got candid over the new plans.
News broke last month that granny flats and log cabins could get the green light to be built without planning permission in gardens of homes.
The new proposal is being considered by Government allowing some 440,000 young people living with their parents to build new for less.
A source told The Irish Sun at the time: “The Minister has made it clear that there needs to be planning exemptions which enable intergenerational movement between the main dwelling house and the smaller home which would be situated to the rear of the property.
“This would allow for a younger person to live independently of the family home in the short term and will give the option for their parents in time to right-size while maintaining the support of their family in close proximity.”
Speaking on the new plans being raised by Government officials, Dermot claimed relying on temporary accommodation will “fail” to create communities.
He told RTE’s Claire Byrne: “If we’re reliant on putting log cabins or temporary accommodation into a back garden, basically living in sheds. We failed. We’re done.
“Build a proper house, it’s all about units, temporarily lifting them in cabins, cheap, none of that is creating communities, nice places to live, a nice street to live on.
“Opening your front door and having neighbours. The quality of life is not just about having a bedroom, a living room and a kitchen.
“The quality of life is about where you live, who your neighbours are.
“Desperate times, when you have to reimagine ourselves as a country, we’re in an emergency but there has to be a bigger and better solution to this.
Dermot went on to explain that he had gone to school in a portacabin, which is still standing today despite being a temporary fix put in place around 30 years ago.
He continued: “If we start putting temporary solutions in for housing all over this country, it never shifts, it never moves.”
He also noted that not only will young people thrive more within a community they’ve built, increasing homes in cities will lead to more growth and opportunities in a range of areas.
He said: “I do agree with increasing densities, we do need to shove up in the beds and have more people living in our cities because cities bring more opportunity for employment, for culture, so we need to do that in Ireland.”
The TV architect was critical of the new plans[/caption]
