Urban blight amenity demands

DEVELOPERS must be forced to provide better social facilities to win the right to build houses, Fine Gael finance spokesman Richard Bruton has urged.

Mr Bruton says his party is investigating ways to end the “urban blight” caused by lack of community focal points in new housing projects which currently appeared designed purely to maximise profits. The deputy Fine Gael leader called for social infrastructure plans to be considered as part of any auctioning process when land is sold for development.

Mr Bruton is concerned about the growth of sprawling housing developments with few facilities like community centres or places for youngsters.