Capital must be built up, not out, warn architects

THE sustainable solution to sprawling suburbs and major traffic congestion is to start building up — and not out, a group of architects told the Green Party yesterday.

With increased property prices forcing many people to the suburbs, the population in certain areas is rapidly decreasing and leading to the closure of schools and services, EML architects managing director Hugh Elliott said yesterday.

At a conference sponsored by The Irish Examiner entitled Opportunities in Urban Development-Where to Now?, Mr Elliott accused the government of showing no leadership in the strategic planning of Dublin city.