A NUMBER OF city and county councillors and a former Irish Times journalist have challenged Housing Minister James Browne’s changes to apartment standards in the High Court.

Papers have been lodged by Dublin councillors Labour Party councillor Darragh Moriarty (Labour) and David Healy (Green Party), Cork councillor Dan Boyle (Green Party) and Kildare Independent councillor Padraig McEvoy.

Frank McDonald, the former environment editor of the Irish Times, has joined in the judicial review.

Under the plans announced by Browne last July, some of the biggest cost savings for each individual apartment will be found by cutting down on floor space.

Browne hopes the changes will boost construction in the sector by tweaking requirements for new apartments, following warnings about flagging development.

Fewer windows and balconies would also be required under the new plans, while a requirement to have indoor communal or cultural facilities has been scrapped.

The proposed changes are aiming for a €50,000 to €100,000 reduction in the cost of construction.

The four councillors and McDonald have been given a date of next Monday 13 October for the challenge to be heard.

They are represented by law firm FP Logue, a veteran of planning and environmental cases.