The Irish Times

Architects need to "get their act together" and inform themselves on the basic standards required to create sustainable residential environments - otherwise "we'll have a bit too much of a free-for-all", according to James Pike, who has taken over from Tony Reddy as president of the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI). That's one of the reasons why be believes it has been "necessary for An Bord Pleanála to fire a few shots across the bows, by refusing permission for [ a number of major housing] schemes that were badly designed because a lot of people aren't bothering to do the checklists on daylight rules, for example". Pike will not be joining the posse led by estate agents Hooke & MacDonald clamouring to have the appeals board reined in. "There are some questions to be answered, but generally the board has been very positive," he says. "I don't agree with some of its decisions, but I'm quite prepared to take criticism."