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Wed 01 Jan 2007Family-friendly apartment norms publishedGuidelines aimed at ensuring that the design and layout of new apartments will provide better living spaces for a variety of households, including families with children, were published yesterday by Minister for the Environment Dick Roche.The draft Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Sustainable Urban Housing: Design Standards for Apartments lay down minimum standards for floor areas, storage space, balconies, patios and even the dimensions of certain rooms.