15. Planning and Housing Updates

The Government has brought forward several important and helpful initiatives to significantly improve housing and infrastructure delivery in Ireland.

The Revised National Planning Framework approved by government in April 2025, significantly increases housing delivery targets nationally from current level of c. 30,000 units per annum to 50,000 units per annum for 2025-2040, reflecting higher population growth rates and recognising exiting housing shortfall.

• This requires at least a doubling of the number of housing units for which planning permission is applied for annually.
• The viability of apartment development is recognised as a key constraint on meeting these targets.

Key Government Initiatives

• Zoning – Critically under the recently published Section 28 Guidelines- NPF Implementation: Housing Growth Requirements, July 2025, all planning authorities are now required to bring forward a Variation of their Development Plan in 2025 to reflect new national housing targets. This is likely to lead to 70% increase in land zoned for residential development.
• National Development Plan – Published in July 2025 and provides for €200bn to be invested by 2035, with a particular focus on increasing investment in housing to support national competitiveness, by prioritising housing delivery, and enhancing infrastructure, transport connectivity, water and drainage facilities and energy grid and capacity.
• Revised Apartment Guidelines July 2025 – Relaxation of some requirements to reduce costs and help address viability concerns.
  • Fast-track approval provision for amendments to permitted apartment schemes in the new Planning and Development (Amendments) Act July 2025.
• Rent Control Reforms – Revisions to rent cap regulations announced in June 2025 to help funding of new apartment schemes
• Extension of Duration:
  • Planning and Development (Amendments) Act July 2025, provides for potential 3 year extension to existing permissions, to help activation of existing permissions.
  • Time spent in judicial review proceedings will not be counted as part of the life of a planning permission, and can apply retrospectively to existing permissions which were or are subject to judicial review – this prevents permissions from expiring due to legal delays.
• Urban Development Zones – This isa new provision in the 2024 Act, which commenced in June 2025. Strategic land holdings that can accommodate substantial housing, particularly on public transport corridors, will have detailed planning frameworks and will receive priority infrastructure funding.
• “Housing for All” – New government housing strategy expected to be published in Autumn 2025.

If you would like to discuss further, please get in touch: