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Conditions attached to 15,000 planning permissions to prevent bulk purchasing by investors

Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien will update Cabinet on the measures introduced last year.

SINCE REGULATIONS WERE brought in last year to restrict bulk purchases by institutional investors, a total of 15,883 residential units have received planning permission with conditions attached, Cabinet will be told today.

The Government came under pressure last year to act after it emerged that a large number of houses in a new estate in Maynooth, Co Kildare were to be purchased by investment funds.

New planning measures to mitigate against the bulk purchases of houses and duplexes were introduced which earmarked homes in certain developments for owner-occupiers. 

The aim of the planning conditions for new residential developments is to prevent multiple housing and duplex units being sold to a single buyer for market rental purposes.

Under these guidelines, this is done by applying a planning ‘condition’ when granting planning permission.

Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien will bring a memo to Cabinet on the measures since their introduction.

This comes as the minister said there will be no delay in building social and affordable housing due to the ongoing rise in construction costs.

Speaking to reporters yesterday, he said the rise in inflation and material costs has been slowing down, while supply chains “have improved”.

“We are targeting this year 24,600 new builds which will be substantially more on last year when just 20,000 (were completed),” he said. 

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7 Comments
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    Mute Roger Bond
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    Jun 9th 2022, 7:21 AM

    Just ban build to rent forever and allow ordinary people to buy a home for their family.

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    Mute Sal Paradise
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    Jun 9th 2022, 8:33 AM

    @Roger Bond: What about the ordinary people who want to rent or are they not “ordinary “?

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    Mute OnlyHereForTheComments
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    Jun 9th 2022, 12:43 PM

    @Roger Bond: Tell me you haven’t a clue how the housing market works without telling me you haven’t a clue how the housing market works…..

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    Mute Eddie Keoghan
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    Jun 9th 2022, 6:25 AM

    Joke, what is an affordable house for young people

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    Mute Peter
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    Jun 9th 2022, 6:29 AM

    @Eddie Keoghan: eh living at home with parents till you are in mid 40’s duh…

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    Mute Gert McNulty
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    Jun 9th 2022, 7:19 AM

    Put our drug dealers in charge of housing. Supply would sky rocket and price would decrease so all sections of society could afford it

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    Mute Locojoe
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    Jun 9th 2022, 7:27 AM

    Most planning permissions granted for residential schemes remain extant, which means that the permissions have not yet been used to build new homes. This I believe is partly due to the State issuing non-viable permissions with unworkable conditions. Our planning system is too harsh on the Applicant.

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    Mute Caddyshack
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    Jun 9th 2022, 6:53 AM

    Some good news on supply

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