Written answers

Thursday, 19 September 2024

Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government

Vacant Properties

Photo of Willie O'DeaWillie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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82. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his views on recent figures which show that local authorities received 1,165 notifications to convert vacant commercial premises into new homes between 2018-2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36886/24]

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The figures referred to relate to the notifications, received by local authorities, of planned changes of use of vacant commercial properties into residential units under The Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2018 and the number of new homes associated with those notifications, for the years 2018-2023.

The Regulations were extended by way of the Planning and Development (Exempted Development) Regulations 2022, exempting the residential conversion of certain types of vacant commercial premises from the need to obtain planning permission, to also include former pubs and to extend the timeframe for these exemptions to apply up to the end of 2025.

The most recent figures, which are available on my Department’s website show how these exemptions are helping to tackle the problem of vacancy, maximise the use of our existing building stock for much-needed housing supply and revitalise our town centres, as part of the government’s ‘Housing For All’ plan and ‘Town Centre First’ policy.

Since 2018, when the exemptions were first introduced, local authorities have received 1,165 notifications relating to the provision of 2,716 homes.

In 2023 alone, local authorities received notifications of 267 exempted development proposals with plans put forward to result in the provision of 650 dwellings. In 2022 and 2023, 92 notifications relating to pubs were received by local authorities with the intention to create 295 new homes.

These exemptions are just one of a range of measures designed to help people bring vacant properties back into residential use, and can be used in combination with other vacant property supports such as the ‘Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant’ and the ‘Repair and Leasing Scheme’.

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