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Over 1,000 New Homes Built In The Midlands In Last 12 Months

Monday, 5 September 2022 14:59

The Housing Minister says it proves the government's 'Housing for All' plan is working.

The government insists its Housing for All plan is working in the midlands, with just over 1,000 new homes built in the last year.

New figures show commencement notices for a further thousand homes were received in the region in the 12 months to July.

Approval has also been granted for 18 new staff in local County Councils to help with housing delivery - however, it's not clear if those posts have been filled.

The government intends to deliver 300,000 new homes nationally by 2030 - Housing Minister Darragh O'Brien admits it's an ambitious plan but says progress is being made:

The Department of Housing says a range of measures have been delivered in plan's first year, including investment in social housing; measures aimed at addressing viability and activating the delivery of new homes; additional supports for renters; measures to enhance construction sector; planning and land management reforms; and measures aimed at bringing vacant and derelict homes back into use also introduced. 

Among the reported measures and impacts arising from Housing for All  in the midlands are;

WESTMEATH

  • 248 new homes built in Westmeath in the 12 months to end of June 2022
  • Commencement Notices for 275 homes were received in Westmeath in the 12 months to the end of July 2022
  • Planning permissions for 964 homes in Westmeath to the end of Q1 2022 (a 13.5% increase on the previous 12 months)
  • Approval for seven new posts in Westmeath County Council for local authority housing delivery
  • Introduction of exemption from planning permission requirements for converting vacant Westmeath pubs into homes. The existing exemptions to converting vacant commercial premises into homes in Westmeath have been extended. Between 2018 and 2021, 41 residential units were provided in Westmeath, with 19 notifications of exempted developments received.
  • In 2021, the Government provided €41.02m in total funding for housing to Westmeath County Council, a 55% increase on 2020. 
  • In 2021, 205 new social homes were delivered.
  • There was a 52% reduction in the number of households on the social housing waiting list in Westmeath at the end of 2021 compared to the first annual assessment conducted in September 2016.
     

OFFALY

  • 384 new homes built in Offaly in the 12 months to end of June 2022 (a 66.2% increase on the previous 12 months)
  • Commencement Notices for 320 homes were received in Offaly in the 12 months to the end of July 2022
  • Planning permissions for 586 homes in Offaly to the end of Q1 2022 (a 117.8% increase on the previous 12 months)
  • Approval for five new posts in Offaly County Council for local authority housing delivery
  • Introduction of exemption from planning permission requirements for converting vacant Offaly pubs into homes. The existing exemptions to converting vacant commercial premises into homes in Offaly have been extended. Between 2018 and 2021, 5 residential units were provided in Offaly through 4 notifications of exempted developments.
  • In 2021 the Government provided €27.41m in total funding to Offaly County Council for housing, a 50% increase on 2020.
  • In 2021, 113 new social homes were delivered.
  • There was a 55% reduction in the number of households on the social housing waiting list in Offaly at the end of 2021 compared to the first annual assessment conducted in September 2016.


LAOIS

  • 377 new homes built in Laois in the 12 months to end of June 2022
  • Commencement Notices for 570 homes were received in Laois in the 12 months to the end of July 2022 (a 25.6% increase on the previous 12 months)
  • Planning permissions for 671 homes in Laois to the end of Q1 2022
  • Approval for six new posts in Laois County Council for local authority housing delivery
  • Introduction of exemption from planning permission requirements for converting vacant Laois pubs into homes. The existing exemptions to converting vacant commercial premises into homes in Laois have been extended. Between 2018 and 2021, 30 residential units were provided in Laois through 14 notifications of exempted developments.
  • In 2021, the Government provided €33.95m in total funding to Laois County Council for housing, a 44% increase on 2020. 
  • In 2021, 168 new social homes were delivered.
  • There was a 51% reduction in the number of households on the social housing waiting list in Laois at the end of 2021 compared to the first annual assessment conducted in September 2016.
     

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