Sharp drop in planning permissions for new homes

Architect and housing expert Mel Reynolds said the figures were indicative of the difficulty developers are facing when it comes to building apartments, particularly outside of Dublin and Cork. File photo: iStock

The number of planning permissions granted for new homes has sharply declined, with a motion of no confidence tabled against Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien amid fears the Government’s key housing targets could be missed in the coming years.

Statistics from the Central Statistics Office show a decrease of 41% in the number of new dwellings given planning permission in the third quarter of 2022 compared to the same time last year, with a huge drop of 67% in the number of apartments granted permission.