Government promises 12,000 new-build social homes each year in housing plan

The 'Delivering Homes, Building Communities' plan promises the delivery of 300,000 new houses by the end of 2030, meaning an average of 50,000 houses need to be built each year. File photo

The Government has said it will build 12,000 new-build social homes each year under its new housing plan.

It promises the delivery of 300,000 new houses by the end of 2030, meaning an average of 50,000 houses need to be built each year.

The  Delivering Homes, Building Communities plan proposes the establishment of a new ‘starter homes’ programme, which would deliver 15,000 affordable housing supports each year. These supports stem from existing schemes, including Help To Buy and the First Home scheme.

Within the plan, there is a promise to deliver “more cost-rental homes” for renters, but it does not outline a target. Extra funding will be provided to local authorities who exceed their new-build social housing targets, the plan says.

The plan also targets the return of 20,000 vacant homes into use, through the existing Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant.

On homelessness, the plan confirms there will be €100m provided for buying up second-hand homes to help get families out of emergency accommodation who have been there for the longest periods. 

The development of a new cross-Governmental Child and Family Homelessness Action Plan has been promised, as well as a new homelessness prevention framework.

As previously reported by the Irish Examiner, there will be a further €2.5bn allocated to the Land Development Agency, which is expected to support its expanded remit to deliver private housing.

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For the construction sector, the plan contains a commitment for a new ISIF-led €400m equity risk capital investment programme for housebuilding over the next three years. This is set to provide more equity to small and medium-size builders.

There are also commitments to further expand the use of modern methods of construction, with a target of its use in 25% of all social and affordable homes built during the plan's lifetime.

The plan also contains a commitment for a new “revamped local authority voids programme”, which aims to incentivise a quicker turnaround time for vacant social homes.

Many of the measures within the plan had been previously announced, including changes to the rent sector, reforms to apartment guidelines and Vat rate cuts on the sale of apartments.