Naive to think reducing garden size would lead to house price drop

Higher-density housing would mean private developers could increase the number of units they can get onto land, which in theory means they could reduce the cost and therefore the price of housing. Would they pass the cost-reduction on to home-buyers? Highly unlikely

Reducing garden and street sizes, thus allowing increased density of housing development, without mitigating measures, is highly likely to lead to an increase in house prices in places outside Dublin, like Cork, Waterford, Limerick etc, argues Dr Rory Hearne. Picture:: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire

Would allowing private developers reduce garden and street sizes be a solution to the housing crisis? Would it lead to reduced house prices and boost supply? It is highly unlikely. 

We have been here before. In fact, we are in the housing crisis because, for the last two decades, the Department of Housing and successive governments have essentially made housing policy based on what private developers, and more recently investor funds, have proposed.