New homes focus should be on medium-density, viable housing as recovery from Covid-19 impact awaits 

Shared equity is one viable approach to affordability, argues  Sherry FitzGerald New Homes Director Paul Hannon, 

Pipeline: planning permission has been granted for 113 new homes and apartments on the outskirts of Ballincollig in Cork. Computerised image via www.maglinshd.ie

IN the week that saw residential construction sites re-open following a 13- week shutdown, it is timely to discuss the challenges ahead for the New Homes market.

Just when the housing industry was beginning to increase supply of private and social housing, the industry suffered several major setbacks. Not alone has COVID-19 and the associated lockdown measures delayed delivery and affected the supply pipeline, but in addition, judicial reviews of a number of planned Strategic Housing Developments have stymied the Government’s efforts to accelerate the planning process for approval of new developments.