In July this year, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD, and the Minister of State with responsibility for Planning and Local Government, John Cummins TD, published revised national housing targets for the period 2025 to 2040 to meet the worsening housing crisis. The Department of Housing Local Government and Heritage has produced new planning guidelines entitled ‘NPF Implementation: Housing Growth Requirements’ under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, which instructs all local authorities to update their housing targets to align with the revised National Planning Framework (NPF) from April of this year and to zone land accordingly. 

The new guidelines which have been adopted by government have set out new housing targets for each local authority to meet.  Initially, local authorities are being required to review their Local Development Plans to ensure they have enough zoned land to meet housing delivery of 55,000 units per annum.  

Given the urgent need for the delivery of housing, the government has also decided to increase the headroom target for housing delivery by up to 50%; which will allow local authorities amend their local developments plans to zone enough land for the delivery of up to 83,000 units per annum. 

Local Authorities have already been advised to start the process of reviewing their development plans to increase the quantum of land to deliver upon those revised housing targets. Following the summer period we expect this process to generate momentum from September.  

CSR are uniquely positioned to assist developers avail of this once in a generation opportunity. We have national coverage with offices in Dublin, Cork and a presence in Galway. CSR is also highly experienced in making rezoning submissions through their work down through the years acting for developers and also having been responsible for the drafting and coordination of statutory development plans on behalf of local authorities themselves. We are experienced in reviewing draft development plans, preparing and lodging draft development plan submissions, preparing motions for elected representatives, and advising on Chief Executive reports on submissions received. CSR has experience of lodging submissions on national and regional planning guidance, statutory local area and development plans on behalf of not only developers but government and semi state agencies such as Sport Ireland, the Industrial Development Authority and all levels of Cumann Luthchleas Gael. 

Our town planning team in any of our offices will be pleased to discuss how the guidelines and the requirement imposed upon local authorities to rezone land to meet these new targets may affect your projects or land strategy. Our team can provide practical guidance to help you avail of this unique opportunity and to navigate an increasingly complex planning system.