Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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143. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of new apartments and apartment buildings that have been completed and the number for which planning permission has been sought since the introduction of the new national apartment planning guidelines reducing the cost of apartment building; and if his Department or a body under its aegis has undertaken a review of the impact of these new guidelines on reducing costs and accelerating apartment development. [22375/17]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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The document “Sustainable Urban Housing: Design Standards for New Apartments – Guidelines for Planning Authorities” was published in December 2015 and had legislative and policy effect from January 2016. Given the time period necessary for prospective applicants to prepare proposals in the light of the Guidelines, submit such proposals to planning authorities for planning permission, obtain consent and then move their sites towards construction, the general information available to my Department is that we are only just beginning to see significant starts in apartment projects that have the benefit of these Guidelines, such as a number of projects in Dublin Docklands and other city centre areas.

My Department would also be aware of other apartment developments that were commenced before the Guidelines, stalled during the economic crash and have since recommenced, but on the basis of older planning permissions. Accordingly, a detailed breakdown between apartments completed under the new Guidelines and those under previously granted planning permissions is not yet available. However, it is worth noting that planning permissions granted for apartments in 2016 stood at 3,894 units, representing a 39% increase on 2015.

While my Department has received positive feedback with regard to the impact and value of the Guidelines, not least in ensuring a more consistent approach to such development, addressing a plethora of different local authority minimum requirements, issues continue to be raised regarding the viability  of apartment developments in certain locations. With this in mind, my Department is engaged in a broadly-based review of apartment construction costs which is at an advanced stage and is expected to be completed this Summer. This review is taking into account the benefit of the updated apartment Guidelines while also examining other issues that may be acting as barriers to substantial acceleration of apartment construction, particularly in metropolitan city areas, which is a key part of achieving wider policy aims in relation to housing, sustainable development and urban regeneration. 

Once the cost review is complete, I intend to publish its broad findings and work with relevant stakeholders to ensure that apartment construction plays its full part in delivering on the Government’s Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness.