Here is today's round-up of town planning news from around Ireland, covering the issuing of a National Planning Statement on apartment standards, Wicklow's grant for the Vartry water supply project, An Coimisiún Pleanála's refusal of 80 homes at Tower for inefficient density, an upheld refusal of 22 homes near Naas, record first-half social home builds, a warning that housing output may slip after 2027, and ten four-bed homes sought in Buncrana.
National Planning Statement on apartment standards issued
Housing Minister James Browne and Minister of State John Cummins have issued the Planning Design Standards for Apartments National Planning Statement under section 25 of the Planning and Development Act 2024. It replaces the July 2025 Design Standards for Apartments guidelines and applies to any planning application, appeal or direct application to An Coimisiún Pleanála determined after 4 November 2026. The ministers said it was issued to provide certainty and boost apartment delivery, strictly without prejudice to ongoing judicial review proceedings referred to the Court of Justice of the European Union; Sinn Féin's Eoin Ó Broin said the standards would result in "smaller and darker apartments" and that the minister was reissuing them hoping they would be less susceptible to challenge, while Social Democrats' Rory Hearne also criticised the reduction in apartment size and standards.
Source: Department of Housing (4 November 2026)
Wicklow grants permission for Vartry water storage upgrade
Wicklow County Council has granted Uisce Éireann conditional planning permission for the Vartry Security of Supply Project at the existing Vartry Waterworks south of the Vartry Reservoir. The scheme includes 60 megalitres of treated water storage in two new 30-megalitre structures, an underground dechlorination chamber, a bridge over the Vartry River, solar panels on both reservoir roofs and related works, with a 10-year permission duration. Conditions cover construction and environmental management, traffic, working hours, noise and archaeological monitoring; appeals may be made to An Coimisiún Pleanála.
Source: Irish Independent (4 November 2026)
Commission refuses 80 homes at St Ann's Hill, Tower, for inefficient density
An Coimisiún Pleanála has refused permission for OMD(C) Ltd's large-scale residential development of 55 houses and 25 apartments on the 11-hectare former St Ann's Hydropathic Establishment site at St Ann's Hill, Tower, Co Cork, despite an inspector's recommendation to grant and Cork City Council's earlier approval. The Cork City Development Plan sets a minimum of 35 dwellings per hectare and a target of 40–60 on greenfield outer-suburb sites; the proposal was about 17.3 dwellings per hectare. Commissioner Emer Maughan held that cultural and landscape constraints did not amount to exceptional circumstances to deviate so far from national, regional and local density ranges, and that the scheme would be an inefficient and unsustainable use of zoned serviced lands.
Source: Irish Examiner (2 November 2026)
Commission upholds refusal of 22 homes at Gingerstown Park, Naas
An Coimisiún Pleanála has upheld Kildare County Council's refusal of JJMS Properties Limited's residential scheme of 22 units at Gingerstown Park, Caragh, Naas, according to Construction Information Services. The December 2024 application comprised 16 houses and a part two-/part three-storey apartment block with six apartments, with pedestrian accesses off the R409 and Gingerstown Park and one vehicular access off Gingerstown Park. The council refused on 4 December 2025; the estimated scheme value cited is €5.5 million.
Source: Ireland Live (3 November 2026)
Record first-half social home builds as pipeline exceeds 22,000
The Department of Housing's Q2 2026 social housing delivery statistics show 2,731 new-build social homes constructed in the first six months of 2026, up 51 per cent on 1,804 in the same period of 2025 — the highest first-half figure on record. In Q2 alone, 2,008 new-build homes were delivered; with leasing, acquisitions, HAP and RAS, 4,320 housing supports were delivered in the quarter. The Construction Status Report showed 22,206 social homes at design or construction at end-June 2026, with 9,533 onsite and 12,673 at design or tender.
Source: Department of Housing (2 November 2026)
Yates warns housing output may slip after next year
Speaking on the State of Affairs podcast and reported by The Journal, Ivan Yates, chairman of developer Ingram Homes, said builders expect about 40,000 homes this year and a modest rise next year but fear a drop thereafter, putting the Government's 300,000 homes target for 2025–2030 at risk unless 2028–2029 hit 50,000-plus. He pointed to recent moves to cut council and housing-body purchases of developer-built turnkeys and reported uncertainty over Approved Housing Body partnerships. Housing charities Clúid and Focus Ireland and consultancy Deloitte have also voiced concerns; the Department of Housing is expected to meet AHBs and issue a circular, and the minister has denied any AHB cap.
Source: The Journal (2 November 2026)
Ten four-bed homes sought on former apartment site in Buncrana
Maherinture Developments Ltd has lodged an application with Donegal County Council for 10 two-storey four-bedroom semi-detached houses at Magherinture, at the entrance to the Páirc na hAlúine estate in Buncrana, with connections to public services and associated site works. The same site had 2008 permission for 12 apartments that were never built. Planning documents state an agreement in principle that Donegal County Council would purchase two of the 10 homes; a decision is expected by 16 December 2026.
Source: Donegal Live (1 November 2026)
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