Here is today's round-up of town planning news from around Ireland, covering a Deloitte warning that the 2030 housing target will be missed by more than 120,000 homes, permission for a 12-turbine wind farm near Bruff, a 57% rise in Starter Home Supports, ten social homes approved in south Finglas, an appeal against seven homes on Drogheda's North Road, and a refusal for a mixed-use building on Arklow's Harbour Road.
Deloitte warns 2030 housing target likely to be missed by more than 120,000 homes
Deloitte's latest Crane Survey says the Government is likely to fall short of its target of 300,000 new homes by 2030 by between 123,400 and 136,100 homes, largely because planning permissions are "not keeping pace". While 182,130 homes were granted permission over the last five years, Central Bank data indicate that 25 to 32 per cent of permissions never commence, and the report estimates 40,000 completions this year, a 10 per cent rise on 2025. Deloitte says the next 12 to 18 months are critical and notes that recent completions have been driven in part by the development levy waiver, which requires construction to be completed by 31 December 2026.
Source: The Irish Times (11 November 2026) (https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2026/11/11/government-likely-to-miss-2030-housing-target-by-more-than-120000-units/)
Commission grants 12-turbine Ballinlee wind farm near Bruff
An Coimisiún Pleanála has granted permission for Ballinlee Green Energy's 12-turbine wind farm near Bruff, Co Limerick, with a generating capacity of about 53.6MW and an expected 35-year operating life, despite 309 objecting submissions citing noise, flicker and the 179 homes within 1km of the site. The inspectors' 500-page report found no evidence of health-related effects from wind turbines, and noted that night-time noise would exceed the Limerick County Development Plan limit but fall within the 2006 national guidelines. The scheme was reduced from 17 turbines to protect whooper swans feeding near Lough Gur, and a local action group is to meet this week to discuss challenging the decision.
Source: Irish Examiner (10 November 2026) (https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/munster/arid-41935797.html)
Starter Home Supports up 57% in first half of 2026, Department says
Minister for Housing James Browne announced that 4,699 Starter Home Supports were delivered in the first six months of 2026, up 57% on the 2,980 in the same period last year. The term covers the Starter Home Purchase Scheme (565 homes), Cost Rental (1,399 homes, more than double last year's figure), the First Home Scheme (996 supports) and the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant (1,739 grants). The opposition accused the Government of repackaging the figures and described them as "woefully inadequate".
Source: Department of Housing (10 November 2026) (https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/press-releases/57-rise-in-starter-home-supports-delivered-in-first-half-of-2026-minister-browne/); TheJournal.ie (10 November 2026) (https://www.thejournal.ie/housing-figures-spin-7221740-Nov2026/)
Ten own-door social homes approved for long-neglected Finglas site
Dublin City Council has approved ten social homes on a 0.3-hectare former play area at Berryfield Drive and Valeview Gardens in south Finglas, a site a council report described as a focus for vandalism and anti-social behaviour. The two-storey, U-shaped scheme has two terraces of six two-bedroom houses with four one-bedroom apartments, all with their own front doors, and Berryfield Drive will be reconfigured into two cul-de-sacs. The works include a new vehicular entrance from Cardiffsbridge Road, relocation of a bus stop, sustainable drainage and upgrades to the Valeview Gardens open space, close to the proposed St Helena's stop on the Luas Green Line extension.
Source: Dublin Live (10 November 2026) (https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/dublin-news/ten-new-social-homes-approved-34890549)
Third-party appeal against seven homes on Drogheda's North Road
Louth County Council granted permission to James McKevitt and Keith O'Leary for seven houses at Nos. 47 and 50 North Road, Drogheda, on a site that includes a protected structure. The scheme comprises four semi-detached three-bedroom houses and three terraced four-bedroom houses, with the demolition of two outbuildings, a new internal road, parking and open space. A local resident has lodged a third-party appeal with An Coimisiún Pleanála, which is due to decide it by 11 March 2027.
Source: Irish Independent (11 November 2026) (https://www.independent.ie/county/louth/appeal-lodged-against-seven-home-north-road-development-in-drogheda/a/164210477.html)
Arklow mixed-use scheme refused over overshadowing and pedestrian safety
Wicklow County Council has refused permission for a new mixed-use building at 22-25 Harbour Road, Arklow, citing concerns about overshadowing of neighbouring properties and pedestrian safety. The proposal would have replaced an existing commercial unit with two ground-floor commercial units and two two-bedroom apartments.
Source: Irish Independent (11 November 2026) (https://www.independent.ie/county/wicklow/mixed-use-wicklow-development-refused-planning-over-impact-on-neighbouring-homes/a/164020177.html)
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