Housing
Housing is Ireland’s toughest problem. It causes acute pain, and it is deep rooted.
The good news is that other countries have struggled with housing too, and some of them have found lasting solutions. There is a path to affordable, liveable, sustainable, and beautiful housing.
It’s hard to adapt Irish towns and cities. Progress Ireland’s solution is to empower communities to opt into greater levels of density.
Most homes in European cities have been added through gradual infill. Current policy makes infill difficult, leaving cities frozen in the 20th century. Street Plan Development Zones could let towns and cities adapt to our changing needs.
A small change to planning rules could unlock a large number of new homes in the places they’re most needed, and help homeowners cover their bills.
Homeowners are currently entitled to build a small office, gym, or garage on their property without applying for planning permission. They are not entitled to build a small home. Extending exempted development rules to small homes could unlock up to 350,000 homes, according to Progress Ireland’s modelling.