Up to half of houses in schemes to be reserved for owner occupiers

AuthorCormac McQuinn
Published date09 November 2021
Publication titleIrish Times (Dublin, Ireland)
The move is part of Government efforts to stop investment funds from bulk buying housing estates after it transpired that entire developments had been purchased by funds, squeezing out individual homebuyers.

Minister for Housing Darragh O'Brien is to bring a proposed amendment to planning and development legislation to recognise owner occupiers for the first time in planning law.

It is understood the amendment would enable local authorities to specify a proportion of properties in new developments - of up to 50 per cent - for owner occupiers.

The proposal adds to guidelines issued by the Department of Housing in May aimed at stopping the bulk buying of homes by investment funds.

The guidelines are said to be already being applied by planning authorities to protect estates in a number if recent decisions.

The amendment to the law is being brought forward to strengthen the guidelines by requiring local authorities to include projections of the need for owner-occupier units in their housing plans and subsequent planning decisions.

The goal is to help "level the playing pitch for individual buyers".

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