Ireland: Housing minister Darragh O’Brien has announced plans to scrap a planning law which allows BTR developments to feature smaller units than schemes for private sale.
Over the weekend, his party Fianna Fáil passed a motion calling for the end of different standards for BTR developments, and to return all residential units to “one standard”.
Currently, BTR apartments do not have to comply with the same minimum size standards as homes for sale, or provide as much storage space.
The motion that was carried read: “That this Ard Fheis calls for the ending of the ‘Build to Rent’ standard and a return to one standard for all apartments.”
O’Brien’s spokeswoman said he “intends to bring an end to BTR which was effectively established as a separate class of development for planning purposes under the 2018 apartment guidelines. The Minister is taking this action to bring a fairness back to the market”.
The minister has also told officials to investigate whether stalled BTR developments can be converted into social housing or affordable homes. Due to increasingly tight financing conditions, industry sources said some projects with planning are now unviable.
Data provided by the Department of Housing indicates that 78 per cent of planning-approved BTR developments, totalling nearly 10,000 units, have not started construction.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin announced on Friday night that O’Brien will remain as housing minister after a Cabinet reshuffle in December.
In November 2020, O’Brien announced a moratorium on all new coliving planning consents in Ireland.
