By Trendsetter Tribune 
Dublin is facing a housing crisis, and the city council is taking bold steps to unlock development on underutilized land. Dublin City Council (DCC) is now reaching out to landowners and developers with either inactive planning permissions or zoned but undeveloped land to deliver large-scale social housing projects. The move could accelerate the creation of thousands of new homes and help meet the Government’s ambitious housing targets.
Background / Context
The Government’s housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities, published last November, aims to provide 72,000 social homes and 90,000 affordable homes nationwide by 2030. Dublin, as the country’s capital, plays a central role in this initiative. However, many sites approved for development remain dormant, slowing progress toward these targets.
Currently, DCC projects it will deliver 7,777 homes on its lands by 2030, with over half earmarked as social housing, 35% as cost-rental, slightly more than 10% as affordable purchase, and 3% as private housing. Despite these efforts, demand continues to far outstrip supply, particularly for social housing.
What Happened
To tackle the housing shortfall, DCC has identified 113 “inactive” development sites in the city with approved planning permission where no construction has started. These sites alone have the potential to provide 13,000 homes.
In addition, the council plans to proactively seek landowners without planning permission on residentially zoned land that could accommodate at least 100 social homes. The goal is to partner with these owners to build homes that meet DCC’s requirements for design, standards, pricing, and delivery timelines.
The council’s plan outlines:
- Minimum 100 social housing units per scheme.
- Encouragement for a mixed-tenure approach, including cost rental, affordable purchase, or private housing. Projects offering a strong mix of tenures will score higher.
- Preference for single-site developments, although multiple sites from one tenderer may be considered if they meet the minimum criteria.
- Three-bedroom social homes must be included.
- Completion of schemes is expected by end of 2030.
DCC will begin pre-market consultation this month, move to the tender stage between September and December, and award contracts between January and February next year.
Analysis (This Is the Value)
DCC’s approach reflects several key trends and challenges in Dublin’s housing market:
1. Unlocking Dormant Land
Large portions of the city’s residentially zoned land remain underutilized. By reaching out directly to owners of these dormant or inactive sites, DCC aims to reduce bottlenecks in housing delivery.
2. Encouraging Mixed Tenures
The council is incentivizing developers to include multiple housing tenures. This strategy could promote socioeconomic diversity, while also helping balance the market between social, affordable, and private housing.
3. Meeting Government Targets
With national targets demanding millions of new homes by 2030, this initiative could play a critical role in achieving Dublin’s share of 72,000 social homes. Proactive engagement with landowners may speed up development timelines significantly.
4. Addressing Cost and Quality
DCC emphasizes standards, design, and price control, indicating that the council aims to ensure homes are both affordable and high quality, preventing issues seen in past rapid developments.
Implications
- For residents: Accelerated social housing could reduce wait times for homes and improve availability in high-demand neighborhoods.
- For developers and landowners: Offers an opportunity to partner with the city on high-value projects, but with clearly defined standards and timelines.
- For policymakers: Success could serve as a model for other cities struggling with underutilized land and housing shortages.
Conclusion
Dublin City Council’s new initiative to engage landowners and developers on inactive or untapped sites could be a turning point in the city’s housing crisis. By combining social housing, cost rental, and affordable homes in well-planned projects, the council aims to meet ambitious targets while improving housing diversity and quality. The coming months will reveal whether this strategy can translate potential into tangible results for Dubliners in need of a home.