'Significantly short' - Tipperary housing developments fail to meet targets

Housing delivery in Tipperary was "significantly short" of the targets set by the County Development Plan, according to new figures from the Southern Regional Assembly.

Figures show that a target of 1,500 homes was set for 2024 by the Tipperary County Development Plan, but only around 500 homes were completed in the county last year.

Despite this, housing commencements exceeded the targets set by the County Development Plan, with in the region of 2,000 new homes starting construction in 2024.

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Figures for planning permission granted were again below the figures set by the Tipperary County Development Plan, with less than 1,000 planning applications granted permission in 2024.

"Across Counties Kerry, Kilkenny, Clare and Tipperary, completions were significantly short of CDP targets, however a significant rise in commencements was recorded," the report states.

The Report on Housing Delivery in the Southern Region states that "the viability of apartments and brownfield land development is even more challenging within Towns. This presents a major challenge not just to housing delivery, but the regeneration of urban areas and objectives for compact growth".

The report also states that the "the reliance on social and affordable housing to enable apartment development has the potential to undermine objectives for mixed and tenure blind communities".

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Director of the Southern Regional Assembly David Kelly said that the housing figures for 2024 show that despite some increases, housing delivery remains difficult.

"With housing a national challenge, recently published data on housing delivery for 2024 has been subject to intense scrutiny and discussion. It is important to understand what the most recent data reveals about housing delivery across our Region.

"The report highlights that, despite some positive trends on commencements, major challenges remain in driving housing delivery up to the levels targeted in the new Programme for Government," Mr Kelly added.