Housing

Big win for developers as O’Brien scraps ‘use it or lose it’ penalty

The Department of Housing will now not introduce a clause to strip developers of planning permission to build homes on land that they fail to develop in the new Planning and Development Bill

Darragh O’Brien, the housing minister, has frequently touted the landmark ‘use it or lose it’ measure as an integral part of the government’s plans to overhaul the planning system. Picture: RollingNews

The government has scrapped plans to strip developers of planning permission to build homes on land that they’ve failed to develop, in a significant reversal of national housing policy.

Darragh O’Brien, the housing minister, has frequently touted the landmark ‘use it or lose it’ measure as an integral part of the government’s plans to overhaul the planning system and spur the construction of thousands of new homes in a bid to tackle the country’s chronic ...