Department overestimated fast-track housing success

Of the 24,264 homes approved under the Strategic Housing Development system by the end of 2019, developers have only started to build 6,765 units, which means plans for 17,499 homes are lying idle

Before a developer begins the development of a home, they are required to lodge a commencement notice with the Building Control Management System (BCMS).

The Department of Housing overestimated the success of a fast-track housing scheme by more than 5,500 units in a letter to the Oireachtas housing committee last month, the Business Post can reveal.

In September, the department was asked to inform the Oireachtas committee what percentage of the 53,000 homes granted permission under the Strategic Housing Development scheme were under construction or built.

In response, the department said the status of individual developments were “not routinely ...