Everyone Wants Housing, Until It Is Built Beside Them. Episode 817

Ireland is officially in the middle of a housing emergency, with thousands of people struggling to buy or rent a home. Yet another proposed apartment development has been stopped over concerns about its impact on people already living nearby.

In this episode, Niall speaks to property expert Karl Deeter about plans by Ires Reit to build a six storey block containing 38 apartments on the former Bruce House site on Main Road in Tallaght.

South Dublin County Council initially granted permission, but required the developer to include more three bedroom apartments, reducing the overall development from 38 homes to 33. Ires Reit appealed that condition, arguing that reducing the number of apartments would threaten the financial viability of the project.

Following an appeal from the local community, An Coimisiún Pleanála refused permission, citing the proposed building’s proximity to the existing Priorsgate apartments and concerns about overlooking and the loss of daylight to neighbouring homes.

Niall and Karl debate the difficult conflict at the centre of Ireland’s housing crisis. Existing residents have every right to protect their privacy, access to daylight, property values and quality of life. However, when almost every substantial housing development faces objections, reductions, appeals or legal challenges, where exactly are the homes Ireland desperately needs supposed to be built?

Is Ireland’s planning system protecting communities from unsuitable development, or is it making the housing crisis impossible to solve?

Should homeowners have the power to block badly needed apartments beside their properties? Are developers attempting to squeeze too many homes onto unsuitable sites, or must established communities accept greater density as Ireland’s population grows?

Niall asks whether people effectively believe they should have a veto over who lives in their area, how many people can live there and what type of homes can be constructed on their doorstep.