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Over 40,000 homes approved for planning in 2023

There was an annual increase of almost 21% in the total number of dwelling units approved in 2023, up from 34,177 units in 2022 to 41,225 units in 2023. In 2022 an annual decrease of 20.5% was recorded.

In 2023, the number of apartments granted planning permission rose by almost 29% when compared with 2022, while house approvals were up by more than 13%, CSO data shows.

There was an annual rise of 40% in the number of multi-development houses receiving planning permission in 2023, compared with a decline of 27% in one-off houses.

Across the four local authorities of Dublin, planning permission was granted for 13,833 apartments in 2023, accounting for almost two-thirds (64%) of all apartments granted planning permission in the state. 

In 2023, there was an annual increase of 35% (14,211 to 19,172) in the total number of Strategic Housing Developments (SHD) dwelling units approved.

In Q4 2023, the total number of dwelling units approved planning permission rose by 47% to 11,181 units compared with 7,597 units in Q4 2022.

Between Q4 2022 and Q4 2023, an annual rise of more than 12% was recorded in the number of planning permissions granted for all developments, with 6,399 permissions approved in Q4 2023 compared with 5,691 in Q4 2022.

Statistician's comment

Statistician Shane O'Sullivan said apartment units accounted for more than half (55% or 6,150 units) of total dwelling units granted permission in Q4 2023, an increase of 64% when compared with 3,758 units which received approval in Q4 2022 while house permissions granted during the same period increased by 31%.

“There were 54% more multi-development houses approved permission in Q4 2023 when compared with Q4 2022. One-off houses showed an annual decline of 10.5% from 1,356 units in Q4 2022 to 1,213 units in Q4 2023.

“Of the 6,399 planning permissions granted for all developments in Q4 2023, 1,565 were for new construction dwellings, 2,044 for other new constructions, 1,728 for extensions, and 1,062 permissions were granted for alterations and conversions.

“Dublin accounted for 45% (2,768 units) of all apartments approved during Q4 2023. This was followed by Cork at 34% (2,114 units) and Meath at 5% (286 units),” he said.

In terms of house units granted planning permission in Q4 2023, Dublin had the highest number at 768 units (15%), followed by Cork with 585 units (12%), and Meath with 531 units (11%).

Of the 6,090 units approved in Q4 2023 under the Strategic Housing Development (SHD) scheme, 80% were for apartments and 20% were for houses.

Of the 25,226 planning permissions granted for all developments in 2023, 6,355 were for new construction dwellings, 7,714 were for other new constructions, 7,029 were for extensions, and 4,128 permissions were granted for alterations and conversions.

Dublin accounted for 64% (13,833 units) of all apartments approved in 2023. This was followed by Cork at 14% (2,918 units) and Meath at 3% (685 units).

In terms of house units granted planning permission in 2023, Dublin accounted for the largest number of houses with 4,776 units (24%) followed by Cork with 2,676 units (14%) and Meath with 1,288 units (7%).