RIAI welcomes housing plan but backs better design
The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) has welcomed the Government’s Housing Plan 2025 and its strong emphasis on investment in infrastructure, tackling vacancy and dereliction and accelerating delivery through new urban communities.
The representative body has warned, however, that a more comprehensive action is needed to eliminate waste caused by the planning and procurement systems.
The RIAI called on the government to review how public projects are progressed through procurement processes and to remove unnecessary red tape to avoid projects stalling at various stages of approval.
'Burdensome bureaucracy'
“Burdensome bureaucracy has delayed infrastructure for decades in Ireland. Urgent action is needed to eliminate the wasted time and effort in getting projects to site. Better forward planning will support in providing more certainty in the system, but if we’re to expedite the delivery of infrastructure, then the reform of the public procurement process must also be a priority,” said Sean Mahon, President of the RIAI.
The RIAI welcomed commitments to expand the Living Cities Initiative, to increase the use of compulsory purchase orders (CPOs), and deliver new urban communities to coordinate housing and infrastructure delivery at scale.
Dereliction
“Homing in on dereliction and vacancy is an effective way to increase housing stock while revitalising our towns and cities. The new derelict property tax and the expanded Living Cities Initiative can help unlock land, revitalise towns and cities and support sustainable, well-connected growth while maximising existing infrastructure”.
The RIAI is concerned that the plan gives limited attention to design quality and the vital role of architects in delivering sustainable, adaptable neighbourhoods that deliver long-term value for all.
“We welcome the progress on housing activation, but the delivery of homes must be in the context of creating healthy communities and neighbourhoods that work for people both now and in the future,” said Sean Mahon.