Pictured (left–right): Colm McCarthy, Vanessa Byrne and Ronan Lyons
More than nine in 10 property professionals believe that streamlining planning would have the biggest impact on boosting housing supply in Ireland, according to a survey by business law firm Mason Hayes & Curran — but only four per cent feel that a new government would have the most significant effect.
The survey was carried out at the firm’s annual property conference, Planning & Building for Tomorrow, which took place at the Mansion House, Dublin, today and attracted almost 500 industry professionals.
Jamie Fitzmaurice, real estate partner at the firm, chaired a panel on Housing Delivery and Beyond.
Mr Fitzmaurice commented: “Boosting supply in the housing market is key to addressing the chronic shortfall of housing supply in Ireland. What was very clear from today’s discussion is that it’s a challenge that requires a collective solution.
“Collaboration across all stakeholders, from both the public and private sector, is critically important if we are to find new and innovative solutions to deliver the scale of housing needed to satisfy demand.”
The event included a discussion between economists Ronan Lyons and Colm McCarthy. Three industry panels debated the most topical issues they are encountering in the property sector.
Mr Lyons Lyons, economist and Trinity lecturer, predicted: “The next three years will be challenging due to external factors like costs and interest rates and the self-inflicted decisions of a cumbersome system. External factors will dominate but if we’re not building 50,000+ houses a year, things are going to get worse.”
A majority of respondents (57 per cent) think that the Planning and Development Bill will have no impact on reducing bottlenecks in the planning system.
Paul Bassett, construction partner at Mason Hayes & Curran, moderated a discussion on The