Housing body expands construction programme to €2 billion over the coming year

Some encouraging news as housing body expands construction programme to €2 billion over the coming year – it has secured fixed-price contracts with a number of leading developers and building contractors to construct large, mixed-tenure housing projects.

The body buys sites and finances construction by way of fixed-price contracts, with 85 per cent of its development schemes being construction-led. This model, Respond says, allows it to save up to €60,000 per unit compared to a housing-acquisition model.

“Our annual report details the ongoing effort and commitment of our development and housing teams to help alleviate the urgent need for more social and cost-rental housing across the country and to support the Government’s Housing for All strategy,” a spokesperson for Respond said.

“Our focus is on adding to the national housing stock, and the fixed-price contracts we have agreed with several developers mean we could quickly triple the number of social and cost-rental homes we have in construction to 4,100, with Government support. These are large-scale, development projects which will provide the volume of homes desperately needed, while also building inclusive, long-term, sustainable communities.”

The spokesperson said the sites were ideally placed in the State’s biggest cities and close to amenities including schools, parks, public transport routes and commercial centres.

https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/housing-planning/2023/08/22/housing-body-on-track-to-triple-number-of-social-and-cost-rental-homes-under-construction/