Significant increase in Wicklow housing delivery targets projected by 2034

By Hugh O'Farrell Walsh, The Wicklow People

People in Wicklow will see among the biggest increases in housing delivery targets over the next decade.

The garden county’s annual target of 745 homes will increase to 2,068 by 2034.

Housing Minister James Browne has announced new guidelines which aim to increase the number of houses built each year across the country from 33,000 to an average of 55,000 by the middle of the next decade, in line with revised targets under the National Planning Framework.

Councils are also being asked to collectively zone enough land for an additional 50pc of the target, or a total of 83,000 new homes per year.

The Department of Housing’s guidelines acknowledge that “a relatively significant proportion of zoned lands are not activated over the period of a development plan” and that land in desirable areas should be residentially zoned for future development.

Minister Browne said it is important local authorities commence the process of revising their individual development plans as quickly as possible.

“This will ensure that sufficient zoned and serviced land is available for housing development. This will enable the full integration of the updated housing growth requirements into city and county development plans.

Wicklow TD Edward Timmins has welcomed the release of the figures to the county council.

“Wicklow has been given one of the highest target increases nationally. I now ask the Minister to ensure that Wicklow County Council is given the internal resources such as extra planners and the external infrastructure to allow these targets to be achieved”.

“I also welcome the allowance for councils to zone 50pc above the requirement as many zoned lands will never be developed.”

The figures are released after the local authority allocated over 90 new social homes across the county in June.

Three major developments (Doire Dubh in Tinahely, Cois Droichid in Greystones, and Tinakilly Park in Rathnew) were completed in recent weeks, offering a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom homes.

All units are A-rated for energy efficiency and finished to a high standard.

Between 2022 and 2024, the council delivered 680 new-build social homes, exceeding its official Housing for All target of 478 by 142pc.