Wicklow social housing costs among highest in State across all delivery streams
The Wicklow PeopleWicklow has emerged as one of the most expensive counties in Ireland for delivering social housing, with new departmental figures showing the county consistently at the upper end of national cost ranges across direct build, turnkey, Part V and projects delivered by approved housing bodies.
The Department of Housing’s analysis of tendered construction projects for 2025 shows Wicklow County Council recording an average direct build construction cost of €357,219 per home, including abnormal costs. The abnormal component alone averaged €59,883 per unit, one of the highest figures in the country.
Abnormal costs arise from site specific challenges, such as poor ground conditions, demolitions, service diversions and restricted access.
In Wicklow, these issues have become familiar features of the county’s development landscape, where steep topography, fragmented landholdings and a reliance on infill sites have repeatedly complicated delivery.
Counties such as Kildare, Meath and Wexford have lower averages. Dublin City does come in higher overall, but Wicklow’s position is still striking given its smaller urban footprint and the fact that most of its projects are delivered in towns rather than dense metropolitan settings.
Turnkey delivery, which has become a central pillar of Wicklow’s social housing pipeline, also shows elevated costs.
The average turnkey price for Wicklow in 2025 was €403,775 per home, placing the county among the highest in Ireland.
Only the Dublin authorities and a small number of commuter counties recorded comparable levels. Turnkey units are typically larger than direct build homes.
Part V acquisitions also show Wicklow at the upper end of the national scale. Part V is the legal requirement that private developers must provide a portion of new housing developments to local authorities for social and affordable housing.
When a developer receives planning permission, they must agree a Part V arrangement with the council, usually involving the purchase of a set number of homes at an agreed price.
The average cost per home for Part V purchases in Wicklow in 2025 was €309,614, a figure that mirrors the county’s broader pattern of elevated delivery costs and its dependence on private sector supply in expensive locations.
Homes delivered by approved housing bodies for people with specific needs also show Wicklow recording one of the highest average turnkey costs in the country. The average cost for these projects in 2025 was €385,125 per home.
The data suggests that organisations operating in Wicklow face the same market pressures as local authorities, with land values and construction conditions driving up costs across all delivery channels.
Projects supported through long term leasing arrangements between approved housing bodies and local authorities show Wicklow’s capital outlay averaging €294,978 per home, with an average contribution of €76,544.
These figures show Wicklow is one of the most expensive counties in Ireland for social housing delivery, regardless of the mechanism used.
High construction costs, high abnormal costs, elevated turnkey prices and above average Part V and approved housing body figures all point to a county grappling with structural constraints.