Putting the Blame on Planning: Housing Crisis and Reform in Ireland

We are thrilled to warmly welcome all back to campus to join us for our second Public Lecture of the 2023-24 series. 

The lecture will be followed by a drinks reception in the South Cloisters.

Join us for an enlightening discussion featuring the esteemed speaker, Dr Declan Redmond, as we delve into the pressing issue of Ireland's evolving planning system. In the face of waves of restructure and reform since the global financial crisis and subsequent housing market collapse, it has become imperative to reevaluate the very foundations of the planning landscape.

Dr Declan Redmond's lecture will critically examine the reshaping of Ireland's planning system, which has been influenced by a well-organized and influential development lobby working alongside a compliant state. Some have controversially referred to this phenomenon as the 'planning-industrial complex.'

As the housing crisis worsened in recent years, the notion of viability, imported from England, has been used as a Trojan horse to implement major changes to the planning system. Fast-track planning permissions, reduced development standards, and generous developer subsidies are just some of the radical changes that have been made.

The imperative is to increase housing supply, given that housing is perhaps the preeminent political issue in Ireland. Alongside what might be seen as developer-friendly policies, there are proposals to introduce legislation on land value capture. Dr. Declan Redmond's lecture will assess the rationales and impacts of these ongoing changes.

Don't miss this opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the profound shifts happening in Ireland's planning system. Join us for an engaging conversation with Dr. Declan Redmond that promises to expand your horizons and inspire you to think differently about the evolution of Ireland's planning landscape.