Ireland is in an unprecedented housing crisis. Empowering communities could offer a way to substantially increase Ireland’s housing supply. Inspired by international experience in South Korea, Houston (US), England, Israel and other places, such an approach would supplement Ireland’s current system and deliver more housing, by giving small areas the power to allow more development that meets their needs. This would encourage not just more development, but better development.

A residential street that could benefit from a street plan

The key principles of the policy approach are:

  1. 01

    More housing where it is most needed.

    Street plans would enable more homes to be added in areas of high housing costs.

  2. 02

    Local democracy.

    Residents must agree on any proposals, which are subject to strict rules to protect other residents. Only when a two-thirds majority are in favour is planning permission for the proposals granted for each plot on the street.

  3. 03

    Making housing ‘win-win’.

    Homeowners, tenants and the wider community benefit from street plans, meaning they have a reason to say yes to more homes near them.