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International comparison:
Eurostat Planning Permission Data
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For more information on this release:
E-mail: STS_RAP@cso.ie Mary Heanue (+353) 21 453 5714 Alan Finlay (+353) 21 453 5211 Mairéad Ní Chuill (+353) 21 453 5242
For general information on CSO statistics:
information@cso.ie (+353) 21 453 5000 On-line ISSN 2009-5279
CSO statistical release, , 11am

Planning Permissions

Quarter 1 2016

 Number of Dwelling Units
 Houses Apartments Totals
Quarter 1 20152,5146993,213
Quarter 1 20162,5345573,091
% change0.8%-20.3%-3.8%

Dwelling units approved down 3.8% in year

Number of Dwelling units approved classified by type of unit, Q3 2014 -Q1 2016
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In the first quarter of 2016, planning permissions were granted for 3,091 dwelling units, compared with 3,213 units for the same period in 2015, a decrease of 3.8%.
 
 
The first quarter figures also show that:
  •  Planning Permissions were granted for 2,534 houses in the first quarter of 2016 and 2,514 in the first quarter of 2015, an increase of 0.8%. 
  •  Planning permissions were granted for 557 apartment units, compared with 699 units for the same period in 2015, a decrease of 20.3%. 
  •  One-off houses accounted for 31.6% of all new dwelling units granted planning permission in this quarter. See Table 4.
  •  The total number of planning permissions granted for all developments was 4,914. This compares with 3,901 in the first quarter of 2015, an increase of 26.0%. See Table 1.
  •  Total floor area planned was 1,280 thousand square metres in the first quarter of 2016. Of this, 39.2% was for new dwellings, 40.8% for other new constructions and 20.0% for extensions.  The total floor area planned increased by 31.6% in comparison with the same quarter in 2015. See Table 1.
  •  Planning Permissions for new buildings for Agriculture increased to 429 this quarter. This compares to 112 permissions in the same quarter of 2015. See Table 3(a).

 

 

X-axis labelPlanning Permissions CivilPlanning Permissions Non-Res Planning Permissions Dwellings
2011689365510586
201282137948569
201380634408204
2014123234989072
2015151940859845
Table A Summary of Planning Permissions granted for new Dwelling Units
             
Period All HousesAnnual % changeof which Multi-Development HousesAnnual % changeof which One-off housesAnnual % changeApartmentsAnnual % change Total Dwellings (All Houses & Apartments)Annual % change
             
2014Q11,446-22%672-38%7740%158-65% 1,604-31%
 Q21,492-0%740-9%75210%114-73% 1,606-17%
 Q31,78342%962122%8210%361130% 2,14452%
 Q41,90537%1,15653%74917%152-6% 2,05732%
 Year6,62610%3,53014%3,0966%785-34% 7,4113%
             
2015Q12,51474%1,606139%90817%699342% 3,213100%
 Q22,63777%1,816145%8219%473315% 3,11094%
 Q32,34532%1,39545%95016%359-1% 2,70426%
 Q42,75445%1,84159%91322%1,263731% 4,01795%
 Year10,25055%6,65889%3,59216%2,794256% 13,04476%
             
2016Q12,5341%1,556-3%9788%557-20% 3,091-4%
             
Note: Percentages are rounded for tabular purposes 
Table 1 Summary of Planning Permissions granted, Q1 2008 - Q1 2016
            
  Number of Permissions Total Floor Area (000 sq.m )1
  New ConstructionExtensionAlteration and ConversionTotal  New ConstructionExtensionTotal
Period DwellingsOther DwellingsOther
            
2008Q 14,7772,1043,52365111,055 2,6451,3595094,514
 Q 24,7222,0503,74370011,215 2,9011,4254444,770
 Q 34,2531,7744,16671110,904 2,2631,2654703,998
 Q 43,7391,6163,0036198,977 2,0281,1023873,517
 Year17,4917,54414,4352,68142,151 9,8375,1511,81016,799
            
2009Q 13,2751,2312,4994817,486 2,0908704593,419
 Q 22,6891,1582,4055046,756 1,7538722812,906
 Q 32,5051,2182,4334996,655 1,2739152782,466
 Q 41,9119081,8854335,137 8124081791,399
 Year10,3804,5159,2221,91726,034 5,9283,0651,19710,190
            
2010Q 11,7687751,6173594,519 8443031811,328
 Q 21,5137721,9963944,675 7765532321,561
 Q 3 1,6348662,3194535,272 7274152711,412
 Q 41,4327921,7783714,373 514254186955
 Year6,3473,2057,7101,57718,839 2,8611,5258705,256
            
2011Q 11,2777001,6374054,019 5993762021,177
 Q 21,2647211,8663934,244 5604522091,222
 Q 3 1,2718621,8964174,446 465288216969
 Q 49556811,3123353,283 357214137708
 Year4,7672,9646,7111,55015,992 1,9821,3307654,077
            
2012Q 19576951,3393773,368 279283173734
 Q 29428281,5493533,672 284341199824
 Q 39071,0501,6804104,047 312346219877
 Q 48378341,3413083,320 325261177763
 Year3,6433,4075,9091,44814,407 1,1991,2317683,198
            
2013Q 18627851,2963323,275 394366169930
 Q 27727541,4893533,368 333331170834
 Q 39319041,6653753,875 282312229823
 Q 47519881,2453993,383 295297159751
 Year3,3163,4315,6951,45913,901 1,3051,3067273,338
            
2014Q 18911,0061,3965403,833 336229180744
 Q 28751,0911,5905934,149 296242174712
 Q 39621,1831,7054784,328 366379228974
 Q 48781,0191,2613463,504 368214172754
 Year3,6064,2995,9521,95715,814 1,3661,0647543,184
            
2015Q 11,0661,0461,4543353,901 525243206973
 Q 29911,0211,6633724,047 5273212161,065
 Q 31,1281,4921,9424475,009 4945682931,354
 Q 41,0841,5651,4134084,470 6016871801,468
 Year4,2695,1246,4721,56217,427 2,1471,8198954,861
            
2016Q 11,1691,6951,6803704,914 5025222561,280
            
1 For categories where floor area is a relevant measure     
Table 2 Summary of Planning Permissions granted, Q1 2016, classified by region, county and type of development
           
Planning Region and CountyNumber of Permissions Total Floor Area (000 sq.m)
New Construction  ExtensionAlteration and ConversionTotal New Construction  ExtensionTotal1
Dwellings Other DwellingsOther
           
Border, Midland and West
381442419801,322 1169282290
           
Border13923821636629 435644143
           
Cavan2850475130 7101229
Donegal4458747183 1391738
Leitrim5177332 1113
Louth1626411194 112620
Monaghan2562194110 631541
Sligo212528680 63311
           
Midland98959015298 27152365
           
Laois353025999 95821
Longford152114252 54311
Offaly223021275 74919
Westmeath261430272 72414
           
West14410911329395 46211481
           
Galway City128171047 120315
Galway267554611179 1810634
Mayo52832395 123318
Roscommon133818574 48315
           
Southern and Eastern7881,2531,2612903,592 386430174990
           
Dublin1512875171541,109 19616647409
           
Dublin City5617221499541 617119150
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown432013426223 3828773
Fingal367510211224 715714142
South Dublin16206718121 2711644
           
Mid-East16511116434474 593829125
           
Kildare4231467126 1221437
Meath87467416223 29102160
Wicklow36344411125 177428
           
Mid-West10220614732487 26363395
           
Clare4048505143 114923
Limerick 39907220221 9232052
North Tipperary2368257123 610420
           
South-East17235518733747 427936157
           
Carlow101616244 3158
Kilkenny38134425219 940655
South Tipperary2363286120 512421
Waterford40695211172 9161238
Wexford6173499192 1611936
           
South-West19829424637775 6311130204
           
Cork City2119381694 78317
Cork213921215020521 479121158
Kerry3863581160 913729
           
State1,1691,6951,6803704,914 5025222561,280
           
1 For categories where floor area is a relevant measure       
2 Excluding cities        
 - No permissions        
Note: 0 implies less than 500sq m        
Table 3(a) Number of Planning Permissions granted, Q1 2016, classified by region, type of development and functional category
          
Functional Category
Type of Development and Planning RegionDwellingsCommercial BuildingsBuildings for AgricultureIndustrial BuildingsGovt., Health and EducationOther Buildings for Social UseCivil Eng.OtherTotal
          
New Construction         
          
Border, Midland and Western38161301335158127823
          
Border139-6410229763377
Midland981251-13433193
West1445412122731253
          
Southern and Eastern788612993019283854312,041
          
Dublin15136496547180438
Mid-East1653262351854276
Mid-West1021676167154308
South-East1721110573914278527
South West198109766310765492
          
State1,169674294322335435582,864
          
Extension         
          
Border, Midland and Western2932539123614--419
          
Border14717276127--216
Midland66253122--90
West80673125--113
          
Southern and Eastern1,0007668307710--1,261
          
Dublin4543524202--517
Mid-East13993292--164
Mid-West977225133--147
South-East122112110212--187
South West18814209141--246
          
State1,2931011074211324--1,680
          
Alteration and Conversion         
          
Border, Midland and Western1638-41012--80
          
Border814-347--36
Midland46--41--15
West418-124--29
          
Southern and Eastern821462113514--290
          
Dublin4480-5196--154
Mid-East916-243--34
Mid-West1115-231--32
South-East7191222--33
South West11161-72--37
          
State981842154526--370
          
All Developments         
          
Border, Midland and Western690691692949311581271,322
          
Border29431911918169763629
Midland16893041643433298
West2282948615112731395
          
Southern and Eastern1,87028336971131523854313,592
          
Dublin6491516184513471801,109
Mid-East3132829616101854474
Mid-West21023891317107154487
South-East3014112719261314278747
South West397401181527610765775
          
State2,560352538100180835435584,914
          
- No permissions
Table 3(b) Total Floor Area Planned (000 sq.m) in new construction and extensions, Q1 2016, classified by region and functional category
 Functional Category
Type of Development and Planning RegionDwellingsCommercial BuildingsBuildings for AgricultureIndustrial BuildingsGovt., Health and EducationOther Buildings for Social UseTotal1
        
New Construction       
        
Border, Midland and Western116670772208
        
Border43-4466099
Midland272111-042
West4641401167
        
Southern and Eastern386183178223413816
        
Dublin1961528141362
Mid-East5962313596
Mid-West2622921262
South-East422541824122
South West6321640241173
        
State5021902483041141024
        
Extension       
        
Border, Midland and Western 211614920282
        
Border9151027144
Midland60268123
West51215014
        
Southern and Eastern59252920402174
        
Dublin2186110147
Mid-East1014212029
Mid-West711618133
South-East827117036
South West132753030
        
State80414329604256
        
Total New Construction and Extension       
       
        
Border, Midland and Western136238416274290
        
        
Border5315548131143
Midland3331478165
West5151616281
        
Southern and Eastern445208207427314990
        
Dublin217160142142409
Mid-East697272145125
Mid-West33133539395
South-East504612994157
South West7623715271204
        
State58123029158101181280
1 For categories where floor area is a relevant measure     
 - No Permission     
Note: 0 implies less than 500sq m     
Table 4 Summary of Planning Permissions Granted for new houses and apartments, Q1 2011 - Q1 2016
  
 All Housesof which Multi-Development Housesof which One-Off HousesApartments
 Number of PermissionsNumber of UnitsFloor Area (000 m2)Average Floor Area per Unit (m2)Number of PermissionsNumber of UnitsFloor Area (000 m2)Average Floor Area per Unit (m2)Number of PermissionsNumber of UnitsFloor Area (000 m2)Average Floor Area per Unit (m2)Number of PermissionsNumber of UnitsFloor Area (000 m2)Average Floor Area per Unit (m2)
  
  
                 
2011Q 11,2053,075528171.7781,948246126.21,1271,127282250.36759265109.2
 Q 21,1972,599487187.3711,473204138.81,1261,126282250.7637117098.9
 Q 3 1,2071,887389206.483763111145.91,1241,124278247.55662573117.5
 Q 49071,537302196.34167186128.6866866210249.0436195487.9
 Year4,5169,0981,706187.52734,855647133.44,2434,2431,058249.42292,547263103.2
                  
2012Q 19021,263268212.43439553134.7868868215247.84992780.8
 Q 28751,166257220.04533648143.2830830208251.26224024101.8
 Q 38571,540302196.156739107145.4801801194242.84798885.1
 Q 47881,420283199.43766996143.2751751187249.5464314092.5
 Year3,4225,3891,110206.01722,139305142.43,2503,250805247.82048618093.0
                  
2013Q 18181,860345185.7451,087155142.6773773190246.24044846102.1
 Q 27271,496280187.143812109134.5684684171249.64043050116.9
 Q 38641,252266212.64543363146.6819819203247.5641571276.6
 Q 46941,394270193.654754109144.1640640161252.0531621593.6
 Year3,1036,0021,161193.51873,086436141.42,9162,916725248.61971,197123103.0
                  
2014Q 18351,446296204.661672106157.3774774190245.7491581596.9
 Q 28091,492283190.05774099133.2752752185245.9631141084.9
 Q 38871,783330185.266962134138.9821821197239.6653613186.9
 Q 48041,905352184.5551,156166143.2749749186248.3691521385.3
 Year3,3356,6261,261190.32393,530503142.63,0963,096758244.82467856988.3
                  
2015Q 19772,514454180.6691,606232144.3908908222244.8826996897.2
 Q 29132,637475180.0921,816277152.5821821198241.0734734799.7
 Q 31,0362,345419178.6861,395189135.2950950230242.4853593289.2
 Q 49952,754481174.7821,841259140.5913913222243.5861,26311994.2
 Year3,92110,2501,829178.43296,658956143.63,5923,592873243.03262,79426695.2
                  
2016Q 11,0722,534445175.7941,556209134.2978978236241.8905575090.1
                  

Background Notes

Scope and Background

Details of the scope and background of this series were given in the March 1973 Statistical Bulletin. The Planning and Development Acts 1963 - 2000, imposes certain requirements on builders, developers and all other persons who propose to build or develop and specifies that a planning permission must be obtained from the relevant Planning Authority.

Local authority building (including housing) is exempt in the case where construction takes place in the Authorities’ own area. Therefore, works undertaken by a local authority outside its functional area come within the scope of the Acts, and need planning permission. Planning permission is also needed for development by the State, except where the consultation procedures provided for in the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1993 obtain (e.g. national security, public safety or order, the administration of justice etc). This series only provides coverage where development is subject to the requirement to obtain planning permission.

This series is also available using the interactive tables in StatBank on the CSO website. 

Regions

The Local Government Act 1991 (Regional Authorities) (Establishment) Order, 1993, which came into operation on 1 January 1994, established eight new Regions. The CSO has adopted these in place of the old Planning Regions as the basis for the regional breakdown of planning permissions data. 

Classification

Planning permissions are classified by type of development, local authority district and by regional authority.  A distinction is made between residential and non-residential building and civil engineering. 

Coverage

Only final grants of permission or approvals are covered, i.e. only works which involve construction.  The following permissions are excluded since they do not entail construction per se:

  • Changes of a technical and business nature as distinct from a building or structural nature;
  • Outline permission;
  • Retention of an existing building;
  • Changes to existing plan;
  • Bye-law permission;
  • Refusals - permissions subsequently granted on appeal by An Bord Pleanála are included.  

Rounding

As the figures for floor area have been rounded there may be slight discrepancies between the sum of the constituent items and the totals shown.

Estimates are included where complete details of floor area size are not available.  

NUTS2 and NUTS3 regions

The regional classifications in this release are based on the NUTS (Nomenclature of Territorial Units) classification used by Eurostat.  The NUTS3 regions correspond to the eight Regional Authorities established under the Local Government Act, 1991 (Regional Authorities) (Establishment) Order, 1993, which came into operation on 1 January 1994.  The NUTS2 regions, which were proposed by Government and agreed by Eurostat in 1999, are groupings of the NUTS3 regions.  The composition of the regions is set out below.

  

Border Midlands and Western

NUTS 2 Region

   

Eastern and Southern

NUTS 2 Region

 
         
Border Cavan

 

Dublin Dublin
  Donegal     Dun Laoghaire - Rathdown   
  Leitrim     Fingal
  Louth     South Dubin
  Monaghan      
  Sligo      
         
Midland Laois   Mid-East Kildare
  Longford     Meath
  Offaly     Wicklow
  Westmeath      
         
West Galway City   South-West Cork City
  Galway County     Cork County
  Mayo     Kerry
  Roscommon      
      South-East Carlow
        Kilkenny
        South Tipperary
        Waterford
        Wexford
         
      Mid -West Clare
        Limerick
        North Tipperary

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