Irelands housing crisis – building our way out of it together

Unless you have been hiding under a rock for the past couple of years, it comes as no surprise that Ireland is currently experiencing its worst housing crisis in history. When we look at the news or read the newspaper, all we hear about the doom and gloom, but how bad it is really?

In the first quarter of this year, throughout the country in its entirety, there were 6,716 new dwelling completions which is a rise of 19.1% from the same time last year in 2022. This has caused apartments to make up a third of all housing in Ireland, which is a first.

Of the 6,716 new homes built, Cork had the second biggest share of 37.3% which is only .3% less than that of Dublin, which is the grander scheme of things, shines a bright light at the end of the tunnel.

Not only that but plans for 1,325 homes in Cork were submitted at the end of June, and if granted, it will result in Cork's largest ever housing development and will include 658 one-bed homes, 465 two-bed homes and 202 three-bed homes. It may seem like an easy task, but building a housing development of this complexity is quite the challenge; and if you read until the end, you’ll find out why…

Housing Developments

Selecting the right site for a housing development is paramount. Architects in Cork and housing developers must consider factors such as location, accessibility, proximity to amenities, and scenic surroundings. A thorough site analysis is always conducted to ensure it aligns with the practicality which is needed from the site. A practical application is then made for planning permission to the local authority, and while that is being processed, financial planning, alongside legal documentation is created and submitted to the regulatory bodies, respectively. After these processes have been submitted and approved, the construction phase can then begin, and after which, the inspection phase will be undertaken to ensure all steps of the build have been abided by as agreed, and to ensure all construction undertakings are up to standard.

Gerald McCarthy Architects have extensive experience in working alongside large housing developments, keeping common sense, budget, and reliability at the forefront of all decisions made. We know that the whole process can be very stressful, which is why we will work alongside you tirelessly and do as much of the submission, planning and organising as we can. We are the leading architects in Cork and our aim is to make your life easy. So if you or someone you know is looking for an architect in cork you can touch, please get in touch – we’ll take it from here.