Planning Permission Delays Hit Sligo Housing Targets
Sligo’s housing ambitions are falling short as planning permission bottlenecks stall new developments.
Recent data from the Construction Status Report shows Sligo County Council is struggling to meet its annual housing targets, with a significant gap between planned and completed units. The report highlights that while the region has seen a rise in new dwelling completions nationally, Sligo’s progress lags behind, raising concerns about the pace of planning permission approvals and the delivery of new homes.
Across Ireland, new dwelling completions rose by 4% in Q3 2025 compared to the same period last year, with urban areas seeing the bulk of growth. However, Sligo’s performance does not reflect this national trend. The local authority’s ability to grant timely planning permission for new housing schemes remains a critical barrier, as delays in the approval process directly impact the number of homes that can be built each year.
Experts point to a combination of factors, including complex An Bord Pleanála decisions, unresolved flood-risk development issues, and a backlog of applications awaiting review. These challenges have led to a slowdown in housing scheme approval, with some projects stalled for months due to unresolved material contraventions or environmental impact assessments. The result is a growing mismatch between housing demand and supply in the county.
Despite these setbacks, the national outlook for housing construction remains cautiously optimistic. The National Development Plan has allocated significant funding to boost completions, and social housing projects are advancing across the country. However, Sligo’s experience serves as a reminder that local planning permission processes must be streamlined to ensure that investment translates into actual homes on the ground. Without faster approvals, the county risks missing its targets for years to come.
Industry leaders are calling for reforms to address the planning permission backlog, including greater resources for local authorities and clearer guidelines for flood-risk development and environmental impact assessments. The hope is that these changes will accelerate the pace of housing scheme approval and help counties like Sligo catch up with national targets.
As Ireland’s construction sector continues to grow, the focus is shifting to how efficiently local authorities can deliver new homes. The Construction Status Report underscores the need for urgent action to resolve planning permission delays, ensuring that every region can benefit from the country’s housing boom.
Key points:
- Sligo is not meeting its annual housing targets due to planning permission delays.
- National new dwelling completions rose by 4% in Q3 2025, but Sligo’s progress is below average.
- Complex An Bord Pleanála decisions and unresolved flood-risk development issues are slowing approvals.
- Industry leaders are urging reforms to streamline the planning permission process and address environmental impact concerns.
- The National Development Plan aims to boost housing completions, but local delivery remains a challenge.
Originally reported in on Fri, 31 Oct 2025 08:38:55 +0000. Full story
