Planning Permission Boost: Precast Revolutionises Apartments
Struggling with slow apartment builds amid Ireland’s housing crisis? Kilsaran Precast’s innovative system promises faster planning permission approvals and efficient construction.
Kilsaran Precast’s managing director, Derek Duffy, highlights their precast concrete method as a game-changer for apartment projects. This approach speeds up delivery while aligning with recent planning permission reforms. Duffy notes that success hinges on a steady project pipeline, but early results demonstrate high efficiency in residential developments.
The company leverages modular precast elements to assemble apartments rapidly on-site. This reduces construction timelines significantly compared to traditional methods. Duffy emphasises that their system meets strict regulatory standards, including those from updated planning laws that prioritise housing scheme approvals.
Recent changes in Ireland’s planning framework support such innovations. The Planning and Development Act 2024 extends development plan periods and introduces urban development zones for quicker infrastructure rollout. These updates facilitate An Bord Pleanála decisions, minimising delays for precast-led projects.
Duffy points out that precast construction excels in multi-unit builds, offering quality control and cost savings. Developers using this method can navigate material contravention issues more smoothly, ensuring compliance without prolonged appeals. Kilsaran’s projects showcase how precast integrates with environmental impact requirements effectively.
Further benefits include resilience to weather disruptions and lower labour demands. Duffy stresses the system’s scalability, ideal for addressing Ireland’s urgent housing needs. As planning authorities adopt stricter timelines—10 weeks for local decisions and 20 for appeals—precast positions developers ahead.
Government initiatives, like permission extensions for uncommenced housing, complement precast advantages. Developers can apply for temporary extensions up to two years before expiry, provided work starts within 18 months. This prevents lapses due to judicial reviews, unlocking stalled sites.
- Precast reduces on-site time by up to 50%, per industry benchmarks.
- Aligns with new modification procedures for residential layouts without full reapplications.
- Supports flood-risk development guidelines through durable materials.
- Enhances sustainability via factory-controlled production minimising waste.
- Boosts housing scheme approvals in high-demand urban zones.
Kilsaran’s model proves precast viability, with Duffy confident in its role amid 2025 reforms. As digital planning portals and streamlined judicial reviews roll out, efficiency gains will accelerate apartment delivery nationwide.
Builders eyeing expansion should assess precast for their next venture, especially with enhanced environmental assessments now mandatory. This system not only complies but excels under the evolving regulatory landscape.
Originally reported in The Irish Independent on Sun, 14 Dec 2025 05:45:31 +0000. Full story
