Planning Permission And The Newry–Dublin Cross-Border Housing Vision
Dublin’s housing crisis is pushing policymakers to consider bold cross-border planning permission ideas centred on transforming Newry into a commuter hub.
A new report proposes that Newry in Co Down could act as a Scandinavian-style cross-Border hub, similar to Malmö’s role with Copenhagen, to relieve pressure on Dublin’s overheated housing market. It suggests that thousands of Dublin workers could live in Newry while commuting south, taking advantage of lower housing and living costs.
The authors, businessman Paschal Taggart and strategy adviser Ger Perdisatt, outline a plan for about 6,000 new homes in the Newry area over the next decade. They argue this housing scheme approval could increase the local population by roughly 15,000 people while still undercutting prices in commuter towns such as Mullingar, Portlaoise and Carlow by an estimated €150,000 per home.
The concept mirrors European cross-Border “economic corridor” models where residents live in a cheaper jurisdiction but work and pay income tax in a neighbouring state. In this case, workers would be based in Northern Ireland but employed in Dublin, paying Irish income tax while spending much of their disposable income in the Newry and Banbridge region. The report claims this could generate direct and indirect economic benefits of up to £1.5 billion over ten years from an initial investment of around £107 million.
To make the model viable, the report calls for substantial transport upgrades, including improved rail connections and better road links along the Dublin–Belfast route. It also recommends designating an anchor development zone, inspired by the Shannon Free Zone, to offer favourable tax conditions and attract employers. This would be supported by a second phase of infrastructure investment to lock in long-term growth and reduce environmental impact from car-dependent commuting.
The initiative is supported by former senator Martin McAleese and aligns with wider efforts to promote the Dublin–Belfast Economic Corridor as a single integrated labour and housing market. Local authorities and business groups along the M1 corridor have already highlighted the strategic potential of a “linear city” linking Drogheda, Dundalk and Newry, backed by cross-Border cooperation and shared investment plans. These proposals would require careful navigation of planning regimes on both sides of the Border, including flood-risk development assessments and any material contravention of existing local plans.
Advocates argue that coordinated decisions, similar in strategic weight to an An Bord Pleanála decision in the Republic, will be essential to deliver large-scale housing while managing transport capacity and community services. They also stress that clear, predictable planning frameworks will be needed to reassure investors, protect existing residents and ensure that rapid growth in Newry remains sustainable and socially balanced.
Originally reported in on Sat, 10 Jan 2026 06:48:04 +0000. Full story
