At the outset, it is important to note that NAMA does not build residential property. Instead, where commercially viable, it funds residential delivery on sites controlled by its debtors and receivers. NAMA is making a significant contribution to the supply of housing within the State and has committed to facilitating the delivery of 20,000 residential units by the end of 2020, when the agency is due to wind up.
As of August 2018, I am advised that NAMA has delivered over 7,800 new residential units as part of its residential delivery programme. A further 2,800 homes are under construction and full planning permission has been granted for 7,800 units. Planning has been lodged, or will be lodged in the next 12 months for an additional 10,200 homes. Finally, pre-planning or feasibility work is underway on sites that have a delivery capacity for just over 15,000 residential units.
In addition, NAMA has an established policy of identifying to Local Authorities and approved housing bodies, properties within its portfolio which may be suitable for social housing. To date 6,984 such properties have been identified, with demand confirmed for 2,717 and 2,474 delivered or committed. Part of this delivery has been through NAMA’s innovative National Asset Residential Property Services (NARPS) model, which has purchased nearly 1,300 properties from NAMA debtors and leased them on for social housing.