Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 May 2021
394. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when a planning application is made for a build to rent scheme, if the applicant is required to flag this in their application; if so, the way it is flagged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26424/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraA planning application for residential development may be specifically described as ‘build-to-rent’ (BTR) development at the planning application stage. This is set out in Chapter 5.0 of the Apartment Guidelines for Planning Authorities, 2020 and defines ‘build to rent’ development as:-
“Purpose-built residential accommodation and associated amenities built specifically for long-term rental that is managed and serviced in an institutional manner by an institutional landlord”.
It is a further requirement of the Apartment Guidelines that any such build-to-rent development remains owned and operated by an institutional entity, and that this status will continue to apply for a minimum period of not less than 15 years. The Guidelines also specify that no individual residential units may be sold or rented separately, during that period.
Such proposals must be described as specific BTR developments in the public notices associated with the planning application made. Planning applications for specific Build-to-Rent developments form a relatively small proportion of all planning permissions granted. As of February 2021, 48,397 residential units in total have been approved under the An Bord Pleanála Strategic Housing Development (SHD) process and a total of 7,782 (or 16%) of this total are specifically described as Build-to-Rent residential units.
Development proposals that have been subject to planning applications for, and permitted as, general housing development, rather than specified as 'build-to-rent' at planning stage, retain flexibility to be developed in full or in part for ‘build-to-sell’ or ‘build-to-rent’ purposes, with the latter also known as private rented sector, or PRS development.
