The Irish government is doubling down on efforts to convert vacant and underused industrial sites into high-density residential developments as part of its strategy to address the nation’s ongoing housing crisis. Taoiseach Micheál Martin this week emphasized the urgent need to revitalize brownfield land in cities to increase apartment supply and reduce pressure on greenfield sites.
Speaking at a housing forum in Dublin, Martin stressed that local authorities and private developers must collaborate to unlock the potential of these urban sites. The government has already begun offering subsidies and tax incentives under the Croí Cónaithe Cities scheme to make redevelopment financially viable.
While planning regulations and high construction costs remain significant hurdles, policymakers are hopeful that streamlined approvals and co-investment frameworks will attract private capital. Institutional investors and real estate private equity firms are being encouraged to participate through long-term leasing arrangements and forward-funding deals.
With the National Development Plan targeting over 300,000 new homes by 2030, tapping into brownfield land could be a game-changer—particularly for mixed-use and build-to-rent projects in city centres where housing demand is most acute.