The Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR) welcomes and supports the efficient and effective implementation of the Revised Housing Growth Requirements published by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage on the 29 July 2025. These follow the approval of the revision to the National Planning Framework (NPF) by both Houses of the Oireachtas on 1 May 2025.
The Revised Housing Growth Requirements have increased to approximately 55,000 homes per year up to 2034. The Section 28 Guidelines on National Planning Framework Implementation – Housing Growth Requirements issued by the Minister set out a policy and objective that zoning in development plans should provide a 50% headroom above the housing growth requirement for each local authority.
These guidelines replace the Section 28 Housing Supply Target Methodology for Development Planning Guidelines issued in December 2020. To meet the increased housing requirements, local authorities will now update their development plans.
In publishing the above guidelines, the Minister has set out strategic planning policy aims in relation to the quantum of housing delivery reflecting both wider Government policies and priorities and the will of the Oireachtas in approving the publication of the revised NPF. The role of the OPR is now to oversee this process, ensuring that national policy is followed and homes are delivered in the right locations, where essential services will be provided in a timely and coordinated manner and where risks to people or the environment such as flooding will be avoided.
As the Regulator of the planning sector, the OPR is fully committed to ensuring that the Minister’s guidelines are implemented in full through the statutory plan-making functions of local authorities. Furthermore, the OPR is working within the NPF and Planning and Development Act 2024 implementation structures led by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the City and County Management Association, to drive increased housing delivery along with the achievement of long-term proper planning and sustainable development.