Construction Activity Republic of Ireland

This time out we take a look back over activity in 2022 courtesy of Construction Information Services.

Planning Applications

Submitted The planning pipeline for 2022 topped the €30bn mark reflecting a high degree of optimism in the Irish economy.

Planned investment was up 35.6 % on the previous year and over 55% from 2020 although the impact of the pandemic must be taken into account in that year.

The residential sector accounted for €18bn of planned pipeline investment with almost €8bn directed towards apartment development in Dublin.

Non-residential planning showed growth in most sectors outside of medical which saw a sharp decline in the number of hospital beds planned, falling from 610 in 2021 to just 151 in 2022.

Nursing home bed provision planned fell from 3,454 in 2021 to 2,798 in 2022. The highest growth area was in office developments which rose from 513k SqM planned in 2021 to over 1m SqM planned in 2022.

Planning Applications

Granted The overall value of planning applications granted in 2022 fell by 7% from 2021. In the public sector pipeline investment from projects granted permission rose 35.8% to €3.3bn

Residential Sector

Plans granted in the residential sector fell in value by 12.3% from 2021, representing a decrease from 44.7k residential units approved in 2021 to 42.2k units approved in 2022.

Somewhat surprising is a decrease of over 5k in apartment units granted permission. At the time of writing, over 15k residential units under appeal are beyond the decision due date assigned by An Bord Pleanála.

Regionally, the Midlands, South-West, Mid-West and Border regions all showed pipeline value growth while Dublin and the West declined in planned investment by 31.3% and 54.4% respectively. Non-Residential Sectors Projects granted permission showed moderate growth in value in 2022 rising by

3% from the previous year and by 2% from 2020.

Community related projects and shops and retail projects showed the largest decline with plans granted in these sectors falling in value by 19.4% and 43.4% respectively.

In total, there were 1,773 classrooms, 528 hospital beds, 3,195 hotel beds,