The Government has finally approved the revised National Planning Framework (NPF) which was published in draft form last summer. The document, considered an essential part of the wider plan to address the housing shortage, awaits approval by the Oireachtas which is seen as a formality.

The document updates the original framework published in 2018 – which itself replaced the national spatial strategy. It is described as a high-level strategic plan for shaping the future growth and development of the state out to the year 2040 by which time the population is expected to increase by a further one million.

The NPF does not contain any specific plans for housing or indeed other areas of the economy. Its purpose is to “set in train” more detailed plans in the areas such as housing, infrastructure and economic growth. It outlines national policy objectives and principles around areas such as sustainability, creativity and community to which these subsidiary plans will be required to adhere.

With respect to housing it predicts that there is a need for approximately 50,000 additional homes per annum out to 2040 and sets a national objective to target the delivery of this number subject to some other objectives around density and resilience.