The National Economic and Social Council (NESC) has published new research: Deepening Compact Growth in Ireland.
Compact growth means having more growth within the boundaries of cities, towns, and villages, and the development of new walkable neighbourhoods served by frequent public transport. This report looks at the benefits of compact growth but also the factors working against it.
The report shows that the National Planning Framework (NPF) target – that 40% of new housing development within the existing built-up areas of cities, towns, and villages – is being achieved. However, it argues that this target is a modest one and that it continues to be the case that the fastest growth is at the edges and outside of towns and cities.
NESC makes several recommendations to make more progress on compact growth. These include:
- Increasing public investment to unlock land for compact growth, including major urban transformation projects and investment in infrastructure for housing in towns and villages;
- Placing more emphasis on the densification of existing areas to facilitate more use of corner sites, gardens, backlands, and mews developments; and
- Developing a brownfield activation strategy that includes review of the most important codes, regulations, and incentives that affect brownfield development.
The report can be downloaded here.