Minister Canney says faster delivery model is helping get social homes built and occupied sooner
Seán Canney TD, Minister of State for International and Road Transport, Logistics, Rail and Ports and Leader in Cabinet of the Independent Ministers, has welcomed the growing use of the Design and Build (D&B) approach for social housing delivery, saying it is helping local authorities deliver homes more quickly, more efficiently and with greater certainty around costs.
The Department of Housing has confirmed that more than 3,000 new social homes have entered the national delivery pipeline through the Design and Build model over the past three years.
Under the approach, local authorities prepare the initial designs for housing developments, while contractors take responsibility for the detailed design and construction phase. The model is now delivering major time savings, with projects progressing four to six months faster during pre-construction and a further six to nine months faster during the build stage itself.
Minister Canney said the focus has to remain on getting homes delivered as quickly as possible while maintaining high standards.
“One of the biggest frustrations for people waiting on housing is the length of time projects can take from planning stage to completion. What this approach is showing is that, with the right systems in place, we can reduce delays and move projects forward much faster.
“Saving months on delivery timelines makes a real difference. It means those who need housing support can move into new homes sooner.”
Minister Canney said the Design and Build approach is also helping local authorities manage projects more effectively and make better use of public funding.
“It gives greater certainty around costs from the outset and allows councils to progress schemes in a more streamlined way. At the same time, it is encouraging innovation in how homes are delivered, including the use of Modern Methods of Construction which can speed up delivery while maintaining quality.”
Regional Design and Build frameworks are now operating across five regions and support 25 local authorities by providing access to pre-qualified consultants and contractors. Work is ongoing to extend the model further across the country.
The Department of Housing has also indicated that it intends to expand the Design and Build approach into the Approved Housing Body sector to help deliver similar efficiencies across other areas of public housing delivery.