Almost 100 vacant pubs to be redeveloped into 300 new homes

Almost 100 pubs are to be redeveloped to create nearly 300 new homes.

Local authorities received over 1,100 notifications to convert commercial buildings to new homes between 2018 and 2023.

The buildings have the potential to result in more than 2,700 homes across the country, according to the Department of Housing.

Planning exemptions introduced in 2018 removed the requirement for planning permission for the conversion of certain types of vacant commercial property into residential units.

In 2022, the exemption was extended to allow vacant pubs to be converted into homes. In 2022 and 2023, 92 notifications relating to pubs were received by local authorities with the intention to create 295 new homes.

Overall, in 2023, local authorities received 267 notifications with the potential to provide 650 new homes. Some 39 related to pubs, which will create 136 homes.

Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien said converting empty buildings into "forever homes" was a key component of the Government's Housing for All programme.

"These figures show that policies which have eased the planning burden for those who wish to convert unoccupied commercial premises, including pubs, into residential use are helping to increase supply, tackle vacancy and renew urban areas.

"I’ve visited counties and got to see first-hand the impact of turning what was once a vacant pub into five or six new apartments. It makes sense to provide the exemptions and to make it easier for people to convert commercial buildings into high-quality homes."