Large fall in number of homes granted planning in Louth

The number of houses granted planning permission in Louth in the second quarter of this year (Q2) was almost half the number granted planning permission during the same period last year, with the number of apartments granted planning permission during the same period down to almost a fifth, according to the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office.

Planning permission was granted for 229 houses in Louth in Q2 of this year, down from 448 houses in Q2 of 2024. Of the 229 houses, 207 were multi-development houses and 22 were one off houses. It is also down from 410 houses granted planning permission in Louth in Q1 of this year, when planning was granted for 392 multi-development houses and 18 one off houses.

There has also been a huge fall in the number of apartments granted planning permission in Louth in the second quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year. Planning was granted for 85 apartments in Q2 of 2025, compared to 456 in Q2 of 2024. It is up however on the 34 apartments granted planning permission in Louth in Q1 of this year.

When comparing the 12 months to the end of Q2 2025, compared to the 12 months to the end of Q2 2024, a huge fall in the number of homes granted planning permission in Louth can also be seen.

Planning was granted for 919 houses in the year to the end of Q2 2025 in Louth, down from 1,426 houses in the year to the end of Q2 2024. For apartments the number fell from 945 apartments in the year to the end of Q2 2024, to 479 in the year to the end of Q2 2025.

Looking at the national figures, there was a decrease of 12.5% in the total number of homes approved in Q2 2025 to 7,447 units, down from 8,513 units when compared with Q2 2024. 

Houses accounted for 63% of all dwelling units granted planning permission in Q2 2025, while apartments made up the remaining 37%. In Q2 2025, the number of houses granted planning permission fell by 6.4% when compared with Q2 2024, while apartment approvals decreased by 21.4%.

The number of multi-development houses receiving planning permission declined by 7.5% annually, from 3,852 units in Q2 2024 to 3,565 units in Q2 2025. While there was a 3.2% decrease in the number of one-off houses receiving planning permission in Q2 2025, it has eased from the 4.5% fall recorded between Q1 2024 and Q1 2025.

Dublin had the highest number of apartment units granted planning permission in Q2 2025 at 1,233 apartments or 45% of all apartments, and accounted for 12% of house units approved (583). These 1,816 dwelling units approved in Dublin made up almost a quarter (24%) of all dwelling units granted permission in Q2 2025.

During the same period, the Midlands region (Laois, Longford, Offaly, and Westmeath) recorded the lowest number of apartment units (72) granted planning permission. The Mid-East region (Louth, Kildare, Meath, and Wicklow) accounted for the highest number of houses (893) granted planning, while the Mid-West region (Clare, Limerick, and Tipperary) recorded the lowest number of houses (247).