Multiple Waterford pubs to be developed into new homes

Almost 100 pubs nationally could be redeveloped into homes, including three in Waterford. These three local pubs could create up to 16 new housing units.

This is due to new planning exemptions, which have been introduced removing the requirement for planning permission for the conversion of certain types of vacant commercial property into residential units. This exemption was subsequently 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.

The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, recently published figures, which show that local authorities received 1,165 notifications to convert vacant commercial premises into new homes between 2018-2023. These notifications have the potential to result in 2,716 new homes across the country.

Minister O’Brien said: “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. 

"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," he said.