Key Takeaways
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Homes Potential | 154 pubs earmarked for conversion since 2022; up to 459 homes if all proceed. |
| Main Benefit | Revitalises derelict town centres while adding housing supply quickly. |
| Main Concern | Notifications ≠ homes; many projects may take years or stall. |
| Community Risk | One size does not fit all. Over-conversion in some areas may strip towns of retail/commercial life. |
| Infrastructure Issues | No planning means no obligation for parking, green space, or wider amenities. |
| Local Concerns | Mayo councillors warn of privacy loss, devalued property, and lack of balance. |
| Bigger Picture | Useful, but limited in scale; modular housing offers faster, scalable solutions. |
Recent figures from the Department of Housing show 154 pubs have been earmarked for conversion into housing since planning exemptions were extended in 2022. (Irish Times).
Mayo currently leads in converting vacant pubs into homes under the exemptions scheme; with 18 conversions lodged in 2 years, & a potential to deliver 40 new homes.
Nationwide, if all conversions proceed, we could see up to 459 homes added through pubs alone. This would be part of a wider 3,429 potential homes from all exempted commercial-to-residential conversions since 2018.
Housing Minister James Browne hails the scheme as a vital way to “unlock the potential” of long-vacant buildings. And on the surface, I believe he’s right: conversions can breathe life back into derelict streets, help address the housing shortage for some families, and do so without consuming fresh land or facing years of planning delays.
So despite all the positives mentioned above, why do I still feel uneasy?
Let us take a closer look.
The Benefits of Pub Conversions that Bypass Planning Approval.
1. TOWNS REVITALISED.
Derelict pubs often sit vacant for years, and they drag down streets and also deter investment. Converting them into homes brings back energy, activity, and security into town centres, making those areas more attractive for both residents and visitors.
2. FASTER DELIVERY OF MUCH NEEDED HOMES.
By removing the planning hurdle, conversions can begin far more quickly than traditional homes. This is very important during a housing crisis where long delays mean fewer homes delivered – especially when they’re needed most.
3. HOUSING SUPPLY.
Even small numbers matter. Each converted pub can provide several homes, adding up to hundreds nationwide. For rural towns in particular, these homes can ease pressure on waiting lists and emergency accommodation.
4. EFFICIENT USE OF SPACE.
Re-using existing buildings prevents further development into green fields, helps to preserve agricultural land, and also uses existing town infrastructure.
The Drawbacks of Pub Conversions that Bypass Conversion.
1. NO GUARANTEE THAT THEY WILL BE CONVERTED.
It is very important to remember that the pub conversions have only been approved without planning, not completed into homes. Submitting a notification doesn’t equal a finished home. Of the 154 notifications since 2022, I wonder how many have been converted into homes today, whether they will be converted at all, and whether they will be affordable once they are complete.
Projects can stall due to financing, construction costs, or lack of developer follow-through. This means that many “planned” conversions may never materialise into actual homes, and this annoucement by the Department of Housing may end up being just an elaborate PR stunt.
2.TOWN CENTRE BALANCE.
Conversions in town centres risk hollowing out commercial areas. Without shops, cafes, or services, residents may find that town centres lose vibrancy and employment opportunities, leaving communities more like dormitories than living towns.
However, to me, that is only an issue if planning was denied to businesses in favour of home conversion. If a derelict pub is standing around for a long time with no takers, how can we ignore home conversion when Irish residents are literally going homeless?
3. INFRASTRUCTURE GAPS.
Exemptions imply that planning rules may be bypassed. If that is the case in pub conversions, this means that there could be little requirements for amenities like parking and bin areas.
If not done properly, it can lead to congestion and poor long-term livability for those moving into these converted homes.
So What Now?
Don’t get me wrong. I believe the exemptions should remain, but not as a free-for-all. A small town centre without shops or services isn’t sustainable, no matter how many new flats replace old pubs.
Local authorities need to strike a balance – encourage conversions where they clearly serve communities, but protect local retail and commercial activity where it’s still needed.
Most importantly, we must remember that a planning exemption does not build a home, it only removes planning approval delays. Completion depends on funding, construction, and willpower.
Without this, we risk celebrating notifications that never materialise into affordable homes that people are desperate for.
CONCLUSION – WHY SOCIAL MODULAR CONSTRUCTION STILL MATTERS.
While pub-to-home conversions are welcome, their output will likely remain limited and slow. For Ireland to truly dent the housing crisis, scalable, fast-build solutions such as modular homes must be part of social housing delivery.
Modular homes can be delivered in months rather than years, and rolled out at a scale that conversions alone can never achieve.
At mylittlehome.ie, we will continue to advocate for modular construction as a long-term, sustainable social housing solution, while also acknowledging the value of every derelict or vacant building that is brought back to life.
