The Land Development Agency (LDA) is on track for the delivery of at least 13,000 new homes between now and 2030, according to a new 2026 mid-year progress update. This will be in addition to the 3,215 homes the LDA has already completed since 2022.
The update shows the LDA’s current project pipeline now has the capacity to deliver more than 28,000 new homes. Over 6,500 of these are under construction on over 20 sites, with more construction starts imminent.
From a financial perspective, total assets on the LDA Balance Sheet are just over €2.9bn as at the end of June 2026, which mainly comprises land, homes built or homes under construction. This makes the Agency one of the largest Irish real estate entities by asset value, a little over 4 years from the commencement of the LDA’s enabling legislation. Built homes (including the NARPS portfolio transferred from NAMA) have generated close to €25m in rental income in the first six months of the year, which will be used to fund borrowings for the delivery of more homes.
From 2026-2028, the LDA is planning to deliver over 8,000 new homes including more than 1,800 this year, nearly 3,000 next year and in excess of 3,500 in 2028. This is based on current project programmes. The projected 2028 delivery will likely make the Agency one of the largest producers of homes in the State, when measured by completions.
This means the Agency’s total delivery output should reach approximately 16,500 by 2030, with c.35,000 people living in an LDA home by that time. There is the potential for this to increase further as more projects are confirmed and added to planned completions in 2029 and 2030.
The Agency has made considerable progress in developing the growing Cost Rental tenure, with 2,367 Cost Rental homes now delivered, enabling tenants to avail of rents that are at least 25% below market rate. According to the findings of a new survey* of LDA Cost Rental tenants, satisfaction rates are high, with the vast majority of respondents (94%) saying that they would be “very likely” (69%) or “likely” (25%) to recommend a cost rental home in their development to a friend. Rent collections, which are essential for the sustainability of cost rental, are also strong. The security and stability that this provides means communities are growing, as people lay down roots.
The progress update also shows the LDA currently has nearly 6,500 homes under construction.
While the LDA relied on its Project Tosaigh initiative (which involves funding housebuilders to deliver affordable homes) to drive initial housing output in 2022 and 2023, direct delivery projects will make up an increasing proportion of overall delivery from 2026 onwards as projects come to fruition.
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD said: “We are seeing an uptick in the delivery of homes and momentum is quite literally building across the sector. This is not just because of policy changes and capital commitments I have driven on with as Minister, but the ambition to get this right and do it as quickly as possible. What has been critical to the momentum we are now seeing is the work of the Land Development Agency. It has ramped up and it has responded to the housing challenge.
“The LDA has established a serious track record in providing quality homes across tenure types, and I expect them to play an even greater role in the years ahead.
“I have fully backed the Agency with a multi-billion-euro funding package and recently expanded its remit to enable it to deliver more homes and unlock additional opportunities. I want them to drive on.
“The LDA have an ambitious programme in the pipeline and it’s what we all want to see – getting on with the job and using the expertise they have now to masterplan for the future of communities across the country. Getting onto sites and getting shovels in the ground so we can get keys into people’s hands.”
John Coleman, Chief Executive of the LDA said: “We are pleased to report positive progress by the LDA in the delivery of new homes and communities. The data shows strong momentum, with our development pipeline set to deliver more than 28,000 homes. We are targeting the completion of at least 13,000 homes between now and 2030, which will be in addition to the more than 3,000 we have already delivered.
“The LDA is reaching maturity as one of the most significant housing entities in the State, when measured by the number of homes being delivered and the rapidly increasing financial scale and capacity of the LDA. From an operational perspective, the LDA has provided the State with the capacity to directly deliver homes in an efficient and value for money manner for the first time in many years.
“At the LDA, we have adapted and pivoted to address pressing housing issues as they evolve. For instance, we continue to play a major role in shoring up apartment delivery which would otherwise not be delivered by the market. The LDA will continually need to evolve to address our housing needs. This now includes the need to accelerate the assembly of land for housing, which comprise partnerships with local authorities and with private homebuilders. It will also enable the delivery of private homes alongside State-backed Starter Homes on major sites assembled by the LDA, thereby supporting social integration and sustainable communities.”
