The Build

Join me in search of the elusive and fascinating cuckoo.

I am joined by a great group of guests including Sean Keyes from the Currency who discusses the media's influence on policy.  Pat Farrell for IIP defends his supposed winged members and David Tilson from Cantor Fitzgerald explains why Leo doesn't need to fear the Lettuce just yet.

And you thought this was a boring housing policy podcast.

Links to items mentioned in this episode:

Housing is breaking brains: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/11/us-housing-supply-shortage-crisis-2022/672240/

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Ken MacDonald's illustrious career has shaped the Irish real estate landscape across five decades. Starting with a humble leaflet campaign back in 1967, Ken's journey has seen him play a pivotal role in the emergence of apartment living. Brace yourself for an anecdotal tour through time as Ken unravels the evolution of Irish property and its tryst with the new wave economy.

The conversation gets juicier as we dig into the culture of objections to development. We critically examine the political and legal systems and their role in nurturing an 'industry of objection' that has made securing planning consents an uphill battle. 

Don't believe everything you hear about institutional investors! Our discussion seeks to debunk common misconceptions and emphasizes the importance of a balanced mix of small and large landlords in the rental sector. 

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Paul Mitchell, Director and Co-founder of Mitchell McDermott talks about costs, viability, what is happening in other countries along with MMC and Sprawl.

Note: There is now an AI-generated transcript with each new episode.  Please excuse any errors.  I for one am grateful to our new robot overlords and any errors they make in transcription are obviously my fault as a human.

00:00 - Explaining quantity surveying to a 5 year old
00:07 - Apartment viability and why it doesn't exist
00:17 - Planning regulations and the effect on cost
27:30 - Removing kitchens and the travelling box
39:30 - Viability checking new regulations
48:00 - The Germans are also suffering
54:56 - Modern Methods of Construction (MMC)
1:03:48 - The Cost of sprawl

Reports and data mentioned in this episode:

Residential Construction Cost Study Report:
https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/2bf87-residential-construction-cost-study-report/

CORINE Map:
https://data.gov.ie/dataset/corine-landcover-2018

World Economic Forum report on the future of Construction:
https://www3.weforum.org/docs/Future_Scenarios_Implications_Industry_report_2018.pdf

The Cost of Sprawl in Canada:
https://institute.smartprosperity.ca/sites/default/files/sp_suburbansprawl_oct2013_opt.pdf

Are we repeating the mistakes of the past?:
https://mitchellmcdermott.com/apartments-construction-repeating-mistakes/

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UCD Economist and former member of An Bord Snip (and An Bord Snip Nua!) Colm McCarthy on the mistakes we have made and continue to make.  Also, why the ECB was incompetent during the bailout and why the Army are still in Rathmines.

As always, please send any suggestions for the show to [email protected]

Some links on topics from today's episode:

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/just-what-is-an-bord-snip-nua/26551525.html

https://researchrepository.ucd.ie/server/api/core/bitstreams/09ac4db6-415e-4a6e-925b-def46ffb4db8/content

https://www.farmersjournal.ie/is-greek-compromise-possible-174917

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Architect John Dobbin talks us through how to go about building a house, from the very beginning and why it can be difficult but rewarding.  Also, bungalow bliss, high density but low rise housing and converting offices.

Joint Oireachtas recommendatons on Planning: https://data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/committee/dail/33/joint_committee_on_housing_local_government_and_heritage/reports/2023/2023-05-04_report-on-the-pre-legislative-scrutiny-of-the-draft-planning-and-development-bill-2022_en.pdf

AI image of Kari's House:
https://labs.openai.com/s/GNSJXErw7XDs2AnNWwU0PdQn

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On today's episode: the contributions waiver is explained and we talk to Fidelma McManus, partner and head of housing at Beauchamps LLP about conveyancing, AHB's and how the law touches every part of your life.  And obviously we find a way to mention Taylor Swift.

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John Downey, a town planner with 20 years experience, talks to us about how the planning system is meant to work, why it is completely broken, and what could possibly be done about it.

Please note that there is a small bit of colourful language in this episode, just in case you're listening in the presence of younger ears.

You can find more information on John and what he does at https://www.dwny.ie/

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Brian Hanlon is the CEO of California YIMBY, a non-profit whose mission is to make California an affordable place to live, work, and raise a family. As well as being every NIMBY's worst nightmare, he is a committed environmentalist with a long history of advocacy and is a genuinely lovely person to chat with.

I highly recommend the report that California YIMBY released on homelessness that Brian mentions: https://cayimby.org/housing-first/ 

You can read more about California YIMBY on their website: https://cayimby.org. They maintain an excellent catalog of research on Housing policy on their website at: https://cayimby.org/research/ 

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A discussion with Brian Moran on how difficult it is for even a well funded, global developer like Hines to develop housing in Ireland.

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The CJEU ruled on the planning application discussed in the episode. Please see links below to more information.

Judgement: https://curia.europa.eu/juris/document/document.jsf?text=Ireland&docid=271075&pageIndex=0&doclang=EN&mode=req&dir=&occ=first&part=1&cid=2213426#ctx1

News reports:

https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2023/03/10/eus-top-court-paves-way-for-controversial-bailey-gibson-site-plan/

https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2023/03/13/further-hearing-required-in-high-court-case-over-permission-for-south-circular-road-development/

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Do we really need another podcast? 

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