Source: Journal of Housing Studies

Date Published: 09.16.2025

Link: Time to build: Rules-based planning and construction project duration in Dublin

Examining housing construction in Dublin, the study focuses on two components of housing construction that traditionally face lags: activation, “the time from planning consent to beginning of construction,” and build-out, “the speed of construction.” The authors conclude that the activation stage is faster when “rules-based” regulations are the basis of approval, as opposed to discretionary approvals. Examining over 80,000 residential units, they determined that rules-based regulations shortened projects by an average of five months. They also found that cheaper capital costs, a single end payment structure (one payment at the end of the project, as opposed to staged payments), and increased firm size help accelerate activation, while build-out is faster for firms with single payments and larger operations. From these findings, the authors suggest that the greater the uncertainty surrounding a planning and construction process, the longer the overall process takes to complete.