IRELAND Trends and Developments Contributed by: Diarmuid Mawe, Craig Kenny and Katelin Toomey, Maples Group
new standard builds upon the existing Nearly Zero-Energy Building (NZEB) standard, which has been the benchmark for all new buildings in Ireland since December 2020. The recast EPBD requires all new buildings to be ZEBs by 2030, starting with new public buildings by 2028, and all existing buildings are to be ZEBs by 2050. Converting the entire national building stock to ZEBs by 2050 is a huge challenge and will require active take-up and engagement from all stakeholders, as well as practical and meaning - ful state support. The EPBD also introduces a harmonised EU sys - tem of Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs), which will rate buildings from A (ZEB) to G (the lowest performance). These EPCs will replace the current Building Energy Rating (BER) cer - tification and are due to be implemented by 29 May 2026. Similar to a BER, the trigger for an EPC is the construction or renovation of build - ings, when they are sold or rented, or for which a lease is renewed. EPCs must also be issued for all existing buildings owned or occupied by public bodies. Member states must also establish minimum energy performance standards. For non-resi - dential buildings, this means renovating 16% of the worst-performing buildings by 2030 and 26% of the worst-performing buildings by 2033. Other requirements under the EPBD include the following: • additional infrastructure to be deployed for electric vehicle charging and bicycles, includ - ing cargo bikes and e-bikes; • all buildings are to be “solar-ready” ; • building owners, occupiers and managers must have direct access to a building’s sys - tems data relating to the energy performance
of the building and the estimated lifespan of systems, as well as building automation; • a national strategy to combat energy poverty must be implemented, targeted particularly at vulnerable customers in the worst performing buildings, including those in social housing; • safeguards for tenants are to be introduced to combat the risk of the eviction of vulner - able tenants caused by rent increases that are disproportionate as the result of a renova - tion; and “one-stop shops” providing techni - cal assistance relating to energy efficiency in buildings are to be made available in each member state. The Planning Act 2024 The Planning Act 2024 (the Act) is a significant piece of legislation that will have a major impact on the Irish CRE market. It introduces a range of new measures aimed at improving the plan - ning process, promoting sustainable develop - ment and addressing housing and infrastructure needs. The Act was enacted in October 2024, but only some parts of it have been commenced to date. Any planning process initiated under the previ - ous legislation will remain governed by that pre - vious legislation, even after the relevant provision is repealed by the Act. The Act is not expected to commence in its entirety before 2026. Streamlined planning process One of the key objectives of the Act is to stream - line the planning process and reduce delays. The Act introduces measures to simplify and expe - dite planning applications, which is expected to make it easier and faster for developers to obtain planning permission for commercial projects.
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