Good afternoon folks, if you missed last week’s Sunday Property Round-Up, which was full of industry and tech/innovation news, you can catch up here: https://propertydistrict.ie/category/sunday-property-review/
Before we get started, I just want to draw your attention to two news items that might be of particular interest:
- Dublin City Council is upgrading the city’s lights, re-creating ‘heritage luminaires’ from old moulds – #smartcity and #proptech solutions being explored: https://www.thejournal.ie/heritage-lighting-upgrade-dublin-4482131-Feb2019/?amp=1
- I have mentioned previously the ongoing quest to modernise the construction industry and this presentation ‘What’s Possible Using Panelised and Modular Offsite Construction’, by James Young of EvolusionInnovation .com is definitely an eye-opener and worth watching today:
As always, you might let me know if I have missed out on any relevant property news by emailing carol@caroltallon.com.
(Apologies in advance for any typos, it’s difficult to get good help on a Sunday. Also, I use voice to text dictation so just sound out anything that really doesn’t make sense in a strong rural accent and that should help!)
Sunday Listen: #PropertyMatters Tuesdays 6-7pm
Ireland’s first weekly property radio show, Property Matters, launched last month on Dublin South FM 93.9 and is now available internationally via iTunes and Spotify podcast (@iPropertyRadio). Seasoned political journalist and broadcaster, Bryan Fox, and I (Carol Tallon) team up to deliver 60 minutes of industry chat with guests from the areas of planning, construction and property.
Guests in studio this week included Colm Costello from JLL, Jim Urell from Property Button and Shane Dempsey from the Construction Industry Federation (CIF). Join us next Tuesday evening as we hear from the experts about Ireland’s planning process, the cost and availability of development land and how AI-enabled technology will ensure a more data-driven approach to planning for future housing and infrastructure.
*Listen back to #PropertyMatters here: https://anchor.fm/ipropertyradio
PLACEMAKING
Public Consultation and Community Engagement
I look forward to chairing the Urban Development Conference 2019, which takes place in Dublin in a few weeks. There is a great line-up of speakers who will present a range of ideas and proposed solutions to the challenges that population growth presents. The crossover of planning, property development, implementation of emerging technologies and rapidly changing user demands promises to make for an interesting discussion. I hope to see many of you there!
Details here: Urban Development Conference 2019: How we can bring our towns and cities back to life?
*One-day conference, Talbot Hotel, Stillorgan, Co. Dublin. 21st February 2019*
Booking here: http://cmgevents.ie/events/urban-development-conference-2019/
- Industry driving property development | Irish Examiner https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/business/industry-driving-property-development-902706.html
- Dublin City Council proposes plaza plan for northside https://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/dublin-city-council-proposes-plaza-plan-for-northside-1.3788656?mode=amp
- Sod turned on the new runway at Dublin Airport, but some residents are not happy https://www.thejournal.ie/dublin-airport-new-runway-6-4493636-Feb2019/
- There is a massive focus on the redevelopment of Dundrum by Donal Buckley in the property supplement of The Sunday Business post that is definitely worth a read today.
- Hugh O’Connell in the SBS today reports that property developer ‘Crean attacks Labour’s Ò Rìordàin over opposition to HOwth development plan’. This is simply the latest in a series of politicians and public figures being accused of NIMBYism (not in my back yard!) when it comes to proposed property development. Ò Rìordàin has refused to meet Crean, however, emails “seen by The Sunday Business Post lay baer an escalating row” between the pair.
*PLACEengage: The future of speedy, successful placemaking for property developers is here – Property developers and project owners ready Public Consultation are encouraged to contact the PLACEengage team for full details*
Other Property News
- Colin Coyle in The Sunday Times today reports that the ‘State wants Airbnb to police new limit on host lettings’. This is following on from much lobbying that took place over the summer to restrict short-term lets/sublets to 90 nights per year. It is now likely that some restrictions will be put in place, however, enforcement will need to extend beyond the Airbnb platform – we will continue to monitor this and let you know if and when such restrictions kick in.
- Sean Pollock, also in the Times reports that 18 local authorities – mainly across Leinster – are now using drones to “combat illegal dumping, enfore building regulations and help emergency services”. In The Sunday Business Post, Dave Healy of 4site has an article setting out how ‘Drones take the danger out of landscape surveying’.
- Paschal Donohoe writes an opinion piece in the Sunday Independent today about how “managing costs [is] key to Project Ireland 2040”. It contains all the right words but nothing new by way of information.
- Conor Skehan has an interesting article on page 20 of the Independent today wherein he suggests that the only wyato tackle Dublin’s traffic chaos is to start in Galway. He goes on to outline the range of factors that contribute to congestion and insists that it will take a collection of approaches to deliver a workable solution, including changing speed limits, employing new transport technologies and encouraging a change in societial attitudes towards road usage.
- Samantha McCaughren in the Independent reports that ‘Strong construction sector boosts hardward stores’ revenue in standout 2018′ – average increase 9%.
- In the commercial property section of the Sunday Independent today, Ronald Quinlan reports that ‘KPMG’s search for new headquarters set to spark clash of property titans’. He is referring to the requirement for 350,000 sq. ft. and developers likely to be in a position to deliver that are Johnny Ronan (RGRE), Pat Crean (Marlet), Larry Goodman (Ternary), Hibernia Reit and Clancourt. Watch this space…
- Michael Brennan in The Sunday Business Post reports that ‘Builders warn extension of [help-to-buy] grant for first-time buyers is needed. The scheme is due to end at the end of 2019 and, while there is certainly talk of this being extended or replaced with something similiar, uncertainty around this is having a negative effect on the new homes market.
- On page 6 of the SBP today, Ròisìn Burke interviews DCC chief executive, Owen Keegan, about the housing crisis, regulating Airbnb in the capital and the “very convinving case for greater height and great density” in Dublin.
- Couple pay royal sum for West Cork coastal castle https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/couple-pay-royal-sum-for-west-cork-coastal-castle-904328.html
- Deserted 80-acre island off Galway coast for sale https://www.rte.ie/news/connacht/2019/0214/1029643-high-island/
- Housing Minister hopes Rent Register legislation will be in place before Easter recess; https://amp.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/housing-minister-hopes-rent-register-legislation-will-be-in-place-before-easter-recess-904388.html
- Permanent TSB cuts buy-to-let mortgage rates https://amp.independent.ie/business/personal-finance/permanent-tsb-cuts-buytolet-mortgage-rates-37813834.html
- Scheme to attract investment to northeastern region https://www.rte.ie/amp/1028804/
- Families who turn down two offers of social housing will face five-year suspension – reports https://amp.breakingnews.ie/ireland/families-who-turn-down-two-offers-of-social-housing-will-face-five-year-suspension-reports-903821.html
- Rent-free: How do you get away with not paying mortgage for nine years? https://m.independent.ie/business/personal-finance/property-mortgages/rentfree-how-do-you-get-away-with-not-paying-mortgage-for-nine-years-37818881.html
- New social housing builds 4% below target last year https://www.rte.ie/amp/1029457/
- Proposal to build 420 homes in Dublin faces potential delay https://www.irishtimes.com/business/construction/proposal-to-build-420-homes-in-dublin-faces-potential-delay-1.3794397?mode=amp
- Potential price-setting power of institutional landlords flagged https://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/potential-price-setting-power-of-institutional-landlords-flagged-1.3794427?mode=amp
- ‘One or two’ contractors Varadkar would not like to see get a public State contract again https://www.thejournal.ie/tendering-process-overhaul-4490677-Feb2019/?amp=1
- Multiple project overruns by BAM https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/multiple-project-overruns-by-bam-904336.html
- Ronan named preferred bidder for Cherrywood development https://www.irishtimes.com/business/commercial-property/ronan-named-preferred-bidder-for-cherrywood-development-1.3792926?mode=amp
- Construction firm Ardmac to open new offices in Cork and Amsterdam https://amp.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/business/construction-firm-ardmac-to-open-new-offices-in-cork-and-amsterdam-904245.html
- Raymond Tutty joins Savills as associate director https://www.irishtimes.com/business/commercial-property/raymond-tutty-joins-savills-as-associate-director-1.3778959?mode=amp
Agile Agent – Digital Transformation for Independent Estate Agents
Sales Training
We are delighted to play host to one of Ireland’s top sales trainers for an intensive day of industry-specific sales training for independent estate agents later this month. This training will be held in County Carlow (instead of our usual Citywest) to facilitate agents in the South and South East of the country. Email for further details and availability: info@propertydistrict.ie
Also, Agile Agent Q2 Programme updates here:
To get involved and for free Proptech Prompts, please
Proptech and Construction Innovation
- Are you an Irish-led or Ireland-based #proptech business? If so, please take five minutes to add or update your details to our internationally-shared listing here: SIGN UP: PROPTECH INNOVATORS and to keep up-to-date on all things tech and innovation for the planning, construction and property industries, head over to http://www.prop-tech.ie. Also, we are on a mission to get every Irish construction and property technology business registered on the global proptech database UNISSU. More details here:https://prop-tech.ie/global-proptech-data-platform-unissu-com-is-launched/
- The property editor of The Sunday Times starts her column this week with the words “now that Ireland’s proptech industry is actually a thing…” and I find myself losing the will to read on (genuinely, this is why the traditional print media is struggling) – but I do read on because the fabulous Healy Hynes of Beagel .io is profiled and his online bidding platform for private treaty sales, new homes and auctions is recognised as one of the most innovative and transformative proptech offerings in Ireland. Seriously, if you are a residential property developer or estate agent, you need to check this out. Today! (and no, I am not on commission, I just like great tech that makes the marketplace better)
- Seven Areas To Tackle Poor Productivity In Construction With ConTech https://www.forbes.com/sites/angelicakrystledonati/2019/02/13/seven-areas-to-tackle-poor-productivity-in-construction-with-contech/amp/
- 49 Women Who Will Shape The Future Of UK Real Estate https://www.bisnow.com/london/news/women/46-women-who-own-the-future-of-uk-real-estate-96064?fbclid=IwAR381gw78VrjOCqBGAk80wJBaoXt7gDwzHqvUf506Hsgb0oSBsqYomY-yuA
- Building A City In The Cloud https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurelfarrer/2019/02/11/building-a-city-in-the-cloud/amp/?__twitter_impression=true
- 2019 In Real Estate: Bursting Bubbles Or Best-In-Class? https://www.forbes.com/sites/nataliakarayaneva/2019/02/11/2019-in-real-estate-bursting-bubbles-or-best-in-class/#cfb96822dbd5
- Flow: Local PropTech Platform to reward tenants for their good behabiour http://www.capetalk.co.za/articles/337370/flow-local-proptech-platform-to-reward-tenants-for-their-good-behabiour
- It pays to bet smart on proptech https://www.propertyweek.com/insight/it-pays-to-bet-smart-on-proptech/5101338.article
- Introducing the ‘Next Generation of RP Data’: Our Latest Proptech Innovation https://www.corelogic.com.au/news/introducing-next-generation-rp-data-our-latest-proptech-innovation
- JLL beats on earnings, thanks in part to their tech investments | Propmodo https://www.propmodo.com/jll-beats-on-earnings-thanks-in-part-to-their-tech-investments/
Crowd-sourcing: New Facebook Group for Irish Property Buyers & Investors
As many of you might know, my annual property book The Irish Property Buyers’ Handbook (since 2011) was rebranded for 2018 and will now appear as part of The Property Insider series, published by Oak Tree Press, the first three titles are now published and available here.
For the first time, the 2019 edits will be crowd-sourced and will include home-buyer and investor queries, with crowd-sourced and editorial team answers. Join the Facebook Group here to contribute: https://www.facebook.com/groups/IrishPropertyBuyers/