MEP urges one stop planning reform as EU housing commissioner signals openness to change
Ciaran Mullooly, MEP, cites Ballymore Athlone proposal in European Parliament exchange on housing delivery, short term rentals and cutting red tape
Thursday 13th January | 📧 editor@breakingground.news
An exchange in the European Parliament has highlighted growing pressure for structural reform in how housing is planned and delivered across the EU, with Ireland cited as a case study in regulatory complexity.
Speaking at the Special Committee on the Housing Crisis in the European Union, Ciaran Mullooly MEP, Vice Chair of the committee, welcomed the European Commission’s proposed housing initiatives but raised concerns about short term rentals, property speculation and the lack of enforceable measures to address institutional investment in housing.
Mullooly questioned how the Commission intends to legislate on short term rentals across member states, particularly in designated housing stress zones. He pointed to parts of Ireland’s western seaboard where local residents are unable to buy homes, while high net worth investors purchase properties for use as short term lets through platforms such as Airbnb and Booking.com.
He also expressed disappointment that the Commission’s action plan does not, in his view, contain strong measures to tackle speculative investment or so called “vulture funds”, describing the proposals as overly focused on analysis and transparency rather than enforcement.
During his contribution, Mullooly referenced a proposal by Ballymore, one of Ireland’s most active private homebuilders, for a new green village in the Irish Midlands [Athlone]. He said the proposal, which Ballymore describes akin to a 15-minute city, would support a population increase from approximately 23,000 to more than four times that level. Mullooly noted Ballymore’s experience delivering more than 7,000 homes across Royal Wharf, Good Luck Hope and City Island in London’s Docklands.
According to Mullooly, Ballymore identified a “one stop shop” planning and infrastructure system in London as critical to delivery, with single agencies coordinating land access, planning, permits and utilities. He contrasted this with Ireland’s multi agency approach, which he said significantly delays housing delivery.
Responding, Dan Jørgensen, European Commissioner for Energy and Housing, said the concept of one stop shops is already used in parts of the energy sector, including offshore wind development, and acknowledged its relevance to housing.
Jørgensen said the Commission would examine the London example and assess whether similar models could be learned from or applied across the EU. He noted that delays are often driven not only by EU rules but by complex institutional arrangements at national and regional level.
On housing speculation, Jørgensen said there is significant disagreement within the Parliament on the scale of the problem. He indicated that while he suspects speculation is a real issue in housing markets, the Commission currently lacks sufficient transparency and data to conclusively prove it. He said improved analysis would inform whether future solutions should be implemented at EU or national level, noting that taxation measures are likely to remain primarily a national competence.
On short term rentals, the Commissioner reiterated plans to define housing stress areas and allow targeted intervention within those zones, stating that the approach is intended to support both large cities and smaller urban areas.
Critically, Jørgensen also confirmed that forthcoming state aid proposals would allow governments to support affordable housing beyond traditional social housing, enabling assistance for wider income groups struggling with housing costs.
The exchange took place ahead of the EU’s first Housing Summit, which Jørgensen is due to attend in Dublin during Ireland’s EU presidency later this year.
