Why Development Land Deals Just Surged 61% to €543M—And What It Means for Your Next Big Investment Move
Ever wondered what happens when the Irish development land market suddenly decides to put on a bullish show? Well, buckle up — the value of those land transactions shot up by a staggering 61% in the first nine months of 2026, zooming past half a billion euros to hit €543 million. That’s not just a number; it’s a bold statement about the pulse of the property scene, even with a bit of a slowdown in the third quarter. It’s like watching the market say, “Slow your roll,” and then sprint off in the next breath. Demand for residential sites is clearly the wheel turning this engine, but here’s the kicker: a good chunk of these deals didn’t even have planning permission in hand. Tempting, right? And as the market veers toward smaller deals, the landscape is shifting beneath our feet—literally. But with rising construction costs and a tapering off in house price growth, the big question is: how long can this growth spurt last? One thing’s for sure, collaboration between private players and the State might just be the secret sauce we need to keep housing dreams alive. Intrigued? Dive deeper into these trends and what they mean for the future of Irish property. LEARN MORE
The value of development land transactions in Ireland increased by 61% in the first nine months of 2026, reaching €543m, according to new research from property adviser Savills Ireland.
The total compares with €337m recorded during the same period last year, with demand for residential development sites continuing to support the market despite a moderation in activity during the third quarter.
Savills’ Q3 2026 report found that €106m worth of development land changed hands during the three months to September, broadly in line with the same period in 2025.
Twenty transactions were completed during the quarter, involving a combined 228 acres and an average deal value of approximately €5m.
Dublin accounted for 80% of transaction values, above its five-year average of 70%, while Cork represented a further 9%. The remaining activity was spread across Carlow, Clare, Kildare, Louth and Meath.
Residential development land accounted for 56% of transaction values across 16 deals, while mixed-use sites represented 43%.
The largest transaction was the €45m sale of the 13.3-acre St Mary’s Campus site, which achieved a price 13% above its asking price despite lacking planning permission.
Another significant deal was the €18m sale of a 7.2-acre site at Aiken’s Village in Dublin 18, which has planning permission for 209 residential units.
John Swarbrigg, director of development agency at Savills Ireland, said the market had performed well overall this year, with transaction values significantly ahead of 2025.
“Demand for residential sites remains the main driver of activity, particularly where planning permission is already secured and purchasers can move towards development without significant delays,” he said.
However, only 41% of transaction values related to sites with planning permission, below the five-year average of 48%.
The report also highlighted a shift towards smaller deals, with 25% of transactions valued below €1m, the highest proportion since the third quarter of 2020.
A further 55% were valued between €1m and €5m, while just 10% exceeded €10m.
Rising construction costs and slower house price growth are expected to put further pressure on development viability.
Annual house price growth nationally has slowed from 8% to 5% over the past year, while growth in Dublin City has eased from 7% to 1%.
Swarbrigg said a collaborative approach between the private sector and the State would be essential to increasing housing delivery.
“Maintaining a viable pipeline of residential development sites will be essential if housing delivery is to increase,” he added.
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