This article is from page 16 of the 2006-01-24 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 16 JPG
LAST year saw a record number of houses built in Co Clare. There was an 18.7 per cent increase in the number of houses built in Clare in 2005, more than 3.5 times the national increase.
Neighbouring county Galway reported a decrease of 5.6 per cent in its home building in 2005, while Limerick had a small increase of 1.2 per cent.
Clare had the fourth highest increase in home completions within the last 12 months. Despite the Clare building boom however, house hunters struggled to find new homes in the Ennis area towards the end of 2005. The house shortage is about to change over the coming year, as planning applications begin to meet the ever-increasing demand.
In the Ennis area alone 1,664 applications are with the respective planning authorities for new developments. A total of 750 of those units are due for discussion shortly. Another 408 housing units before the council require further information, with 250 more applications needing further clarification.
A total of 93 units have been granted planning permission in the Ennis area and await construction. A further 163 units have been granted permission but appealed.
According to Helen Gallery from Sherry Fitzgerald McMahon, the first time buyers’ market is very strong in the county town, as are sales in more upmarket developments. A lot of first time buyers are now buying second-hand, due to the elimination of stamp duty on these properties for those entering the property market. This intern allows a lot of people to “trade up”, explained Ms Gallery.
The cost of homes in Ennis has also increased slightly in the last year. A three bed semi detached house now starts at €225,000. A town house could go for €200,000 while a four bed detached is estimated to cost between €300,000 and €310,000.
In total 2,174 were built in the county last year, with 1,537 registered. The total number of house completions for 2005 nationally was 80,957 units, up 5.2 per cent on 2004.
Minister for Housing and Urban Renewal Noel Ahern said, “We are building more than double the amount of houses in 2005 than in 1997.”
“In fact Ireland is now producing houses at a rate of 20 per 1,000 residents. That is a phenomenal level. It also indicates that the strong demand for housing is being met by a strong supply.”
The Minister also indicated he expected considerable growth in the output of affordable housing through the various affordable housing schemes with in excess of 12,000 homes expected for delivery through these schemes in the period 2005 to 2007.