This article is from page 50 of the 2006-07-04 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 50 JPG
HOUSE building in the county has increased over the past 12 months, despite the reduction in planning permissions granted by Clare County Council.
But the 11.4 per cent reduction in planning permissions granted in the first three months of this year could lead to a significant drop in the number of houses being built over the coming years.
Figures revealed by the Central Statistics Office last week showed a marked decrease in the number of units granted planning permission in the past year.
During the first three months of this year 575 units were granted full planning compared to 716 during the same period last year.
Construction Industry Federation (CIF) Housing Executive Kevin Flavin told The Clare People that the 12-month figure showed a more significant reduction in planning permissions granted and a larger increase in the numbers of projects started.
The CIF executive pointed to a 19.7 per cent decrease in the number of planning permission granted between the 12-month period ending March 2005 and the same period ending March 2006.
Meanwhile, there was an estimated 27.8 per cent increase in building between the first five months of this year and the same period last year.
“Things are going very strong at this very moment in time, as in other parts of the country,” said Mr Flavin.
Commenting of the figure Clare County Councillor PJ Kelly said he felt they did not give a clear indication of building in the country as the figures did not account for withdrawn planning permissions.
He told The Clare People that the figures would not give a true reflection until the number of planning permissions applied for was compared to the number granted.
He said it was also his belief that the majority of refusals were in rural areas and for one off houses.
“It has been so difficult to get planning permission in rural areas,” he said.
Last year there were 2,487 planning applications with approximately 800 of those from rural areas according to the councillor.
Meanwhile, house prices in county Clare continue to experience huge growth increasing by 253 per cent over the last decade, according to a special edition of the permanent TSB House Price Index.
Compiled in association with the ESRI, the index shows that the average cost of a house in county Clare in 1996 was just €69,330. Ten years later the average cost had increased to €244,415.
Nationally house prices have increased even more – by 270 per cent over the past ten years.