Rise in planning applications but fall in project commencements

THE latest figures from the National Housing Construction Index reveal that sentiment in construction sector in Mayo remains positive as planning applications rose by 10% in the first six months of 2015 when compared to same period in 2014.

However, despite the positive outlook, there has been a significant fall in activity in the residential construction sector in Mayo, with project commencements down by 49% in the first half of 2015 when compared to last year.

Nationally, the National Housing Construction Index shows that planning applications have risen by 14% in the first six months of 2015 when compared to the same period in 2014, but project commencements have fallen across the country by 26% year on year.

The data in the index is aggregated by consultancy Link2Plans from real time planning and project information in every local authority area, with the latest edition tracking every project from January through to June this year and comparing it with the same period in 2014.

According to Danny O’Shea, managing director of Link2Plans, two 'very distinct themes' have emerged in the Irish residential construction sector in the first half of 2015.

“Firstly, when compared to the same period in 2014, there has been consistent bi-monthly growth in the number of project applications, which shows continued confidence in the sector. Secondly, commencements are down quite significantly when compared to 2014,” he explained.

Nationally, the number of planning applications in the first six months of 2015 rose by 893 from 6,503 to 7,396 but the number of project commencements fell by 1,063 from 4,080 to 3,017 when compared with the same period in 2014.