Mixed figures for construction in Mayo

Mixed figures for construction sector in Mayo


Anton McNulty

THERE was mixed reports for the construction sector in Mayo with the latest figures revealing that the number of commencement projects has risen but planning applications have dropped.
The latest figures and statistics from the National Housing Construction Index revealed that the first four months of 2014 saw Mayo record the fifth highest increase in project commencements nationwide. When compared to the same period in 2013, project commencements were up by a staggering 206 percent.
However, planning applications for the same period in the county fell by eleven per cent.
The data was compiled and issued by consultancy Link2Plans from real time planning and project information in every local authority area.
Nationally, project commencements rose substantially in the first four months of 2014 with an increase of 132 percent compared to the same period in 2013, continuing the upward trajectory shown in the first two months of 2014. Every county saw an increase in commencements with Mayo recording an increase of 206 percent, which was well above the national average.
Commenting on the figures Danny O’Shea, Managing Director of Links2Plans said that while the national average was up, he expected an downward trend for the rest of the year.
“The 132 percent increase in the number of commencement notices for March and April continued the positive trend shown in the first two months of 2014, but there has been a fall from the phenomenal increases of 192 percent seen in January and February of 2014.
“This decrease can be attributed to the rush at the beginning of the 2014 to get commencement notices lodged before the new building regulations came into force on March 1, and we would expect this downward trend to continue into the second quarter of 2014 but overall we would still anticipate an increase year on year,” he said.
In relation to planning applications, nationally the figure rose by 19 per cent in the first four months of the year which compared to the same period in 2013. Dublin recorded the biggest increase in planning applications up by 61 per cent from last year’s.
The only downside to the overall positive news for the sector was that planning applications were down in ten counties, including Mayo, where applications fell from 99 in January to April 2013 to 88 for the same period in 2014, which represented a fall of eleven percent.