Construction sector ‘has turned’ as growth predicted

The trend in the Irish construction sector has turned, according to the National Housing Construction Index which is predicting growth in the next quarter.

The latest edition of the National Housing Construction Index compiled and issued by Link2Plans has tracked an increase in planning application across 10 counties.

Taken on a national basis, there has been a slight decline in the number of planning applications, down 1% compared to the same period last year.

However, in counties Dublin, Kildare, Wicklow, Tipperary, Monaghan, Louth, Longford, Cavan, Kilkenny and Clare, there has been an increase in the number of projects that have applied for planning application, when compared with 2012.

Managing director of Link2Plans, Danny O’Shea is predicting there will be a strong upswing in projects breaking ground in the next two or three months.

“The National Housing Construction Index shows us that the trend has turned in the housing construction sector. From the middle of 2013, a definite trend has emerged and with the increased focus on new building regulations, it is likely that an exceptionally sharp increase in projects were commenced in the first two months of 2014, which will be evident in the next edition of the National Housing Construction Index.”

Last year, Dublin led the way with a 15% jump in commencements, taking the number of projects that broke ground in 2013 to 1,222.