Builders call for lower levies to allow more houses to be built

The Construction Industry Federation is warning the Government it must help reduce the cost of building a house if it wants to meet its housing targets.

The Housing Agency is publishing its first report on supply and demand today, which is expected to call for the construction of 21,000 houses each year for the next three years.

It is hoped the National Statement of Housing Supply and Demand report will be used by developers and local authorities as a resource in meeting housing demand.

CEO of the Construction Industry Federation Tom Parlon said if the Government wanted to meet the targets set in the report it needed to address costs in the sector.

"We have development levies to pay to local authorities (and other costs)," he said. "It's the first-time buyer that has to foot the bill in the end for the contribution to social housing.

"They all add to the cost...Clearly, if the Government want to double construction as they say in 2020, they certainly have the means at their disposal to take a way some of the obstacles."