Planning permissions falling, says CSO

THERE was 17% drop in the number of planning permissions granted for new houses and apartments in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period last year.

This was due to the termination of most urban renewal schemes in December 2002 and the fact that many builders have planning permission for schemes which can be built over the next two years, according to the Construction Industry Federation (CIF).

Despite the drop, the CIF is still predicting that a record 60,000 new houses will be built this year.