Barriers to new builds must be lifted, says CIF

The Construction Industry Federation has given broad approval to Government plans to energise house building, but says major barriers to construction must be removed in order to revitalise the industry.

CIF director general Tom Parlon also welcomed a rise in mortgage draw-downs, but said banks’ insistence that builders provide at least half of the development funding was delaying a much-needed rise in home construction.

Almost 80,000 homes will need to be built in urban areas over the next five years to meet growing population demands, according to the latest report from the Housing Agency.