42% rise in planning permissions over first half of year

Planning permissions for new homes are soaring, with a 42% rise reported in the year to June and houses accounting for the vast majority of those granted.

New figures from the Central Statistics Office show further evidence of the recovering construction industry as planning permissions in the second quarter jumped by 41.8%.

There remains a huge gap in the demand for housing and the supply available, with the construction industry warning of another property bubble.