Building up land supply

LANDOWNERS can look forward to a bumper 2003, as builders resume buying land for housing and millions of euros are on offer for zoned land.

Housing supply increased in 2002, but the stand-off by builders over section 5 of the Planning Act reduced the year’s overall number of planning applications, indicating the likelihood of a temporary shortage.

The catch-up game will begin in earnest in 2003, with the Government, local authorities and developers keen to bring land supply up to sufficient levels, especially in the major urban areas of Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford.