Planning delays may raise house prices

UNWORKABLE legislation and delays in planning may push up further the price of new houses, the Irish Home Builders Association warned yesterday.

The tax take for the exchequer would also be affected, it warned, adding that the association was seeking a meeting with the Government to discuss the matter.

It is estimated that the exchequer receives more than 25% of the average new house costing 190,000. Average house prices are increasing at a rate of less that 1%, with the increase in second-hand house prices averaging 7.4%.