by Damian Dowds, Inishowen Independent
ACCORDING to those that purport to know about such
things, the country is now officially in recession.
But green shoots of a recovery are evident, for
Donegal at least, in terms of planning permissions
granted in the period January-March.
According to figures recently released by the
Central Statistics Office, some 758 planning
permissions were granted in the county in the first
three months of 2008. This is down from 969 in 2007,
but masks substantial growth in the housing sector.
Of the 758 permissions granted in the first quarter,
439 are for the construction of new dwellings – up
from 365 in 2007 – an increase of 20%. The
permissions for extensions and
alterations/conversions remain stable. However, the
number of permissions granted for ‘other’ projects –
commercial, industrial and agricultural buildings
etc. – has halved from 398 in 2007 to 2008. A major
grant scheme for agricultural buildings ended in
2007, and this accounts in large part for the drop
off in ‘other’ permissions.
While planning permissions are not an accurate
measure of building activity, they do indicate a
willingness of individuals and developers to
undertake construction projects.
Paddy Gallen of the Inishowen Co-Op, one of the
largest building suppliers in the peninsula, admits
that business is a little down on previous years but
says that that nature of the local construction
industry is changing.
“Business is back a bit,” he said. “The big sites
are slowing down, but the one-off houses are going
well.”
Anecdotal evidence suggests the self-build sector
remains vibrant. With the squeeze elsewhere in the
construction industry, people undertaking their own
build can expect substantial savings. One local man
revealed that the price he was quoted for block
laying in 2007 had halved by the time he started his
house six weeks ago.
“Increased fuel and food costs is eating up people’s
incomes,” Paddy Gallen said, “and the banks have got
very tight with their lending criteria, but it’s not
all doom and gloom.” |
