Gerard Chadwick

Government Proposal Would See Residential Construction (Self-Build Homes & Extensions) Exempt from New Building Regulations

The Building Control Amendment Regulations 2013 were introduced early last year to give protection to home buyers following the major controversy generated following such Residential Construction schemes as the Priory Hall Development.

Critics of the regulations have pointed to the additional costs – up to €16,000 for inspections according to the Irish Independent – as being an unfair burden on home builders.  It is this light that the government are proposing exemptions.

It must be highlighted that should the regulations be lifted buyers would have very little in the way of protection.

Alternatives to proposed exemptions to the regulations include broadening the range of professionals qualified as ‘assigned certifiers’ to certify that buildings are compliant during the construction phase, as well as giving owners an opt-out clause.

According to a spokesman for the Housing Minister Paudie Coffey, there have been no firm decisions taken at this stage and the matter is still under public consultation.

For further information on all Residential Construction projects currently in planning, approved or commenced visit the Building Information Ireland website and register for a free 10 day trial to our building projects app.

Building Information Ireland research and publish data on all residential construction activity as well as all other building sectors and across all 32 counties in Ireland.

House Prices in Ireland Rising 15% Higher than EU Average

An article in today’s Irish Independent illustrates the accelerated rate at which house prices in Ireland are increasing.  This comes off the back of the latest edition of the Link2Plans National Housing Construction Index which shows a decrease in housing construction commencements for the first 3 months of 2015.

Shortage of supply combined with more stringent lending rules issued by the central bank have contributed to the rise in prices with areas outside the capital now increasing at higher rate than within.

Research from Daft now shows that the average asking price is above €200,000.

For access to full details on all multi-unit housing construction schemes and visit the Building Information Ireland website and avail of our free 10 day trial.

Building Information Ireland publishes researches data on all housing construction projects as well as every other construction sector for the 32 counties.

…but commencements fall….

In the latest edition of the Link2Plans National Housing Construction Index (NHCI) a 9% rise in new residential planning applications during the first 3 months of 2015 has been highlighted versus Quarter 1 2014 figures.  While this is good news in the medium to longer term for the Irish Construction sector the Link2Plans analysis highlights a short-term fall in residential construction projects commencements.

Overall applications for new residential construction projects increased year-on-year across 18 counties but saw a 4 percent fall in Co. Dublin further illustrating the shortage in housing supply across the capital.

Link2Plans Managing Director, Danny O’Shea, pointed to the impact of the introduction of new building regulations in April 2014 as a significant factor in the rush to lodge construction projects commencements early in 2014 and the the consequent knock-on effect of this in the first quarter of 2015 and pointed to the 3% rise when quarter 1 2015 is compared with quarter 1 2015 as a more accurate reflection of increased activity in the residential construction projects sector.

The Link2Plans NHCI has been referenced across all national media this morning including the Irish Times and the Journal.ie

Danny O’Shea is CEO of L2P Group which comprises Residential and Commercial Construction Projects research firms Link2Plans and Building Information Ireland.

Visit Link2Plans to download the latest edition of the National Housing Construction Index and to avail of a 10 day free trial to information on all commercial construction projects data visit Building Information Ireland.