Planning applications fall

CLARE experienced the eighth sharpest fall in housing planning applications and commencement notices, according to the latest edition of the National Housing Construction Index.

Compiled by Link2Plans, the survey shows from January to April 2013, there was a 33% drop in planning commencements compared to the same period last year, meaning the county had the eighth sharpest decrease in commencements nationwide.

Moreover, Clare also saw a decline of 25% of planning applications since the same period last year. Viewed on a nationwide basis, Clare is performing worse than the national average decrease of 7% in planning applications and a 15% decrease in project commencements compared to the same period in 2012.

However, when the data is reviewed, the outlook is far more positive than these declines might initially suggest. Clare has performed better than it did in the last index down from fourth lowest place, during January to February to eighth lowest, meaning the rate of decline in commencements is slowing down.