House Extensions overtake New Builds in popularity stakes

Popularity of house extensions is on the rise. According to the article published on 2 April 2012 by Irish Independent,  a planning permission survey conducted by Link2Plans, a company that keeps track of every Planning Application in the South of Ireland, this year more people are choosing to renovate and extend their existing home rather than build a new house from scratch.

Lin2Plans MD commented that:

"For the first time, house extensions now make up the majority of projects commencing, which is very probably a reflection on the housing market, where people are staying in their homes and modifying them rather than seeking to move to a bigger house" .

Planning permission applications for house extensions outnumber for the first time applications for the new builds

In the first two months of this year, 346 housing extension projects began, while construction started on 330 single houses and 15 residential developments. In the same period, planning permission was sought for 822 house extensions, 839 single houses and 57 residential developments.

The survey figures are likely to show only a part of the picture because not all house extensions require planning permission.

In total, there were 1,718 planning permission applications in January and February 2012, compared with 2,245 applications in the first two months of 2011. However, despite a downward trend, a number of counties, including Longford, Sligo, Leitrim and Dublin, experienced a slight increase in applications. For instance in Dublin, 167 building projects began in January and February of this year compared with 157 in the same period last year -- an increase of 6%.

The survey conducted by Link2plans found that overall planning applications for the two months were down 23pc on the same period last year. In total, 691 building projects began in 2012, compared with 806 in the same period last year.

More details on House Extensions survey in Irish Independent 02/04/2012

House Extensions - ECO Builders Dublin offer

If you are considering building a new house extension, ECO Builders Dublin offers hassle-free, eco-friendly and cost effective solutions to your living space problems. We can convert your garage, adapt your attic, add a kitchen extension or a new conservatory.

We offer complete project management and a full range of building, electrical, plumbing, roofing and finishing services. We are fully insured, bonded and NSAI-approved building contractors. Learn more about our services related to house extensions.

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