Reflecting the declining economy, figures released from the Central Statistics Office reveal that the total number of planning permissions granted in Mayo in the last quarter of 2008 fell by 238 — falling from 528 granted (during the same period in 2007 ) to 290.
The figures highlighted that 168 new dwellings were granted planning permission in the county in comparison to 278 in the last quarter of 2007. Other new developments, apart from those categorised as dwellings, were down to 33 from 109 in 2007. As for extensions 120 were granted in the fourth quarter of 2007 with only 76 granted in the final part of 2008; while planning for alterations and conversions dropped in Mayo from 21 to 13.
The total floor area in thousand square metres for Mayo planning at the end of quarter four in 2008 was 86,000 square metres in comparison with 151,000 square metres in 2007.
Nationally the total planning permissions granted in the whole of 2008 were 42,151, down from a total of 62,367 in 2007.
