Author: Kevin Barry BSc(Hons) MRICS

The “Funding and Delivery of Public Services: Follow Up” report (HC477) from the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee contains several key points relevant to the building industry: Infrastructure and Housing Crisis Funding Challenges Reform Recommendations Revenue and Investment Potential From a building industry perspective, this report signals both challenges and potential opportunities, with recommendations that could […]

“On March 8, 2025, we had the privilege of capturing the progress of an exciting building project in Glengormley for DEENA Construction Ltd. Using state-of-the-art drone technology, we recorded high-quality video and photographic footage to document the site’s development. This aerial perspective not only highlights the scale and precision of DEENA’s work but also showcases […]

Time for action, where economic growth new priority. Assessing the length of time to obtain planning approval in Northern Ireland involves analyzing key metrics such as processing times for major and local development applications, alongside enforcement case conclusions. Data is drawn from the latest available Northern Ireland Planning Statistics: 2023/24 Annual Statistical Bulletin (covering April […]

Analysis of Strangford Lough Crossing Proposal in Light of Recent Policy Documents and Research Summary of How the Pivotal Platform Article Reflects on the Strangford Lough Crossing Scheme The Pivotal Platform article “Delivering on Active Travel: a holistic, place-based approach for more sustainable communities” (April 2, 2025) strongly aligns with the rationale for a Strangford […]

Strategic stalling from unionism (DUP/UUP/TUV) on implementing or embracing the full potential of the Good Friday Agreement (GFA) is only strengthening the growing inevitability of some form of unification. Unionism is deliberately slowing progress under the GFA as a tactic to block change — then the question becomes: what developments would seriously challenge that strategy […]

A slowdown in business activity, while challenging for many, can present strategic opportunities for those who are financially stable and long-term focused. Here’s a breakdown of key positives from that lens: 🔨 1. Reduced Land and Property Prices 👷 2. Lower Labour and Contractor Costs 🧱 3. Cheaper Materials and Shorter Lead Times 🧮 4. […]

Small builders in Northern Ireland, as of this week (April 1, 2025), would likely want to focus on the following top 10 key cost metrics to effectively plan and manage their projects. These metrics reflect the current economic climate, construction trends, and regional factors influencing building costs: These metrics are shaped by regional factors like […]

The Irish Government has allocated €633 million for national roads in 2025, as announced by Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien on March 28, 2025. This funding, which represents a €92 million increase from 2024, will be managed by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and is aimed at enhancing the national road network across the Republic of […]

30-Year Infrastructure Plan for Northern Ireland (2025–2055).Above politics! Objectives Key Assumptions 1. Sewage Infrastructure Community Need: Modernize aging sewage systems, reduce overflows, and meet environmental standards. 2. Water Infrastructure Community Need: Ensure clean, reliable water supply and reduce leakage rates (currently ~40% in NI). 3. Electricity Infrastructure Community Need: Transition to renewables, improve grid reliability, […]