GeoDirectory records 30% drop in new buildings in 2011

12,237 new buildings identified by GeoDirectory in 2011 bringing total number of buildings in the Republic of Ireland to 1,885,785

• This is a decrease in new building additions of 30% compared to 2010 and 87% compared to 2007
• Cork City and County recorded largest number of new buildings (1,543) with Leitrim recording the smallest (154)

12,237 new residential and commercial buildings were recorded across the country in 2011, according to figures released today by GeoDirectory. This represents a year-on-year decrease of 30% compared to 2010 when 17,587 new buildings were identified nationally, and a drop of 87% compared to the record high of 2007.

GeoDirectory was jointly established by An Post and Ordnance Survey Ireland (OSi) to create and manage Ireland’s only complete database of commercial and residential buildings. The figures were recorded by 5,600 An Post delivery staff working with experts from OSi.

The 12,237 new buildings identified across the country by GeoDirectory consisted of 10,284 residential buildings, 1,661 commercial buildings and 292 dual-purpose building with both residential and commercial components.

Sligo, where 217 new buildings were identified, showed the largest decrease in new building activity with a 63% drop compared to 2010. In contrast, several counties (Cavan, Dublin, Kildare, Limerick and Waterford) bucked the national trend showing small increases in new building additions compared to 2010. The average increase recorded across these counties was 12% with the largest increase of 34% being recorded in Kildare, where 483 new buildings were identified.

While showing a year-on-year decrease of 40% in new building additions, Cork City and County still recorded the largest number of additions for 2011, with 1,543 new buildings identified. In contrast, Leitrim, showing a year-on-year decrease of 53% in new additions, recorded the smallest increase with just 154 new buildings identified.
 

The new additions for 2011 bring the total number of buildings in the Republic of Ireland to 1,885,785.
Commenting on the new figures, GeoDirectory General Manager, Dara Keogh said:
“While figures for the first six months of 2011 showed a return to growth in eleven counties, only five of these sustained this growth through to the end of the year. The overall national picture continues to show a year-on-year decline in building additions.

This downward trend follows a peak in 2007 when 96,000 buildings were added to the GeoDirectory database. Since then, the number of additions to the database has continued to fall resulting in a drop of 87% in new building additions over the last five years.”
GeoDirectory will release figures for the first six months of 2012 in early July.

NOTES TO EDITOR:
GeoDirectory General Manager, Dara Keogh is available for interview/comment on the latest figures released.

For further information including a data sheet and graphical maps, please contact Séamus Carey, Wilson Hartnell Public Relations (seamus.carey@ogilvy.com / 087 250 6500)

Each of the 1.8 million building records contained in GeoDirectory includes an accurate standardised postal address; usage details for each building (commercial or residential); a unique 8-digit identity number or fingerprint; and x, y coordinates which accurately locate the centre point of each building to within one metre on the National Grid.

The GeoDirectory database is used by many different companies and organisations across a diverse range of applications. The Emergency Services use GeoDirectory for route optimisation when responding to 999 calls, saving valuable minutes and lives in time-critical situations. Similarly companies like Dominos Pizza use GeoDirectory for address location to ensure that delivery times are met. In the property sector, GeoDirectory is used by Daft.ie and the Property Registration Authority. In addition, utility companies, banking and insurance providers, and all local authorities use the database.

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