Local building sector in crisis

Longford’s construction sector is facing arguably its biggest challenge since 2008 as spiralling inflationary costs hit home and threaten to undo the region’s post Covid boom.

Spiralling material hikes allied to a continued fall off in new apprenticeships has put an added financial strain on an increasing number of building firms, so much so that some companies are even contemplating stalling one-off projects as a result of the ever growing uncertainty the industry now faces.

A special Leader investigation this week lifts the lid on how an unprecedented surge in day to day overheads is having a knock on effect on the wider sector and forcing more and more young couples to forego drawing down a mortgage in a bid to build their dream new home.