Charities and builders ‘create panic about homelessness’

Outgoing chairman of the Housing Agency, Conor Skehan, believes the rush to build is exacerbating the housing crisis

Conor Skehan, outgoing chairman of the government’s Housing Agency Picture: Fergal Phillips

The outgoing chairman of the Housing Agency has said that the construction lobby and homelessness charities are creating a “panic” about housing and homelessness.

Conor Skehan, who steps down from the agency next month, said that “people from the building sector [are] saying ‘the only solution is to build, build, build. Don’t look at the price . . . just give us every bit of help you can to build as quickly as ...