Ministry Of Development: Housing Permits Soared By 57% In Q1 2016

31 May 2016 – Expansión

More signs of acceleration in the construction sector. The number of permits to construct new homes have recorded their highest figure since 2011, although they are still a long way below the figures seen in 2006.

The number of housing permits granted by the college of architects to construct homes soared by 57% during the first quarter of the year to 16,782, the best figure recorded during the first three months of a year since 2011, according to the latest statistics from the Ministry of Development.

Despite the increase, the number of housing permits are still a long way below the highs recorded in 2006, at the height of the boom in the real estate sector (…).

The total number of permits granted for new builds, renovations and extensions during the three months to March amounted to 16,979, which represents an increase of 36% with respect to 2015.

By type of property, permits to construct housing blocks rose by 64%, to 12,425; whilst the number of permits granted to build family homes increased by 39% to reach 4,356 permits.

In terms of surface area, the average size of family homes amounted to 203.6 sqm, whilst the average size of flats stood at 118 sqm.

The number of permits granted started the year with a bang, up by 44% in January to 4,943. In February, the YoY increase amounted to 35%, with 5,663 permits, whilst in March the number doubled to reach 6,176.

Since the Ministry of Development began to compile these statistics in 1991, the number of permits granted hit a historical monthly low in August 2013, when just 1,585 licences were granted. The maximum high was recorded in September 2006, with 126,753 permits granted.

Original story: Expansión

Translation: Carmel Drake