Housing permissions

What is the trend in permissions for housing development?

Between 2008 and 2009 the number of permissions issued for new dwellings declined by 22.5 per cent, from 6,836 permitted in 2008 to 5,298 in 2009. A 15 per cent decrease in the total number of applications was also registered during the same period. While 87 per cent of all dwelling permissions granted were for apartments, this period saw a fall of 3.3 per cent in permissions for this type of dwelling relative to other dwelling types, for the first time since 2000. The total share of apartment permissions had increased from 64 per cent to 90 per cent between 2000 and 2008.

The share of permissions for maisonettes and terraced houses registered a slight increase during the same period, while that of bungalows, farmhouses, semi-detached houses and villas continued to decrease.

In 2009, the share of housing permissions located outside the development zone increased to 3.9 per cent (a total of 204 units) of the total permissions granted.

This represented an increase of eight dwelling units over the average number of dwelling permissions granted outside the development zone between 2000 and 2008 (196 units). In addition, 55.5 per cent of housing permissions were on undeveloped land, up from 50.8 per cent in 2008, but still much less than the 70 per cent registered in 2000.