Fewer building permits granted in Dec- Feb

Building permits were granted for a total of 6.4 million cubic metres in December to February, which was 30.0 per cent less than one year ago, according to Statistics Finland.

The cubic volume of residential building went down by 23.5 per cent and other than residential building 32.6 per cent.

The cubic volume decreased most in cubic volume covered by permits for the construction of public service buildings and industrial and warehouse buildings.

The cubic volume granted only for construction of commercial and office buildings increased from one year back.

During December to February, building permits for residential building were granted for a total of 2.0 million cubic metres, while the corresponding figure was 2.6 million cubic metres one year earlier.

In residential building the cubic volume of blocks of flats diminished by 31.3 per cent and that of detached houses by 4.8 per cent from one year ago.

The fall in the share of residential building from the cubic volume of building permits granted seems to have stopped and even turned to a small growth in the early part of the year. At the beginning of 2018, its share was over 35 per cent and now around 28 per cent of all construction.

In December to February, building permits were granted for a total of 7,054 dwellings, down by 22.0 per cent year-on-year. The number for the corresponding period last year was 9,049 dwellings.