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Published: 26 May 2020

Cubic volume of granted building permits decreased

According to Statistics Finland, in the first quarter of 2020, building permits were granted for a total of 6.9 million cubic metres, which was 23.9 per cent lower than one year ago. The cubic volume granted for residential building construction went down by 21.1 per cent and the cubic volume of other than residential building construction by 25.0 per cent. The cubic volume granted for construction of public service buildings decreased most, by 49.9 per cent. Only the cubic volume for construction of commercial and office buildings was higher than one year previously.

Granted building permits and building starts, mil. m3, moving annual total

Cubic volume granted for residential building decreased

During January to March, building permits for residential building were granted for a total of 2.1 million cubic metres, the corresponding figure was 2.6 million cubic metres one year earlier. The cubic volume of building permits granted for blocks of flats declined by 35.2 per cent in the first quarter. In turn, the cubic volume of detached houses grew by 3.6 per cent year-on-year.

In first quarter, building permits were granted for a total of 6,605 dwellings, down by 24.2 per cent from the previous year. The number for the corresponding period last year was 8,709 dwellings. In the first quarter, construction of a total of 9,887 dwellings was started, up by 42.6 per cent from the corresponding period of the year before.

Volume of building production decreased further

In January to March, the constant-price value or the volume of ongoing building production decreased by 1.2 per cent year-on-year. The volume of construction of residential buildings declined by 6.9 per cent, while that of other than residential building construction increased by 3.8 per cent in the period. Measured by volume, 29.3 per cent more building projects than one year earlier were started in the same period. The number of residential building starts was 31.9 per cent higher than one year ago.

Volume index of newbuilding 2015=100, trend

Preliminary data for April

Our aim is to provide information and understanding by anticipating phenomena and needs. Because of the current exceptional situation, we publish preliminary data on building projects started and the corresponding time series starting from 2018.

The effect of corona is not yet visible in building projects started on the level of the whole country.

According to preliminary data, the moving annual volume of building projects started grew in April by 2.0 per cent from March, up by 4.1 per cent from one year earlier. The strong figures are partly explained by a single large industrial building, the construction of which was started in April.

Preliminary registered starts, mil. m3, moving annual total

The figures are not comparable with the estimated starts given in the publications. Preliminary data are based on registered starts and their values are not supplemented from the first publication

Source: Building and dwelling production, Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Paavo Kokkonen 029 551 3028, Merja Järvinen 029 551 2458, Petri Kettunen 029 551 3558, rakennus.suhdanne@stat.fi

Director in charge: Mari Ylä-Jarkko

Publication in pdf-format (234.3 kB)

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Appendix tables

• Appendix table 1. Building production, three month total and year-on-year change (26.5.2020)
• Appendix table 2. Preliminary registered starts, mil. m3, moving annual total and month-on-month change (26.5.2020)

Revisions in these statistics

• Revisions in these statistics (26.5.2020)

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Updated 26.5.2020