Home > Statistics > Building and dwelling production > 2020 > July > Cubic volume of granted building permits continued to decrease

Published: 22 September 2020

Cubic volume of granted building permits continued to decrease

According to Statistics Finland, building permits were granted in May to July 2020 for a total of 8.6 million cubic metres, 35.4 per cent less than one year ago. The cubic volume granted for residential building construction went down by 28.6 per cent and the cubic volume granted for other than residential building construction by 37.9 per cent. The cubic volume for all residential building types decreased clearly from one year ago, most the cubic volume granted for construction of commercial and office buildings, by as much as 52.6 per cent.

The municipality-specific delay in building permit notifications is usual and the statistics for the latest month are always based on incomplete data at the time of production. The coronavirus situation and summer holiday season have in part lengthened the delay. Estimated with data on the number of projects, the delay is at the moment normal.

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

Cubic volume granted for residential building decreased

In May to July, fewer building permits were granted for residential building than one year ago, in total for 2.5 million cubic metres. One year earlier, the respective figure was 3.5 million cubic metres. The cubic volume granted for blocks of flats diminished by 34.0 per cent and that for detached houses by 18.4 per cent from one year ago.

In May to July, building permits were granted in total for 7,732 dwellings, the number fell by 30.0 per cent from the previous year. At the same time, construction of a total of 11,668 dwellings was started, which was 11.8 per cent more than in the corresponding period of the year before.

Volume of building production decreased

In May to July, the constant-price value or the volume of ongoing building production decreased by 1.1 per cent year-on-year. The volume of construction of residential buildings decreased by 2.0 per cent and that of other than residential building construction by 0.4 per cent. In the same period, new building projects of 11.5 million cubic metres were started, 5.5 per cent down from one year earlier. The number of residential building starts was 6.7 per cent higher than one year ago.

Volume index of newbuilding 2015=100, trend

Preliminary data for August

For the time being, Statistics Finland publishes preliminary data on building projects started. This time series is available from 2018 onwards.

According to preliminary data, the moving annual sum of building projects started decreased by 2.5 per cent in August from July. Despite the strong early part of the year, the moving annual volume turned to a decline of 1.6 per cent in August from one year earlier.

 

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: Kalle Laukkanen 029 551 3017, Merja Järvinen 029 551 2458, Petri Kettunen 029 551 3558, rakennus.suhdanne@stat.fi

Head of Department in charge: Hannele Orjala

Publication in pdf-format (235.3 kB)

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Appendix tables

• Appendix table 1. Building production, three month total and year-on-year change (22.9.2020)
• Appendix table 2. Preliminary registered starts, m3, moving annual total and month-on-month change (22.9.2020)

Revisions in these statistics

• Revisions in these statistics (22.9.2020)

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Updated 22.9.2020