Home > Statistics > Building and dwelling production > 2021 > December > Cubic volume covered of granted building permits lower in October to December than one year earlier

Published: 22 February 2022

Cubic volume covered of granted building permits lower in October to December than one year earlier

According to Statistics Finland, in October to December 2021, building permits for newbuilding were granted for a total of 8.8 million cubic metres, 12.6 per cent less than one year earlier. Building permits for residential building construction were granted for 3.4 million cubic metres, which was 14.7 per cent less than one year previously. The cubic volume of other than residential building construction went down by 11.5 per cent.

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

Cubic volume of blocks of flats projects decreased clearly year-on-year

The cubic volume granted for residential building construction in the last quarter of 2021 was divided between 1.7 million cubic metres for block of flats projects and 1.2 million cubic metres for detached and semi-detached house projects. Over the period, the cubic volume granted for blocks of flats decreased by 24.3 per cent and that for detached and semi-detached houses by 2.5 per cent from one year back.

Building permits were granted for a total of 9,959 dwellings in October to December. The number was 14.3 per cent lower than one year earlier. Over the same period, construction of a total of 11,876 dwellings was started, up by 6.3 per cent from the previous year. A total of 11,565 dwellings were completed, which was 1.6 per cent more than one year earlier.

Volume of residential building production continued growing

The constant-price value or the volume of ongoing building production increased in the last quarter of 2021 by 7.1 per cent year-on-year. The volume of residential building construction increased by 18.4 per cent. The volume of other than residential building construction went down by 0.7 per cent.

In the last quarter, newbuilding projects totalling 10.4 million cubic metres were started, while one year earlier the volume was 10.2 million cubic metres. The number of residential building starts was 7.8 per cent higher than one year previously, 3.6 million cubic metres.

Volume index of newbuilding 2015=100, trend

Number of buiding permits granted and starts increased year-on-year in 2021

In 2021, close on 36,300 permits were granted for newbuilding, the total volume of which was 41.9 million cubic metres. The cubic volume grew by 4.2 per cent year-on-year. The corresponding figures for the previous year were 34,900 granted building permits and 40.3 million cubic metres. During the year, building permits for residential building construction were granted for 14.0 million cubic metres, which was 11.3 per cent more than one year before. In total, building permits were granted for around 44,700 dwellings during 2021.

During the year, building projects totalling 42.6 million cubic metres were started, the corresponding figure in the year before was 40.6 million cubic metres. Residential building starts totalled 14.6 million cubic metres, up by 16.8 per cent from the year before. Altogether in 2021, construction of around 48,000 dwellings was started and the number of completed dwellings was good 37,400.

Preliminary data for January

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 total of building projects started measured by cubic volume decreased by 1.0 per cent from December to January 2022. The moving annual total of the volume was still growing by 6.6 per cent compared to the year before.

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 (244.4 kB)

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Appendix tables

• Appendix table 1. Building production, three month total and year-on-year change (22.2.2022)
• Appendix table 2. Preliminary registered starts, moving annual total and month-on-month change (22.2.2022)

Revisions in these statistics

• Revisions in these statistics (22.2.2022)

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Updated 22.2.2022