Housing construction rises further

More than 23 thousand new homes were completed in the Netherlands in the first half of 2005. This is 11 percent more than in the first half of 2004. Housing construction thus continues to rise from its low point of 2003. Building permits were granted for 19 percent more dwellings in the first half of 2005 than in 2004 according to figures from Statistics Netherlands.

Housing corporations build more

In the first six months of 2005 2,300 more homes were completed than in the same period last year. The increase was mainly caused by the rise in homes built by housing corporations (+40 percent). Partly for this reason, the share of new homes in the rent sector rose from one in five to one in four.

Largest increase in South Holland

Nearly 6,800 dwellings were completed in the province South Holland in the first half of 2005. This is just over 900 more homes than in the same period last year. This province thus accounts for 30 percent of the national production of new homes. In Flevoland, Groningen, North Brabant and North Holland the production of new dwellings was lower in the first six months of 2005 than twelve months previously.

Permits doubled in Utrecht

Permits were issued for the construction of nearly 37 thousand dwellings in the first six months of this year. This is 7 thousand more than in the first half of 2004. In the province Utrecht  the number of permits for new homes doubled to nearly 3,700. In North and South Holland the number of permits fell slightly.

Backlog of 150 thousand dwellings

Some 150 thousand dwellings had yet to be completed at the end of June 2005. These are new dwellings for which a building permit has been issued but which are still in progress or have not yet been started. One quarter of these homes have a permit dating back to more than two years ago. This information has not previously been published.

PDF contains complete press release, including tables and graphics.