Fewer building permits for homes

In the first nine months of 2002 building permits were granted for just over 42 thousand new homes in the Netherlands, nearly 4 thousand fewer than in the first nine months of 2001, and more than 18 thousand fewer than in the first nine months of 2000.

More permits for rent sector

The number of building permits for homes fell by 8 percent in the first nine months of 2002. This decrease is the result of the fall in the number of permits for owner-occupied homes, from 38 thousand to 33 thousand. The number of permits for rented homes rose by 8 percent to 9 thousand.

South Holland leads the field

In the first nine months of 2002 most building permits were granted in the province of South Holland, nearly 9 thousand. North Holland was a good second with just over 6.5 thousand homes. The fewest permits were issued in the province of Zeeland.

Building permits granted for dwellings per province

Largest increase for Flevoland

The largest increase in the number of building permits granted for homes was in Flevoland. The number of permits nearly doubled in the first nine months of 2002 compared with the same period last year. The number of permits also rose in the provinces of Gelderland and Utrecht, by 17 and 5 percent respectively. In all other provinces there was a decrease, in Groningen by most.

Cees Steijn