AN increase for flats and houses in Windhoek in November pushed up the number of completed building plans in the city by more than 136 per cent compared to last year, the latest municipal statistics show.
On a month-on-month basis, the figure rose by 10,8 per cent.
“The increase over the month was mainly observable in the category for flats and houses that increased by 54,2 per cent when compared with the preceding month, while the category for commerce and industry recorded a decline of 50 per cent,” Bank Windhoek economist John Steytler said yesterday.
The category for additions remained unchanged when compared with the previous quarter, he said.
According to Steytler, 1 526 building plans were completed during the first 11 months of 2010. This in 26,7 per cent less than the 2 082 of the corresponding period last year. During the same time, the total value of building plans completed stood at N$592 million or 24,3 per cent less than the comparative figure of N$782 million in 2009, he said.
The number of Windhoek-based building plans approved increased significantly by 70,8 per cent month-on-month during November and by 11,7 per cent when compared with the same month of 2009.
“The increase over the month was reflected in the categories for flats and houses and for additions that increased by 183,3 per cent and 66,1 per cent respectively during. On the other hand, the category for commerce and industry recorded a decline of 50 per cent during the same period,” he said.
During the first eleven months of 2010 the total number of building plans approved stood at 2 700 or 14 per cent more than the corresponding period of the previous year. The value of Windhoek-based building plans approved increased significantly by 127,5 per cent month-on-month during November and by 58,7 per cent when compared with the same month of 2009.
“The increase in over the month was mainly reflected in the category flats and houses that increased by more than 1 000 per cent over the previous month. The sharp increase can be explained by the fact that the previous month was an extraordinary slow month for the registration of flat and housing building plans,” Steytler said.
He continued: “On an annual basis the value of flat and house building plans increased by a more moderate 51,1 per cent. The category for additions also posted an increase of 98,6 per cent over the month, while the category for commerce and industry recorded a decline of 54,5 per cent.”