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Published: 25 August 2020

Cubic volume of granted building permits decreased

According to Statistics Finland, building permits were granted in the second quarter of 2020 for a total of 10.9 million cubic metres, 31.2 per cent less than one year ago. The cubic volume granted for residential building construction went down by 22.2 per cent and the cubic volume granted for other than residential building construction by 34.7 per cent. The cubic volume for all residential building types decreased from one year ago, most the cubic volume granted for construction of commercial and office buildings, by as much as 46.3 per cent.

Due to circumstances related to the coronavirus situation and the start of the summer holiday season, the municipality-specific delay in building permit notifications has been somewhat longer than usual. The data are supplemented only as a result of the notification.

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

Cubic volume granted for residential building decreased

In April to June, fewer building permits were granted for residential building than one year ago, in total 3.3 million cubic metres. One year earlier, the respective figure was 4.3 million cubic metres. The cubic volume granted for blocks of flats diminished by 22.1 per cent and that for detached houses by 19.0 per cent from one year ago.

In the second quarter, building permits were granted in total for 10,657 dwellings, the number fell by 22.1 per cent from the previous year. At the same time, construction of a total of 11,732 dwellings was started, down by 1.8 per cent from the corresponding period of the year before.

Volume of building production grew

In April to June, the constant-price value or the volume of ongoing building production remained almost on level with the previous year, up by 0.1 per cent year-on-year. The volume of construction of residential buildings declined by 3.3 per cent, while that of other than residential building construction increased by 2.7 per cent in the period. Measured by volume, 5.3 per cent fewer building projects than one year earlier were started in the same period. The number of residential building starts was 0.9 per cent lower than one year ago.

Volume index of newbuilding 2015=100, trend

Cubic volume of granted building permits decreased in the first half of the year

In the first half of 2020, building permits were granted for a total of 15,958 projects and for 18.7 million cubic metres. The corresponding figures for the year before were 16,781 projects and 25.1 million cubic metres. Measured by cubic volume, the decrease from the corresponding period one year ago was 25.5 per cent.

In January to June, cubic metres covered by permits for residential building amounted to 5.7 million. The decrease from the previous year's 6.9 million cubic metres was 17.4 per cent. The cubic volume for blocks of flats fell by 21.0 per cent and that of detached houses by 9.6 per cent.

Preliminary data for July

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 decreased in July compared to June.

The moving annual total of the volume of building projects started fell by 0.3 per cent in July from June. Thanks to the strong early part of the year, the moving annual total was, however, 0.6 per cent higher than in the corresponding period of 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

Director in charge: Mari Ylä-Jarkko

Publication in pdf-format (236.3 kB)

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Appendix tables

• Appendix table 1. Building production, three month total and year-on-year change (25.8.2020)
• Appendix table 2. Preliminary registered starts, m3, moving annual total and month-on-month change (25.8.2020)

Revisions in these statistics

• Revisions in these statistics (25.8.2020)

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Updated 25.8.2020