THE number of building permits authorised by the Cypriot Municipal Authorities and the District Administration Offices fell for the ninth consecutive month in December, falling by 7.3% over the year earlier to 733, comprising:
- Residential buildings – 535 permits
- Non-residential buildings – 108 permits
- Civil engineering projects -39 permits
- Road construction – 4 permits
- Division of plots of land – 47 permits
Focusing on the 535 permits issued for the construction of residential buildings, these were approved for 916 dwelling units – 494 single houses and 422 multiple housing units such as apartments and other residential complexes.
Compared to the November 2009 total of 1,624 dwelling units, this represents a fall of 43.6%.
Looking at the broader picture, during the whole of last year 8,777 building permits were authorised compared with the 8,950 authorised in 2009; a fall of 1.9%. The total value of these permits fell by 6.3% and the total area fell by 7.0%.
According to the Cyprus Statistical Service, building permits constitute a leading indicator of future activity in the construction sector.
Strikes threatened
ADDING to the woes of the construction sector, strikes have been threatened by the builders’ trade unions PEO and SEK.
According to reports, the threatened strike action results from mass dismissals in the sector and the appointment of workers on poorer conditions and terms of employment.
I have to agree with Dee and Costas.
But they wont do any thing.
Lets hope the TV program with Conor O’Dwyer stirs a few Euro MPs into action and UK MPs to explain to the Cyprus government, we don’t rob you – you don’t rob us.
Sort it out now, before we impose restrictions on you.
Needs to keep falling until this whole construction industry mess gets properly sorted and acts within the Law.
This is excellent news!