Housing construction, construction permissions and work orders - 4th quarter 2009

In Q4 the number of started dwellings was 21.2% down compared to the corresponding period in 2008; dwellings completed increased by 2.6%. The planning and building authorities granted by 6.0 % less building permits and their approximate value increased by 15.4%, y-o-y. Total value of domestic new construction orders decreased by 35.3 %, y-o-y.
In 2009 the number of started dwellings was 14.3 % down compared to 2008, dwellings completed increased by 0.4 %. The planning and building authorities granted by 7.8% less building permits and their approximate value increased by 4.3%, y-o-y. Total value of domestic new construction orders dropped by 26.4%, y-o-y.
Housing construction
In Q4 2009 7 628 dwellings were started (-21.2% compared to Q4 2008). The biggest number (4 197 yet –22.3%, y-o-y) was recorded for dwellings started in family houses. In multi-dwelling buildings construction of 1 719 dwellings was started which is a 34.0% drop, in the y-o-y comparison. A drop was reported also for dwellings in extensions to family houses and to multi-dwelling buildings. For all other categories a growth was recorded.
Average floor area per dwelling started in new construction was 129.2 m ² and approximate value CZK 22.3 thousand per m ².
In 2009 37 319 dwellings were started (-14.3% compared to 2008). The number of started dwellings dropped in all quarters, however, the biggest decrease was recorded in Q2 and Q4.

12 722 dwellings were completed in Q4 2009 (+2.6 % compared to Q4 2008). The biggest number was reported for family houses (7 152, +6.0% compared to Q4 2008). In multi-dwelling buildings 4 101 dwellings was completed (+12.4 %, y-o-y). On the increase was also the number of completed dwellings in non-residential buildings and in extensions to multi-dwelling buildings. For all other categories a drop was reported.
In Q4 2009 modernization of 5 410 dwellings was completed (- 9.8 % compared to Q4 2008).
In 2009 38 526 dwellings was completed (+0.4 % compared to 2008). After fifteen years, the number of dwellings completed exceeded the number of dwellings started. Except of Q3 the growth was recorded in all quarters.


Building permits
In Q4 2009 the number of building permits was down by 6.0%, y-o-y, the planning and building control authorities granted 27 507 building permits; 15 580 permits for new construction (-8.2%) and 11 927 permits for changes in completed constructions (-3.0%). Building permits granted increased only for converted non-residential spaces and for new other constructions, compared to Q4 2008. The largest decreases were registered for new residential buildings and environmental constructions. .
In 2009 the planning and building authorities granted 112 674 building permits (-7.8 %) and the number of building permits granted decreased in all quarters and in almost all categories of constructions. 63 150 building permits (-10.5 %) were granted for new constructions and 49 524 (-4.2%) for changes in completed constructions.
The approximate value of constructions permitted in Q4 2009 was CZK 100.8 billion (+15.4% compared to Q3 2008). New constructions should see an increase of CZK 66.6 billion (+10.2%). Renewals and enhancements should produce constructions worth CZK 34.2 billion (+27.0%). Approximate value of constructions permitted increased for environmental constructions and for other constructions. In contrast, approximate value fell mainly for new construction of residential and non-residential buildings.

In 2009 the approximate value of constructions permitted was CZK 407.6 billion (+4.3%, y-o-y) mainly due to the growth reported for Q3 and Q4 when a marked increase of building permits granted for construction of photovoltaic power plants was recorded. New constructions should see the value of CZK 265.2 billion (-1.6 %). Renewals and enhancements should produce constructions worth CZK 142.4 billion (+17.3%). Permitted was construction of 24 buildings of approximate value exceeding CZK 1 billion which refers mainly to transport infrastructure and buildings designed for power production.

In Q4 2009 the planning and building control authorities granted permits for buildings with a total floor area of 1 496.4 thousand per m ² (-19.8% compared to Q4 2008). Floor area of permitted residential and non-residential buildings dropped by 20.4% and 19.0%, respectively.
In 2009 the planning and building control authorities granted permits for buildings with a total floor area of 6 789.0 thousand per m ², which, compared to Q4 2008, is 24.7% down. Floor area of permitted residential buildings dropped by 14.8% and in non-residential buildings by 36.9%.


Construction orders (annual changes)
In Q4 2009 construction enterprises booked 7 583 new domestic construction orders (+10.4%). Total value of these orders made up CZK 47.8 billion (-35.3%); y-o-y, building construction orders CZK 19.0 billion (-32.9%) and civil engineering orders CZK 28.8 billion (-36.7%). Average value per new construction order in Q4 2009 was CZK 6.3 million (-41.4%) compared to Q4 2008.

In 2009 observed construction enterprises contracted 33 720 domestic new construction orders (+7.3%, y-o-y). The biggest number of orders was registered in Q3 (+13.8%), a drop was reported for Q1 (-4.0%). Total value of these orders dropped by 26.4%, y-o-y, and made up CZK 183.6 billion, building construction made CZK 76.0 billion (-35.7%) and civil engineering CZK 107.6 billion (-18.1%). Drop in volume of construction orders booked was partially affected by unusual high comparable basis in 2008 when the volume of in civil engineering new orders increased by 51.8%. Value of orders decreased in all quarters in 2009 and in all categories of construction. An increase was registered only in Q2 for engineering construction new orders (+9.6%). Average value per new construction order was CZK 5.4 million in 2009 (-31.4%, y-o-y).

At the end of Q4 2009 construction enterprises with 50 or more employees registered 8.6 thousand contracted orders. These orders represented a stock of work to be done totalling CZK 173.7 billion (-19.3%). Domestic construction work made up CZK 154.6 billion (-24.0%) of the total volume. At the end of Q4 2009 of the total volume of domestic construction orders public orders accounted for CZK 116.8 billion and private orders CZK 37.8 billion. The relation between private and public orders is affected by including in the survey mainly large construction enterprises with markedly higher share of public orders.

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* Class Other includes dwellings in extensions to family houses and multi-dwelling houses, in residential and nursing care homes and dwellings in non-residential buildings and converted non-residential spaces.

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Notes:
Contact: Petra Curinova, tel. (+420) 274054 199, e-mail: petra.curinova@csu.gov.cz
Source of data: CZSO survey in planning and building control authorities
CZSO survey in enterprises with 50 employees or more classified to CZ-NACE 412.., 421.., 422.., 429.., 431.. and 439..
End of data collection: 15 February 2010
End of data processing: 17 February 2010
The data are preliminary.
Internet: /construction_ekon