Statbel, the Belgian statistical office, publishes today the figures on building permits until October 2018.
Annual evolution
The number of permits issued for new residential buildings in the first 10 months of 2018 has increased by 27.7% to 23,844 buildings compared to the same period in 2017. This increase fully originates in the Flemish Region, where it amounted to 43.9%. In the Walloon Region, the number of permits issued for new residential buildings was 8.3% lower, and the Brussels-Capital Region registered a decrease of 13.7%.
Figures for the first 9 months - number of building permits for new residential buildings + evolution compared to the previous period
| Year | Belgium | Flemish Region | Walloon Region | Brussels-Capital Region | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 22,890 | 14,957 | 7,681 | 252 | ||||
| 2005 | 26,226 | (+14,6%) | 18,209 | (+21,7%) | 7,713 | (+0,4%) | 304 | (+20,6%) |
| 2010 | 24,189 | (-7,8%) | 16,759 | (-8,0%) | 7,208 | (-6,5%) | 222 | (-27,0%) |
| 2015 | 18,532 | (-23,4%) | 13,093 | (-21,9%) | 5,247 | (-27,2%) | 192 | (-13,5%) |
| 2016 | 20,024 | (+8,1%) | 14,745 | (+12,6%) | 5,110 | (-2,6%) | 169 | (-12,0%) |
| 2017 | 18,677 | (-6,7%) | 12,879 | (-12,7%) | 5,644 | (+10,5%) | 153 | (-9,5%) |
| 2018 | 23,844 | (+27,7%) | 18,533 | (+43,9%) | 5,177 | (-8,3%) | 132 | (-13,7%) |
Monthly evolution
For the most recent month available, October 2018, building permits were issued for 1,831 residential buildings. Compared to September 2018, this is a decrease of 7.9%. The Flemish Region registered a decrease of 14.3%. The number of building permits issued for new buildings has increased in the Walloon Region by 18.2% and in the Brussels-Capital Region by 66.7%.
Monthly figures - number of permits for new residential buildings + evolution compared to the previous period
| Year | Month | Belgium | Flemish Region | Walloon Region | Brussels-Capital Region | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 1 | 2,375 | 1,713 | 645 | 17 | ||||
| 2018 | 2 | 2,476 | (+4,3%) | 2,028 | (+18,4%) | 428 | (-33,6%) | 20 | (+17,6%) |
| 2018 | 3 | 3,205 | (+29,4%) | 2,635 | (+29,9%) | 554 | (+29,4%) | 16 | (-20,0%) |
| 2018 | 4 | 3,176 | (-0,9%) | 2.632 | (-0,1%) | 530 | (-4,3%) | 13 | (-18,8%) |
| 2018 | 5 | 2,811 | (-11,5%) | 2,238 | (-15,0%) | 564 | (+6,4%) | 9 | (-30,8%) |
| 2018 | 6 | 2,163 | (-23,1%) | 1,541 | (-31,1%) | 612 | (+8,5%) | 10 | (+11,1%) |
| 2018 | 7 | 1,933 | (-10,6%) | 1,424 | (-7,6%) | 493 | (-19,4%) | 16 | (+60,0%) |
| 2018 | 8 | 1,886 | (-2,4%) | 1,342 | (-5,8%) | 537 | (+8,9%) | 7 | (-56,3%) |
| 2018 | 9 | 1,988 | (+5,4%) | 1,605 | (+19,6%) | 373 | (-30,5%) | 9 | (+28,6%) |
| 2018 | 10 | 1,831 | (-7,9%) | 1,375 | (-14,3%) | 441 | (+18,2%) | 15 | (+66,7%) |
Long term evolution
Since 2007, the number of permits for the renovation of residential buildings was generally higher than the number of permits for the construction of new residential buildings. This changes from the second quarter of 2018 onwards.
From 2003 onwards, more permits are issued for new apartments than for singe family dwellings. During the years 2010-2011, both were at approximately the same level, but in recent years the difference has been increasing in favour of the apartments.
New construction vs renovation Single family dwellings vs apartments
