Statbel, the Belgian statistical office, publishes today the figures on building permits until July 2020.

Annual evolution

The number of permits issued for new residential buildings in the first 7 months of 2020 has increased by 3.8 % to 16,535 buildings compared to the same period in 2019. The increase in the Flemish Region amounted to 5.6 %. In the Walloon Region, the number of permits issued for new residential buildings was 1.8 % lower. In the Brussels-Capital Region, there were as many permits issued for new residential buildings as in the same period in 2019.

Table 1: Annual figures - number of new authorised residential buildings + evolution compared to the previous period

Monthly evolution

For the most recent month available, July 2020, building permits were issued for 2,178 new residential buildings. Compared to June 2020, this is a decrease of 4.3 %. In the Flemish Region, the decrease was 11.5 %, which means that permits were issued for 1,617 buildings. The number of permits issued for new residential buildings has increased by 24.1 % to 551 in the Walloon Region. In the Brussels-Capital Region, permits were issued for 10 new residential buildings.

Table: Monthly figures - number of permits for new residential buildings + evolution compared to the previous period

Impact of the COVID-19

As a result of the pandemic, the regional authorities of all the regions have decided to extend the deadlines for public enquiries on current building permit applications, which will have an impact on the number of new residential buildings authorised during the second quarter. In the Flemish Region, there is a clear decline during the fourth and fifth months. In June, the level seems to be recovering. In the Walloon Region, the number of permits issued for new residential buildings registers a striking decrease from the fifth month and the level seems to be recovering from July onwards.

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 briefly from the second quarter of 2018 onwards. From February 2019 onwards, the number of permits for the renovation of residential buildings is again higher than the number of permits for the construction of new residential buildings, but the difference remains small. In recent months, new buildings and renovations have been on the same level. From 2003 onwards, more permits are issued for new apartments than for single family dwellings. During the years 2010-2011, both were at approximately the same level. Afterwards, the difference has been increasing again in favour of the apartments. In recent months, the difference has narrowed again.

   New construction vs renovation                                      Single family dwellings vs apartments