Permits issued from January to September 2024 for the construction of homes in Belgium, including single-family houses and flats, totalled 34,059, the lowest number since 2012, according to figures released on Thursday by the national statistical office, Statbel.
In the first nine months of 2024, the number of building permits issued was 9% lower than in the corresponding period of 2023, which was already a weak year compared to previous ones. Statbel’s data tables do not go further back than 2012.
In Flanders, permits were issued for the construction of 24,419 homes, also a 9% drop year-on-year.
House renovations, which require a permit, fared better. In the first nine months of last year, 20,484 such permits were issued, slightly more than 2% lower than the corresponding period of 2023.
Bouwunie, which represents Flemish construction SMEs, is not surprised by the decline.
“This decrease was predictable,” says Bouwunie President Jean-Pierre Waeytens. “High material costs, expensive labour, and strict – but necessary – energy requirements make building very costly.”
He adds that new construction is also becoming more expensive due to the scarcity of available building land.
Bouwunie stresses the importance of having more homes that meet current energy standards, whether through new construction or renovation.
The organisation advocates for a reduced VAT rate for standard new homes and continues to push for lower VAT rates on demolition and reconstruction, including for developers and promoters.
