Category Archives: Building Plans

A total of 186 building plans were approved by the City of Windhoek in November. This is a 13.1% contraction in the number of plans approved on a monthly basis when compared to the 214 building plans approved in October. The approvals were valued at N$123.6 million, a decrease of N$11.0 million or 8.2% compared to the prior month. The number of completions for the month of November stood at 257, valued at N$235.3 million. The year-to-date value of approved building plans currently stands at N$1.83 billion, 2.9% higher than at the end of November 2018. On a twelve-month cumulative basis 2,032 building plans worth approximately N$1.89 billion have been approved, a decrease of 5.2% y/y in number but an increase of 0.8% in value terms over the prior 12-month period.

The largest portion of building plan approvals was once again made up of additions to properties. 165 additions to properties were approved in November, a 120.0% increase year-on-year but 7.8% decrease over the number of additions approved in October. Year-to-date 1,565 additions to properties have been approved with a cumulative value of N$742.9 million, a decline of 14.7% y/y in terms of value compared to the same period in 2018. Completed additions amounted to 231, valued at N$205.4 million, an increase of 7.4%% m/m in number and 149.6% m/m in value. Year-to-date 1,259 additions have been completed to a value of N$682.7 million, a drop of 43.1% y/y in number and 7.3% y/y in value.

New residential units were the second largest contributor to the number of building plans approved with 16 approvals registered in November, compared to 31 in October. In value terms, N$28.1 million worth of residential units were approved in November, a decreases of 41.3% m/m but an increase of 42.2% y/y. 332 New residential units valued at N$517.9m were approved in the first eleven months of 2019, 29.2% y/y less in number and 1.2% y/y less in value than during the corresponding period in 2018. 25 Residential units valued at N$29.3 million were completed in November bringing the year-to-date number to 279, up 350% y/y, and value to N$380 million, up 270.7% y/y.

Commercial and industrial building plans approved in November amounted to 5 units, worth N$9.2 million. The number of approvals for commercial and industrial properties has been languishing in single digit territory since September 2016 and has an average approval rate of less than 4 approvals per month over the last 12 months. On a year-to-date basis, the number of commercial and industrial approvals increased by 10.0% y/y in November to 44 units, worth approximately N$565.0 million, an increase of 49.0% in value terms over the period ending November 2018. One commercial and industrial building plan was recorded as completed in November, valued at N$600,000.

During the last 12 months, 2,032 building plans have been approved, decreasing by 5.2% y/y. These approvals were worth a combined N$1.89 billion, an increase in value of 0.8% y/y. The last 3 months have seen a steady uptick in the 12-month cumulative value of plans approved in the capital although this measure is still trending downward from a longer term perspective. The value of plans completed has however recovered more significantly as can be seen in the below figure.

A total of 214 building plans were approved by the City of Windhoek in October. This is a 5.9% increase in the number of plans approved on a monthly basis when compared to the 202 building plans approved in September. The approvals were valued at N$134.7 million, a decrease of N$298 million or 68.8% compared to last month. The number of completions for the month of October stood at 244, valued at N$109.9 million. The year-to-date value of approved building plans currently stands at N$1.70 billion, 1.8% lower than at the end of October 2018. On a twelve-month cumulative basis 1,947 building plans worth approximately N$1.81 billion have been approved, a decrease of 14.5% y/y in number and a contraction of 9.8% in value terms over the prior 12-month period.

The largest portion of building plan approvals was once again made up of additions to properties. 179 additions to properties were approved in October, an 11.9% increase over the number of additions approved in September. Year-to-date 1,400 additions to properties have been approved with a cumulative value of N$656.5 million, a decline of 22.8% y/y in terms of value compared to the same period in 2018. Completed additions amounted to 215, valued at N$82.3 million, an increase of 4.4%% y/y in number but a contraction of 3.9% y/y in value. Year-to-date 1,028 additions have been completed to a value of N$477.3 million, a drop of 49.5% y/y in number and 31.7% y/y in value.

New residential units were the second largest contributor to the number of building plans approved with 31 approvals registered in October, compared to 35 in September. In value terms, N$47.8 million worth of residential units were approved in October, increases of 9.6% m/m and 8.4% y/y. 316 New residential units valued at N$489.8m were approved in the first ten months of 2019, 28.8% y/y less in number and 2.9% y/y less in value than during the corresponding period in 2018. 29 Residential units valued at N$27.6 million were completed in October bringing the year-to-date number to 254, up 323.3% y/y, and value to N$350.8 million, up 243.2% y/y.

Commercial and industrial building plans approved in October amounted to 4 units, worth N$9.6 million. The number of approvals for commercial and industrial properties has been languishing in single digit territory since September 2016 and has an average approval rate of less than 4 approvals per month over the last 12 months. On a 12-month cumulative basis, the number of commercial and industrial approvals has decreased by 10.4% y/y in October to 43 units, worth approximately N$557.7 million, an increase of 39.2% in value terms over the prior 12-month period. No commercial and industrial building plans were recorded as completed in October.

During the last 12 months, 1,947 building plans have been approved, decreasing by 14.5% y/y. These approvals were worth a combined N$1.81 billion, a decrease in value of 9.8% y/y. The number of building plans approved, on a cumulative 12-month basis, continued to contract over the last four months. The overall decrease in both number and value of cumulative plans approved is concerning as, even in nominal terms, this indicates a continuing decrease in construction activity in the capital. Low consumer and business confidence means that growth in construction activity will likely remain subdued over the short- to medium-term.

A total of 202 building plans were approved by the City of Windhoek in September. This is a 4.7% increase in the number of plans approved on a monthly basis when compared to the 193 building plans approved in August. In monetary terms, the approvals were valued at N$432.2 million, an increase of N$296.7 million or 218.9% compared to last month. The number of completions for the month of September stood at 225, valued at N$110.0 million. The year-to-date value of approved building plans currently stands at N$1.57 billion, 0.7% lower than as at the end of the third quarter of 2018. On a twelve-month cumulative basis, 1,986 building plans worth approximately N$1.83 billion were approved, a decrease in number of 9.1% y/y, but a contraction of 5.6% in value terms over the prior 12-month period.

The largest portion of building plan approvals was once again made up of additions to properties, from a number perspective. 160 additions to properties were approved in September, a 3.9% increase over the number of additions approved in August. Year-to-date 1,221 additions to properties have been approved with a cumulative value of N$579.2 million, a decline of 22.6% y/y in terms of value compared to the same period in 2018. Completed additions amounted to 206, valued at N$85.6m, increasing by 171.1% y/y in number and 69.1% y/y in value. Year-to-date 813 additions have been completed to a value of N$395.0m, decreases of 55.4$ y/y in number and 36.2% y/y in value.

New residential units were the second largest contributor to the number of building plans approved with 35 approvals registered in September, compared to 34 in August. In value terms, N$43.6 million worth of residential units were approved in September, a 2.5% m/m increase. 285 New residential units valued at N$442.0m were approved in the first nine months of 2019, 28.2% y/y less in number and 3.9% y/y less in value than during the corresponding period in 2018. The year-to-date value of residential approvals reached N$442.0 million, 3.9% lower than during the corresponding period in 2018. 19 residential units valued at N$24.3m were completed in September bringing the year-to-date number to 225, up 275.0% y/y, and value to N$323.2m, up 216.2% y/y.

Commercial and industrial building plans approved in September amounted to 7 units, worth N$311.1 million. The number of approvals for commercial and industrial properties has been languishing in single digit territory since September 2016 and has an average approval rate of less than 4 approvals per month over the last 12 months. On a 12-month cumulative basis, the number of commercial and industrial approvals has decreased by 15.4% y/y in September to 44 units, worth approximately N$557.5 million, an increase of 34.5% in value terms over the prior 12-month period. It should however be noted that a single commercial building plan approved in September, a N$250.0 million project by Nedbank approved for the city centre, propped up the value approved year-to-date, saving the category from recording another contraction. No commercial and industrial building plans were recorded as completed in September.

During the last 12 months, 1,986 building plans have been approved, decreasing by 9.1% y/y. These approvals were worth a combined N$1.83 billion, a decrease in value of 5.6% y/y. The number of building plans approved, on a cumulative 12-month basis, has been contracting over the last three months. The overall decrease in both number and value of cumulative plans approved is concerning as, even in nominal terms, this indicates a continuing decrease of construction activity in the capital. Low consumer and business confidence means that growth in construction activity will likely remain subdued for the short- to medium-term.