BUILDING IN CHRISTCHURCH.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18348, 3 April 1925, Page 8

BUILDING IN CHRISTCHURCH.

RETURNS FOR THE YEAR.

INCREASED ACTIVITY SHOWN

Tho financial year which has just ended has been an exceptionally bus> one from the building point ot v,c ?' and the value of structures erected in Christehureh exceeds that for the same period of 1924 by nearly £16,000. In addition, there has. also been a big increase) outside the city area although the returns from the various outlying parts are not yet complete. When all the returns are available the figures for Greater Christehureh should reach well over the £1,000,000 mark. In the citv itself the total value of buildings erected for the yeav_l.'--was £821,605. while that for 10- : ' was £837,100, an increase of £n<,-KK>. - l large part of the increase was due to the greater activity which occurred in the Central area. £207,002 worth ot buildings being erected during the past, year, as against £142,126 for the previous year. In the Outer Central area there was a decrease of £15,030, while in St. Albans there was an increase of £3S,GS7. In Sydenham there was a decrease of £12.381, and in Linwood a reduction of £21,388, while there were also decreases in Spreydou and Woolston of £27,105 and £12,144 respectively. Thus it will be seen that the majority of the decreases took place in the residential areas, and it. can be assumed that house-building has not been progressing so rapidly as was the ease this year. This, perhaps, is due, to the Government's action in practically stopping further borrowing in connexion with the housing loan scheme. Thorc has, however, been no decrease so far as the erection of commercial buildings, offices, etc., is concerned, a fact which is demonstrated by tho increase in the inner area figures—the area itself being largely comprised of commercial buildings and the like.

So far the. returns of only the Eiccarton Borough and Hcathcote County Councils aro available, and, adding tho totals of these places to that for the eity itself, it is found that the valuo of tho buildings put up during the past year is £945,684. There aro to como still tho returns of the Wainiairi County, and Suinner and New Brighton Borough Councils, the totals of which should bring the result to Avell over the "million.

During tho year the Kiccarton Borough Council issued a total of 95 permits, and tho value of the buildings erected was £34,629. In the Heathcoto County 138 permits were issued, and the valuo of the buildings was £73,955 10s. The following aro details of the permits issued by tho Christchurch City Council for the years 1924 and 1925 (shillings and pence omitted): —

Year Ending March, 1924. Ward. Value. Fees. Nos. £ £ Inner Area .. 142,126 190 77 Outer Area ... 80,917 107 105 St. Albans .. 219,433 686 354 Sydenham .. 120,921 392 200 Linwood .. 107,419 , , 354 203 Sproydon .. 106,437 397 210 Woolston ... 44,352 1 "■ 111 68 Totals .. 821,605 2300 1217 Year Ending March, 1925. Ward. Value. Fees. Nos. Inner Area ..: 207,092 -. £ .176 77 Outer Area .. 05,887 158 113 St. Albans .. 258,100 812 398 Sydenham .. 108,540 369 218 Linwood ... 86,031 298 170 Spreydon .. 79,242 269 163 Woolstou .. 32,208 89 56 Totals ,.. 837,100 2173 1195