Permits for houses, flats a record

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33251, 14 June 1973, Page 3

Permits for houses, flats a record

i.Ycw Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 13. The Minister of Housing (Mr Fraser) this evening welcomed an announcement that a record number of building permits was issued for new houses and flats in the 1972-73 financial vear.

A marked increase in New Zealand’s housing stock was essential to meet the country’s needs, he said.

In the 1972-73 year, 32,770 permits were issued—l9,9l4 for houses and 12,856 for flats, the Government Statistician (Mr P. J. Lewin) announced today. The previous record was 25,932 permits in 1966. Permits for flats increased 4100, from 8756 last year; and permits for houses rose 4437, from 15,777 last year.

Mr Fraser said the number of dwelling units actually completed in the period would be down on the number of permits issued. However, as the building industry’s confidence and capabilities were restored, the gap between permits and completions would be narrowed. NEEDS FORECAST The permit increase was a most important step towards meeting the 1971 Housing Commission’s estimate of housing needs. The commission had said New Zealand would need another 300.000 dwelling units within the next decade, assuming a net migration gain of 5000 a year. The net migration gain in the year to February’ was 26,463 —and New Zealand needed an average of more than 30,000 new houses each year from now on, said Mr Fraser. “The level of housing construction over the last 12 years has been unrealistic, because builders and prospective home-owners have been always the first victims of Government anti-inflation measures.” VALUE UP SHARPLY Mr Lewin said the value of permits issued for the year to March 31, 1973, was $745.9m, compared with $538.8m the previous year. Last year 32,770 ' new homes were built, compared with 24,333 the year before. Permits were issued to the value of $365.7m for these homes—sll9.3m up on the previous year’s $246.4m. Permits issued in March alone came to $45.3m, up $20.3m on the previous March. Homes built in March numbered 3823, against 2346 in March, 1972. Permit issues during the year for other buildings amounted to $330.7m, compared with $252.2m the previous year. The main increases in other buildings were: Commercial buildings, from $48.7m to $87.3m; schools, $27.5m to $52.6m; and alterations and additions, $58.8m to $76.7m.