Construction permits double in third quarter

TIRANA, Jan. 22 – The number of construction permits issued by local government territory adjustment council doubled in the third quarter of 2013, unveiling signs of a recovery in the long-ailing construction sector. INSTAT data show some 88 construction permits were issued in the third quarter of 2013 compared to 40 in the second quarter and 37 in the third quarter of 2012. Local government units issued construction permits for a surface of 207,000 m2 worth 6.7 billion lek (Euro 47 million).
Some 61 percent of permits were granted for residential buildings and the remaining 39 percent for non-residential buildings.
INSTAT data show most residential buildings were issued in the northeastern region of Kukes, some 27, followed by the southwestern region of Fier with 18 and Shkodra with 13.
Dealing with construction permits ranks Albania with the worst global performance, 185th along with Eritrea. Albania and Eritrea are both “no practice” economies with barriers preventing private builders from legally obtaining a building permit, according to Doing Business 2013.
The long-ailing construction sector, which has been in crisis since the onset of the global crisis in 2008, suffered another sharp shrink in the third quarter of 2013 when it declined by 10 percent year-on-year and was down by 20 percent compared to the second quarter of 2013.