Town planning department gives building overview
The Mossel Bay Advertiser put questions to the town planning department at the municipality on the current state of the residential building industry.
Q: Although the lockdown had a devastating impact on building, it appears in certain suburbs where there are empty plots, it is business as usual again. Which parts of the greater Mossel Bay area are showing the most growth?
A: Measured in building plan submissions only, in the past six months from 1 January to 30 June, the top three areas for which building plan applications (new dwellings) have been received are:
1. Dana Bay; 2. Diaz Strand; 3. Hartenbos. Over the past two years substantial residential developments also took place in
Reebok and Tergniet, although this is not reflected as such in the above statistics for the past six months.
The vacant residential sites (that have been empty for 10 or more years) across the municipal area are reaching a stage of being 70% or more developed. This could create the perception that there is suddenly an exponential growth in residential construction.
Q: Can you give statistics on building plans?
A: Below are the numbers of building plans approved from 2018 to June 30, 2020. 2018: 2 237 building plans approved. 2019: 1 939 approved.
1 January 2020 until 30 June 2020 (including the national lockdown period): 575 approved.
This may seem like a drop, but the submission of building plans is picking up.
It’s difficult to predict, but it may be the case that submissions will be marginally lower than last year.
Q: So, there has been a decrease in building plans passing through town planning?
A: In 2019 there were 13% fewer plans approved as compared to the same period in 2018.
If you compare January 2020 to June 2020 (including national lockdown period) the number of plans approved is 39% less than the total approved in 2019 for the same period. The economic downturn nationally and internationally, as well as the immediate effects of the Covid-19 pandemic have to be taken into account.