Preliminary estimates show that the value of building plans passed by larger municipalities (at current prices) increased by 11.2% or 7.2 billion rand in 2006 from 2005, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) said.

Building plans passed for non-residential buildings saw the largest increase in value of 31.6%, while plans passed for additions and alterations (+9,0%) and residential buildings increased by9.0% and 6.4% respectively.

The value of buildings reported as completed to larger municipalities (at current prices) during 2006 increased by 22.5% from 2005.. Large increases in the value of buildings completed were reported for additions and alterations (+36.%), non-residential buildings (+30.1%) and residential buildings (+17.8%), Stats SA said.

The 11.2% increase in building plans passed in 2006 represent a slight slowdown from the 12% increase in the first 11 months of 2006 compared with the first 11 months of 2005. This was the result of a slight increase of 1.5% between Dec 2005 and Dec 2006, Stats SA said.