Planning phase of residential building activity showed double-digit growth in the first half of 2014, while construction contracted.

The planning phase of residential building activity in the South African market for new housing, as reflected by the number of building plans approved by local government authorities, recorded relatively strong growth in the first five months of 2014 April 2014 compared with the corresponding period last year.

Submitting building plans is set to become easier, faster and paperless, with the City of Cape Town's overhaul of the current development plan application process.

The number of building plans passed rises by 11.1% to R6.7bn between January and November last year.

The number of new housing units for which building plans were approved increased by only 0,5% year-on-yea

The sudden stoppage of building plan approvals in the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality is causing serious concern in the commercial and industrial property sector, with the SA Property Owners’ Association (SAPOA) quick to raise a red flag concern about the situation.

The real value of building plans passed in larger municipalities rose by 21.9% year on year (y/y) in the first five months of 2013 after a 3.4% increase in 2012‚ Statistics SA (Stats SA) data showed on Thursday.

Value of recorded building plans passed increases by 33.3% during January to April this year compared with January to April last year.

The value of SA's building plans passed by large municipalities increases by 5.3% year on year from a revised growth of 2.8% in October, according to data published by Statistics SA.