A total of 6.2 thousand buildings were licensed in Portugal in the second quarter, representing a 7.1% decline compared to the same period last year, according to data from the National Statistics Institute. Of the total licensed buildings, 77.5% were new constructions, of which 83.1% were destined for family housing. New licensed constructions decreased by 5.6% year-on-year and rehabilitation works recorded declines of 11.9%. A total of 11.8 thousand units were also licensed in new constructions for family housing, corresponding to a year-on-year growth of 10.8%.
At the regional level, only the Autonomous Region of Madeira and the North recorded year-on-year increases in the number of licensed buildings, with growth of 25.2% and 0.2% respectively. The most significant decreases were registered in Greater Lisbon, with a drop of 35.1%, in the Algarve with 24.9% and in the Setúbal Peninsula with 20.3%. For new licensed constructions, increases were recorded in Madeira, the North and the Centre, while Greater Lisbon and the Alentejo recorded the largest declines. The North remained the main region in terms of licensing, concentrating 39.8% of licensed buildings and 41.1% of new constructions.
In the second quarter, an estimated 3.9 thousand buildings were completed in Portugal, representing a year-on-year decline of 4.2%. New constructions continued to represent the majority of completed buildings, corresponding to 81.7% of the total. The Autonomous Region of the Azores, the West and Vale do Tejo, the Centre and the Autonomous Region of Madeira recorded increases in the number of completed buildings, while the Setúbal Peninsula, the Algarve, the North and the Alentejo recorded decreases. A total of 7.4 thousand units were completed in new constructions for family housing, corresponding to a year-on-year increase of 11.6%.
The total licensed area increased by 24.2% year-on-year, with only three regions recording declines: the Algarve, the West and Vale do Tejo and the Setúbal Peninsula. The total built area in Portugal increased by 11.7% compared to the same quarter last year, with more pronounced increases in the Alentejo and the Autonomous Region of the Azores. The North and Centre regions concentrated more than half of the completed buildings and completed units in new constructions for family housing, with the North leading in both indicators.
