Executive summary
- The number of building plans approved by the City of Windhoek stood at 336 for October 2020.The building plans approved recorded an increase with an additional 82 building plans approved as compared to September 2020. See Figure 1.
- During the month of October 2020, the city of Windhoek approved 189 additions plans,115 house plans,5 commercial plans,3 pool plans, and 27 wall plans.
- The value of building plans approved for Windhoek amounted to N$ 331,096,250 for the month of October 2020.
- Additions plans and House plans were the main drivers of the number of building plans approved for October 2020.
Analysis
- The building plans approved increased from -2.2% to 28.03% on annual basis for October 2020 (See figure2) .
- The highest number of building plans approved for October 2020, were from Katutura suburb, with a total of 45 plans (21 addition plans, 18 house plans,5 wall plans and 1 commercial plan), valued at N$ 17,207,160.
- Otjomuise suburb, had the second highest number of building plans approved with a total of 40 plans (24 house plans,14 additions and 2 walls), at the value of N$14,695,554 for October 2020.
- There were no building plans approved for the suburbs of Lafrenz and Brackwater for October 2020.
- The City of Windhoek approved a total of 115 house plans for October 2020 ,the number of house plans increased from 85 house plans that were recorded for September 2020 , an increase in the number of house plans approved is driven by the Informal Upgrading Settlement Project a government initiative to build houses, though the National Housing Enterprise that was launched in July 2020.
Outlook
- Windhoek’s construction industry faces strong headwinds as consumer and business confidence has waned due to the covid-19 induced lockdowns.
- However, it is evident that a positive trend is emerging especially for the construction of houses through the Informal Upgrading Settlement Project as the Government plans to construct 600 houses by June 2021.
- Building plans approved will remain on the growth trajectory for November 2020 before the construction holiday kicks in.
Figure1: Monthly Building Plans Approved, Windhoek
Figure 2: Building Plans Approved Annual growth rates, Windhoek
