RAMALLAH, November 24, 2011 (WAFA) – The number of building licenses in the Palestinian Territory in the third quarter of 2011 reached 1717, registering an increase compared to the corresponding quarter of 2010, and a decrease compared to the previous quarter, Wednesday said a report published by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS).

The total number of building licenses issued in the third quarter of 2011 increased by 16.2% compared to the third quarter of 2010, and fell by 14.8% compared to the second quarter of 2011, said the report.

The area of licensed buildings (residential and non-residential) totaled 774.4 thousand square meters, of which new buildings made up 642.8 thousand square meters and existing buildings made up 131.6 thousand square meters.

The total number of licensed dwellings was 2971, of which 2430 were new units with a total area of 431.1 thousand square meters, and 568 were existing dwellings with a total area of 100.5 thousand square meters.

The number of new dwellings in the third quarter of 2011 increased by 20.4% compared to the same quarter of 2010 and fell by 19.1% compared to the second quarter of the year, added the report.

R.Q./F.J.