RAMALLAH, May 28, 2012 (WAFA) – The total number of building licenses issued in the first quarter of 2012 in the Palestinian Territory reached 2,172, registering an increase by 15.3% compared to fourth quarter of 2011, a press release by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) said on Monday.

The number of building licenses issued for the first quarter of 2012 was 3.8% higher than in the first quarter of 2011, added PCBS.

The area of licensed buildings (residential and non-residential) totaled 976,800 square meters, of which new buildings made up 849,400 square meters and existing buildings 127,400 square meters.

The press release said the total number of licensed dwellings was 3,843, of which 3,317 were new units with a total area of 618,200 square meters and 526 were existing dwellings with a total area of 109,000 square meters.

The number of new dwellings in the first quarter of 2012 increased by 5.6% compared to the fourth quarter of 2011 and was 20.8% higher than the first quarter of 2011.

R.Q./M.S.