Building permit activity in Victoria reached $2.2 billion in July 2011, the second highest start to a financial year on record behind the $2.3 billion in July 2010.

The Deputy Building Commissioner, Peter Donald, said the Commissions’ pulse building permit activity data for July 2011 showed that, despite the easing, four of the seven building use categories recorded increases.

Residential building activity was 55 per cent stronger in July 2011 and retail surged 83 per cent to $159 million.

Hospital/Healthcare and Industrial building activity also increased (35 per cent and 17 per cent respectively) from July last year.

On a regional basis, North Central rose 13 per cent and Inner Melbourne eight per cent, and North West was one per cent higher in July 2011 compared with July 2010.

By building use, the value of building permits in July 2011 compared to July 2010:

  • Domestic declined 19 per cent to $1.1 billion
  • Residential jumped 55 per cent to $407 million
  • Commercial fell by 18 per cent to $234 million
  • Retail jumped 83 per cent to $159 million
  • Industrial rose 17 per cent to $37 million
  • Hospital/Healthcare increased 35 per cent to $86 million
  • Public Buildings declined 16 per cent to $194 million.

On a regional basis, the value of building permits in July 2011 compared with July 2010:

  • Inner Melbourne rose 8 per cent to $923 million
  • Outer Melbourne declined 9 per cent to $845 million
  • Gippsland fell 17 per cent to $78 million
  • North Central rose 13 per cent to $78 million
  • North East fell 37 per cent to $57 million
  • North West remained static with a 1 per cent to $98 million
  • South West fell 28 per cent to $116 million.