The number of building permits issued in Cyprus fell by 30.9% in September 2024, according to data released by the Cyprus Statistical Service on Thursday. The decline was largely attributed to technical issues in the newly introduced "Ippodamos" information system.

In September 2024, a total of 423 building permits were issued, compared to 612 in September 2023. The total value of these permits amounted to €160.5 million, covering a total area of 129,100 square meters. The approved permits allow for the construction of 706 residential units.

According to the report, the sharp decrease in construction permits was primarily due to the transfer of permit issuance responsibilities from municipalities and district administrations to the newly established Provincial Self-Government Organizations (EOA) on July 1, 2024. The transition, combined with operational challenges in the "Ippodamos" integrated information system, significantly slowed processing times.

Despite the drop in September, the overall number of building permits issued between January and September 2024 increased by 4.0% compared to the same period in 2023.

• A total of 5,485 permits were issued, up from 5,274 in the previous year.

• The total value of these permits rose by 8.9%.

• The total construction area increased by 10.6%.

• The number of residential units approved grew by 10.0%.