Building Approvals, Australia

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Provides the number of dwelling units and value of buildings approved

Reference period
July 2020
Released
1/09/2020

Key statistics

The seasonally adjusted estimate for:

  • Total dwelling units approved rose 12.0%;
  • Private sector houses rose 8.5%;
  • Private sector dwellings excluding houses rose 22.7%.

Main features

July key figures

 Jul 20
no.
Jun 20 to Jul 20
%
Jul 19 to Jul 20
%
TREND   
 Total dwelling units approvednanana
 Private sector housesnanana
 Private sector dwellings excluding housesnanana
SEASONALLY ADJUSTED   
 Total dwelling units approved13 84012.06.3
 Private sector houses8 8528.55.6
 Private sector dwellings excluding houses4 68422.77.5

na not available

 

July key points

Total dwelling units

  • The seasonally adjusted estimate for total dwellings approved rose 12.0% in July.
     

Private sector houses

  • The seasonally adjusted estimate for private sector houses rose 8.5% in July.
     

Private sector dwellings excluding houses

  • The seasonally adjusted estimate for private sector dwellings excluding houses rose 22.7% in July.
     

Value of building approved

  • The seasonally adjusted estimate of the value of total building approved fell 3.9% in July. The value of residential building rose 9.5%, while the value of non-residential building fell 19.8%.
     

Data notes

In this release, revisions are provided for the time period from July 2019 to June 2020. Further information about potential sources of revisions can be found in the feature article released with the January 2016 8731.0 publication -"Revisions to Building Approval Statistics".

Small area data cubes and CSV files will be made available in an “Additional Information” release five business days after the main publication. These will be for Statistical Area Level 2 and Local Government Areas. Release dates are published under the "Future releases" drop down list of the publication and in ABS Release Advice.

A number of time series spreadsheets contain ‘np’ (not available for publication) annotations. This is due to confidential data being contained in these series.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) in July

The World Health Organisation (WHO) commenced daily situation reports of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak on 21 January 2020 and identified it as an international health emergency on 30 January. In March, regulations to encourage social distancing saw further impacts on the ability of businesses to trade as normal, resulting in rising unemployment and reduced household income. Travel restrictions have reduced the number of overseas arrivals to near-zero, resulting in less housing demand from overseas migrants.

In July, the effects of COVID-19 on Building Approvals were mixed. For residential approvals, there was a broad-based increase in dwellings approved, following the eight-year low recorded in June. The strength in July likely reflects improved consumer sentiment in May, on the back of falling COVID-19 cases and easing of restrictions. The value of alterations and additions to residential buildings remained relatively stable (-1.1%), following a strong 12.9% rise in June. However, the value of non-residential building approved fell in July, to the lowest level recorded since January 2018.

Data collection activities continued to be largely unaffected in the July 2020 reference period. The ABS appreciates the support of federal, state and local government in continuing to provide the data to compile this publication.

Suspension of trend series

The trend series attempts to measure underlying behaviour in building approval activity. In the short term, this measurement will be significantly affected by changes to regular patterns in approval activity during this time, as potential home builders face on-going uncertainty. If the trend estimates in this publication were to be calculated without fully accounting for this irregular event, they would likely provide a misleading view of underlying approval activity.

It may be some time before the underlying trend in building approvals can be accurately estimated. The Building Approvals monthly trend series have therefore been suspended starting from May 2020, while the quarterly series have been suspended from the June 2020 quarter. The trend series will be reinstated when more certainty emerges in the underlying trend.

Update to seasonal adjustment methods

Building Approvals uses the concurrent seasonal adjustment method, meaning that seasonal factors are re-estimated each time a new data point becomes available. If not appropriately accounted for, unusual real-world events, such as COVID-19, can distort estimates calculated using this method. From May 2020, seasonal factors are being calculated using data up to and including April 2020, then projected from May 2020 onwards. This approach, known as the forward factor method, ensures that the seasonal factors are not distorted by COVID-19 impacts.

Revisions this month

Revisions to the total number of dwelling units approved in this issue are:

Dwellings2019-20
NSW231
Vic.60
Qld191
SA19
WA-13
Tas.-1
NT-
ACT-
Total487

Building approvals

The seasonally adjusted estimate for total dwellings approved rose 12.0% in July.

The seasonally adjusted estimate for private sector houses rose 8.5% in July.

The seasonally adjusted estimate for private sector dwellings excluding houses rose 22.7% in July.

The seasonally adjusted estimate for the value of new residential building rose 11.3% in July.

The seasonally adjusted estimate for the value of alterations and additions to residential building fell 1.1% in July.

The seasonally adjusted estimate for the value of non-residential building approved fell 19.8% in July.

Article archive

Characteristics of apartment approvals, September 2019 (cat. no. 8731.0)

Growth in approvals, December 2018 (cat. no. 8731.0)

Change in composition of dwelling approvals, July 2016 (cat. no. 8731.0)

Implementation of the Australian Statistical Geography Standard in ABS Building Approvals collection, April 2011 (cat. no. 8731.0)

Average floor area of new residential dwellings, February 2010 (cat. no. 8731.0)

Average quarterly completion times for new houses, July 2008 (cat. no. 8731.0)

Changes in the mix of dwelling types, April 2008 (cat. no. 8731.0)

Average floor area of new residential dwellings, February 2008 (cat. no. 8731.0)

Are we building on smaller blocks?, July 2004 (cat. no. 8731.0)

Focus on the South Australian Construction Industry, June 2004 (cat. no. 8731.0)

Focus on the Tasmanian Construction Industry, June 2004 (cat. no. 8731.0)

Focus on the Queensland Construction Industry, May 2004 (cat. no. 8731.0)

Focus on the Victorian Construction Industry, April 2004 (cat. no. 8731.0)

Engineering Construction, March 2004 (cat. no. 8731.0)

Focus on the New South Wales Construction Industry, February 2004 (cat. no. 8731.0)

Average floor area of new dwellings, December 2003 (cat. no. 8731.0)

Work done on housing jobs each quarter, March 2003 (cat. no. 8731.0)

Inner city development, December 2002 (cat. no. 8731.0)

Functional classification of buildings, August 2002 (cat. no. 8731.0)

Building activity in Sydney and Melbourne, July 2002 (cat. no. 8731.0)

Changes in the mix of dwelling types, May 2002 (cat. no. 8731.0)

Construction Industry information, April 2002 (cat. no. 8731.0)

Average value of new houses, March 2002 (cat. no. 8731.0)

Largest and fastest growing areas in Australia, November 2001 (cat. no. 8731.0)

Functional classification of buildings, August 2001 (cat. no. 8731.0)

Average floor area of new dwellings, July 2001 (cat. no. 8731.0)

Identifying growth areas, May 2001 (cat. no. 8731.0)

Additional Building and Construction feature articles can be found in Feature Articles by Catalogue Number.

Inquiries

For further information about these and related statistics, contact the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070. The ABS Privacy Policy outlines how the ABS will handle any personal information that you provide to us.

Data downloads - time series spreadsheets

Table 01. Number of dwelling units approved, by sector, all series - New South Wales

Table 02. Number of dwelling units approved, by sector, all series - Victoria

Table 03. Number of dwelling units approved, by sector, all series - Queensland

Table 04. Number of dwelling units approved, by sector, all series - South Australia

Table 05. Number of dwelling units approved, by sector, all series - Western Australia

Table 06. Number of dwelling units approved, by sector, all series - Australia

Table 07. Total number of dwelling units approved - states and territories

Table 08. Number of private sector houses approved - states and territories

Table 09. Number of dwelling units approved, original, states and territories

Table 10. Number of dwelling units approved, by greater capital city statistical area - original

Table 11. Number of dwelling units approved, by sector, original - Australia

Table 12. Number of dwelling units approved, by sector, original - New South Wales

Table 13. Number of dwelling units approved, by sector, original - Victoria

Table 14. Number of dwelling units approved, by sector, original - Queensland

Table 15. Number of dwelling units approved, by sector, original - South Australia

Table 16. Number of dwelling units approved, by sector, original - Western Australia

Table 17. Number of dwelling units approved, by sector, original - Tasmania

Table 18. Number of dwelling units approved, by sector, original - Northern Territory

Table 19. Number of dwelling units approved, by sector, original - Australian Capital Territory

Table 20. Number of dwelling units approved in new residential buildings, original - Australia

Table 21. Value of dwelling units approved in new residential buildings, original, Australia

Table 22. Dwelling units approved in new residential buildings, number and value, original - New South Wales

Table 23. Dwelling units approved in new residential buildings, number and value, original - Victoria

Table 24. Dwelling units approved in new residential buildings, number and value, original - Queensland

Table 25. Dwelling units approved in new residential buildings, number and value, original - South Australia

Table 26. Dwelling units approved in new residential buildings, number and value, original - Western Australia

Table 27. Dwelling units approved in new residential buildings, number and value, original - Tasmania

Table 28. Dwelling units approved in new residential buildings, number and value, original - Northern Territory

Table 29. Dwelling units approved in new residential buildings, number and value, original - Australian Capital Territory

Table 30. Value of building approved - New South Wales

Table 31. Value of building approved - Victoria

Table 32. Value of building approved - Queensland

Table 33. Value of building approved - South Australia

Table 34. Value of building approved - Western Australia

Table 35. Value of building approved - Tasmania

Table 36. Value of building approved - Northern Territory

Table 37. Value of building approved - Australian Capital Territory

Table 38. Value of building approved - Australia

Table 39. Value of total building approved - states and territories

Table 40. Value of residential building approved - states and territories

Table 41. Value of non-residential building approved - states and territories

Table 42. Value of building approved, by sector, original - Australia

Table 43. Value of building approved, by sector, original - New South Wales

Table 44. Value of building approved, by sector, original - Victoria

Table 45. Value of building approved, by sector, original - Queensland

Table 46. Value of building approved, by sector, original - South Australia

Table 47. Value of building approved, by sector, original - Western Australia

Table 48. Value of building approved, by sector, original - Tasmania

Table 49. Value of building approved, by sector, original - Northern Territory

Table 50. Value of building approved, by sector, original - Australian Capital Territory

Table 51. Value of non-residential building approved, by sector, original - Australia

Table 52. Value of non-residential building approved, by sector, original - New South Wales

Table 53. Value of non-residential building approved, by sector, original - Victoria

Table 54. Value of non-residential building approved, by sector, original - Queensland

Table 55. Value of non-residential building approved, by sector, original - South Australia

Table 56. Value of non-residential building approved, by sector, original - Western Australia

Table 57. Value of non-residential building approved, by sector, original - Tasmania

Table 58. Value of non-residential building approved, by sector, original - Northern Territory

Table 59. Value of non-residential building approved, by sector, original - Australian Capital Territory

Table 60. Number of non-residential building jobs approved, by value range, original - New South Wales

Table 61. Number of non-residential building jobs approved, by value range, original - Victoria

Table 62. Number of non-residential building jobs approved, by value range, original - Queensland

Table 63. Number of non-residential building jobs approved, by value range, original - South Australia

Table 64. Number of non-residential building jobs approved, by value range, original - Western Australia

Table 65. Number of non-residential building jobs approved, by value range, original - Tasmania

Table 66. Number of non-residential building jobs approved, by value range, original - Northern Territory

Table 67. Number of non-residential building jobs approved, by value range, original - Australian Capital Territory

Table 68. Number of non-residential building jobs approved, by value range, original - Australia

Table 69. Value of non-residential building approved, by value range, original - New South Wales

Table 70. Value of non-residential building approved, by value range, original - Victoria

Table 71. Value of non-residential building approved, by value range, original - Queensland

Table 72. Value of non-residential building approved, by value range, original - South Australia

Table 73. Value of non-residential building approved, by value range, original - Western Australia

Table 74. Value of non-residential building approved, by value range, original - Tasmania

Table 75. Value of non-residential building approved, by value range, original - Northern Territory

Table 76. Value of non-residential building approved, by value range, original - Australian Capital Territory

Table 77. Value of non-residential building approved, by value range, original - Australia

Table 78. Value of building approved, chain volume measures - Australia

Table 79. Value of building approved, chain volume measures, original - New South Wales

Table 80. Value of building approved, chain volume measures, original - Victoria

Table 81. Value of building approved, chain volume measures, original - Queensland

Table 82. Value of building approved, chain volume measures, original - South Australia

Table 83. Value of building approved, chain volume measures, original - Western Australia

Table 84. Value of building approved, chain volume measures, original - Tasmania

Table 85. Value of building approved, chain volume measures, original - Northern Territory

Table 86. Value of building approved, chain volume measures, original - Australian Capital Territory

All time series workbooks

Data downloads - data cubes

I-note

Building approvals: Data items available by Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS)

NSW, SA2 Excel datacube, 2019-2020

NSW, SA2 Excel datacube, 2020-2021 FYTD

NSW, LGA Excel datacube, 2019-2020

NSW, LGA Excel datacube, 2020-2021 FYTD

Vic., SA2 Excel datacube, 2019-2020

Vic,. SA2 Excel datacube, 2020-2021 FYTD

Vic., LGA Excel datacube, 2019-2020

Vic., LGA Excel datacube, 2020-2021 FYTD

Qld, SA2 Excel datacube, 2019-2020

Qld, SA2 Excel datacube, 2020-2021 FYTD

Qld, LGA Excel datacube, 2019-2020

Qld, LGA Excel datacube, 2020-2021 FYTD

SA, SA2 Excel datacube, 2019-2020

SA, SA2 Excel datacube, 2020-2021 FYTD

SA, LGA Excel datacube, 2019-2020

SA, LGA Excel datacube, 2020-2021 FYTD

WA, SA2 Excel datacube, 2019-2020

WA, SA2 Excel datacube, 2020-2021 FYTD

WA, LGA Excel datacube, 2019-2020

WA, LGA Excel datacube, 2020-2021 FYTD

Tas., SA2 Excel datacube, 2019-2020

Tas., SA2 Excel datacube, 2020-2021 FYTD

Tas., LGA Excel datacube, 2019-2020

Tas., LGA Excel datacube, 2020-2021 FYTD

NT, SA2 Excel datacube, 2019-2020

NT, SA2 Excel datacube, 2020-2021 FYTD

NT, LGA Excel datacube, 2019-2020

NT, LGA Excel datacube, 2020-2021 FYTD

ACT, SA2 Excel datacube, 2019-2020

ACT, SA2 Excel datacube, 2020-2021 FYTD

ACT, LGA Excel datacube, 2019-2020

ACT, LGA Excel datacube, 2020-2021 FYTD

Building approvals: Data cubes validation table

Local Government Area: Australia, 2019-2020 (.CSV)

Local Government Area: Australia, 2020-2021 FYTD (.CSV)

Statistical Area Level 2: Australia, 2019-2020 (.CSV)

Statistical Area Level 2: Australia, 2020-2021 FYTD (.CSV)

Average floor and site area, 2005-2006 to 2019-2020

All data cubes

History of changes

Show all

Previous catalogue number

This release previously used catalogue number 8731.0.

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