22,365 apartments approved in Berlin, 16.5 percent more than the previous year

Berlin's building authorities approved a total of 22,365 building applications in 2015. According to the Statistical Office of Berlin-Brandenburg, that is 16.5 percent more than the year before.

Existing building conversions see strongest growth

The biggest increase came from applications for work on existing buildings, including loft conversions and changes of use. These will add 4,430 apartments to the market, up 56.1 percent from 2014.

17,935 of the approved apartments will be new builds, up 9.6 percent. A third of those (6,061) are planned as condominiums. 15,961 apartments will be in apartment buildings, accounting for 89.0 percent of all approvals and 13.5 percent more than the previous year. Single and two-family homes fell by 9.0 percent to 1,853.

Where most construction is happening

The most approvals went to the boroughs of Treptow-Koepenick, Mitte and Lichtenberg. These boroughs offer both land reserves for larger projects and potential for work on existing stock.

Approaching 1990s levels

At 22,365 approved apartments, construction activity is approaching the levels of the post-reunification building boom. The peak at that time was 29,457 approvals in 1995. The estimated construction costs for all residential and non-residential projects totalled 3.6 billion euros, a 4.6 percent decline from 2014, which may reflect a changed project mix.

For investors, the figures confirm that demand for apartments in Berlin is strong enough to support building activity not seen in 20 years. The market development shows Berlin's housing market remains active.