The Marker, Adi Cohen, 07.06.2020
In the background of the race to increase housing supply in Israel: The Planning Administration's 2019 summary report indicates that last year, the construction of 140.6 thousand apartments was approved by the provincial and local committees - 133% of the government target for that year - 105,000 apartments.
The report also released this morning (Sunday), in the background of the Planning Administration's move to the Ministry of the Interior - that of the total housing units, 65.4 thousand apartments were built in the accelerated route of the Housing Preferences Committee (the IDF) - whose activity increased by about 10% compared to the last year. The lowest number of housing units approved this year is in the Tel Aviv and Jerusalem districts, with 6,624 and 5,632 housing units approved, respectively. These figures mark a significant gap from the goals set by the Strategic Plan for Housing for 2040 for these districts - which amount to 15.5 thousand apartments for the Tel Aviv District per year, and 11.5 thousand apartments for the Jerusalem District.
The largest number of housing units was built in the southern and central districts - of which about two-thirds of all housing units were built - 43.2 thousand and 46.8, respectively. The Planning Administration also reveals that about 30,000 housing units out of the 140,000 planned new apartments were approved as part of urban renewal projects - and 42.5 thousand housing units were approved in Arab localities.
Ostensibly, present data report a marked increase in the activity of planning in Israel that tend to increase the supply of existing housing - a desire to stop the rise in prices steady market. Their activities and work, writing as stated in the strategic plan for housing issued by the National Economic Council in February 2017 - and dictates the housing market destination Planning of 2.6 million housing units by 2040. From this target - the target was derived for the actual construction of 1.5 million housing units by this year, however, the planning division between the different districts raises the question of adjusting planning in Israel to demand on the ground - and the ability to actually implement the The construction of the planned housing units.
Failure to meet target number of land tenure deals
Another gap that accompanies the planning scope mentioned in the report is between the planning of housing units in Israel and the state's ability to market land in scope that will fit the planning. Housing only - which is about one-third of the housing units planned for this year, in a central district where the largest number of housing units has been approved for this year - the state has issued land tenders for only 8,000 housing units.
Alongside this, the report also shows an increase in the extent of the IDF activity and its focus on the year that has passed in the area of urban renewal. Accordingly, in 2019 some 26 preferred housing complexes, including 37.9 thousand housing units, were declared; Of the construction evacuation in urban areas - twice as much as the previous year, the other five - in minority communities.
Shas Chairman, Arie Deri Photo: Moti Milrod
The report also notes that in 2019, some 20 sites were declared across the country as new nature reserves and national parks - the highest number declared in the year since 1963. The total area declared as reserved is about 240,000 dunams. In addition, the report refers to infrastructure projects Significant in the field of transport and energy promoted by planning institutions last year, headed by the Metro project. In this year, the construction of three 140-km metro lines and about 105 stations serving 23 local authorities were approved. In addition, the metro has approved other projects including light rail, desalination plant, renewable energy plans and natural gas electricity generation.
Interior Minister Aryeh Deri, who has recently taken control of the Planning Administration, referred to the published report, saying that "next year, we will continue the strenuous work of quality planning of housing units for a variety of populations, along with the promotion of essential infrastructure with emphasis on mass transit systems. In addition, in light of the Corona effect and its impact on the lives of residents, we will further advance the national outline plan for the health system. "
Planning Director General Dalit Silber said: "The Planning Administration has promoted plans for transport, energy and water infrastructure, all while maintaining the status of open spaces alongside meeting annual targets in the housing sector and beyond."