The Marker, Adi Cohen, 05.01.2021

Despite the corona crisis and the ongoing government stalemate, the Planning Administration concludes 2020 with about 95,000 approved housing units for construction - only about 10% below the government target set for this year (about 105,000 housing units). Compared to the previous year, in which about 135,000 housing units were approved, this is a decrease of about 30%. Similar to the previous year, the data show that in the planning frenzy on the way to increasing the supply of housing - the Tel Aviv and Jerusalem districts are once again lagging behind and the number of approved housing units is the lowest.

According to the published data, about 32,000 housing units were approved in the fast track of the Committee for the Planning of Preferred Housing Complexes (VOTMAL); and about 35.5 thousand housing units were approved in the various urban renewal routes. In the Tel Aviv and Jerusalem districts, 7.8 thousand housing units and 10.2 One thousand housing units, respectively. This is an increase compared to the number of housing units approved in these districts last year , but there is still a gap compared to the goals of the strategic plan for housing in these areas.

According to the plan, in order to meet the demand for housing in these districts, and to prevent future shortages that will lead to price increases, the state is required to build about 15.5 thousand apartments in the Tel Aviv district each year , and 11.5 thousand apartments in the Jerusalem district.

Meanwhile, this year, too, the Central District is a leader in the number of housing units approved within its borders - which stands at 22.3 thousand housing units. It is followed by the northern, southern and Haifa districts - with 19.5 thousand housing units, 19.9 thousand housing units and 15.2 thousand approved housing units, respectively. In the three districts, the volume of approved housing units is higher than the targets marked in the housing strategic plan - which raises the question of whether there is feasibility and demand for these plans, or whether they will remain on paper. The total scope of the above housing units also includes the WTMAL plans.

One of the important news that emerges from the report concerns the significant push by the state to provide solutions to the housing crisis in Arab society, which has only intensified in recent years.

According to recent data published in this context, as part of the auditor's report from 2019, it appears that the demand in Arab localities is about 12-13,000 housing units per year. In contrast, the shortage of apartments in these localities is about 5,000 apartments per year on average. However, in order to realize this significant scope of planning, an extensive move is needed to remove the barriers in the field of housing and real estate in the Arab sector - and mainly a series of legislative amendments. In the past year, this move D. Erez Kaminitz, however, was frozen following the ongoing government paralysis.

The Planning Administration addressed in the report several key moves that have led in the past year - most notably the formulation of recently amended legislative amendments to the Planning and Building Act, the approval of NOP 1 - uniting the 144 national outline plans - and the promotion of the giant metro project. The law drafted memorandum center, just having to wait for the inauguration of the next government, standing termination plan 38, the formulation of the track will replace the program and eliminating exemptions institution. In addition, the Planning Authority referred to the regulations of building green approved the previous year by Interior Minister Aryeh Deri, along with plans promoted The firm is in the field of energy, transportation and infrastructure.

Deri said that "the Planning Administration has returned to its natural place in the Ministry of the Interior. Despite the corona crisis, the Planning Administration has been tasked with approving planning inventory, both of housing units and infrastructure. There is no planning crisis in Israel - there is a construction crisis "The next thing is to reach the government's target of 30% housing units in urban renewal. For this important task, we need the WTO - also for the Arab and ultra-Orthodox sectors."

Dalit Zilber, Director General of the Planning Administration: "In 2020-2017, the Planning Administration approved approximately 52,000 housing units throughout Israel. Despite the Corona crisis and lack of budget, the Planning Administration has shown impressive resilience and ability to work even in this challenging year, as evidenced by dozens of open discussions with thousands of participants through the recently approved Visual Consultation (Zoom) Act. The Planning Administration emphasizes the supply of diverse housing units to all populations through urban renewal, infiltrations and new areas, along with promoting vital infrastructure with an emphasis on public transportation and preserving open spaces, as part of a long-term policy for future generations. "