BEIRUT: Construction permits in Lebanon in 2011 fell by 6.8 percent compared to the same period of 2010, according to figures released by the Order of Engineers of Beirut and Tripoli.

The figures showed that the area of newly issued construction permits reached 16,425,274 square meters in 2011.

This compares to an increase of 23 percent witnessed in 2010, which shows that appetite for commencing new projects had increased within the context of a more stable political environment and higher economic activity.

Last December, construction permits witnessed a sixth consecutive year-on-year decline of 11.7 percent compared to December 2010, pursuing a downward trend observed over the previous months of the year.

During 2011, most of the demand for construction permits originated mainly from Mount Lebanon which captured a share of 61.1 percent of total permits.