The value of building permit activity in Victoria for the month of November 2011 was $2.2 billion, the highest November on record and an 8 per cent increase on the same month last year.

Releasing the latest Building Commission pulse data today,the Deputy Building Commissioner, Mr Neil Savery, said the strong month was in part due to a number of large permits.

“Contributing to the performance of the month were 10 building permits, each with a value of $20 million or greater in November. The highest value building permit was $78 million for a residential development in Melbourne,” said Mr Savery.

Total Metropolitan building permit activity increased 13 percent on the same month last year however, Rural Victoria over all declined 9 percent in the same period.

The 2011 calendar year to November recorded an increase in the value of building permits by 3 per cent to $22.7 billion, when compared with the same period last year.