Over 2,400 developments approved in 2024 - Nalumisa

The Department of Town and Country Planning approved 635 building applications, with an estimated investment value of $701.3 million last year.

This has been highlighted by Minister for Housing and Local Government Maciu Nalumisa while responding to a written question in Parliament by Assistant Minister for Rural and Maritime Development Joseva Vocea on the number and types of development approval granted by the Ministry.

Nalumisa says the Department received a total of 835 building applications and 83 applications were received late in 2024 and carried forward to 2025.

He says the municipal councils also issued 338 building completion certificates valued at $131 million, meaning many approved projects have already been built and are benefitting communities.

Nalumisa says these are not just numbers, but there are impacts on the ground which include strong levels of investment, especially in tourism, commercial, and industrial projects, show confidence in Fiji's economy.

He also says that completed projects translate approvals into real jobs, homes, and services, and developments directly stimulate local economies and contribute to GDP growth.

The Minister further says the Department received 1,947 subdivision applications last year, of which 1,708 were processed, creating 1,546 new lots.

1,195 were residential lots to meet housing demand, 54 commercial, 16 industrial, 10 tourism 10 and 271 rural and other categories.

Nalumisa says these translate to more residential lots increasing the supply of land for housing, while commercial, industrial, and tourism lots enable business expansion and job creation. Rural lots, he adds, support balanced development across the country, not just in urban centres.

The Minister also confirms that in 2024, the Department received 374 rezoning applications, processed 345, and approved 252.

Nalumisa adds these achievements demonstrate that Fiji is not only attracting new investment but is also seeing projects through to completion, which means more housing for families, more spaces for businesses, and more opportunities for communities across the country.