The number of homes created by converting defunct office blocks and other buildings into housing fell again last year, national statistics agency CBS said on Monday.

Last year, some 3,000 apartments were created by transforming offices, down 30% on 2021, the CBS said.

This is largely because the easiest transformations have already taken place, Delft University professor Peter Boelhouwer told broadcaster NOS. In addition, there is less capacity in the civil service to deal with the necessary procedures, he said.

More homes were created by converting other buildings such as schools and hospitals, taking the total number of new homes built through redeveloping other properties to 9,600.

Conversions are an important part of the government’s plans to soften the shortage of housing.  In total, the Dutch housing stock rose by 74,600 units last year.