As Prian reports, Sofia has been considered the epicenter of construction activity for many years. However, data from the National Statistical Institute show that it is Plovdiv that is setting the pace, with plans to build almost 4,500 apartments.
The Plovdiv district has shown impressive dynamics, having received 465 permits for the construction of residential buildings. Investors are clearly shifting their attention to this region, where the scale of future projects promises the commissioning of more than 4 thousand residential units. Sofia and Varna also remain among the key players, but their growth rates now look more moderate against the background of Plovdiv’s surge.
In Plovdiv, construction of 402 residential buildings has already started. This is twice as many as in Sofia over the same period. Despite a slight seasonal decline in the total number of new sites, the area of started projects in the country increased by a third compared to the previous quarter.
The Bulgarian construction sector enters the new year with a strong backlog, with the focus of activity finally shifting from purely administrative centers to the dynamic industrial and tourist regions.
Housing boom vs. office sector
Overall statistics for the country indicate a pronounced bias towards residential real estate. While the number of building permits for offices and administrative buildings has fallen by more than 12%, the residential sector is showing double-digit growth.
The total area of projected housing jumped by almost 63% year-on-year. This indicates that developers are highly optimistic about consumer demand in 2026.
