More than 2880 construction permits were issued in Bulgaria in the last three months of 2006, National Statistical Institute (NSI) data showed.

The increased number of permits resulted from the expected introduction of European environmental network Natura 2000, analysts told mediapool.bg. According to plans urban areas will remain outside the network.

Most of the permits were issued in the Black Sea coastal areas and in Bansko winter resort, mediapool.bg said.

Officials from 13 municipalities in the southern coastal region issued as much as 598 permits for residential buildings, mediapool.bg said. The number of permits issued for the same period in 2005 was lower by160.

Blagoevgrad region, where Bansko is located, also saw an increase in the number of construction permits issued, mediapool.bg said. More than 3780 buildings are to be set up.