The number of new apartments on the market in the canton of Geneva was down 35 percent last year.

The cantonal office of statistics says only 1,018 new dwellings were built in 2011.

That means Geneva housing construction hit a 70-year record low last year—and fell way short of the 2,500 apartments promised by the government.

General secretary of the Geneva Chamber of Property Christoph Aumeunier told public radio RSR that Geneva law makes it easy to hold construction up:

“It’s a yo yo effect. People concerned by the construction can throw a spanner in the works up to seven times and we need to speed that procedure up. The dossier should remain open for consultation but shouldn’t block the whole system.”

Another 3,345 new dwellings are currently under construction though—the highest level in 20 years.

more WRS coverage on Geneva, real estate