Both the value and number of building permits handed out in Red Deer this year are up.
To the end of October, 1,020 building permits worth $105.4 million have been issued, compared with 875 worth $76.6 million through the same 10 months in 2023.
The commercial, industrial and public service sectors have all shown increases in building permit values. Public service leads the way with 52 permits worth $25.1 million issued, up from 48 permits and $7.6 million in 2023.
The value of industrial work undertaken this year was also up significantly – $9.9 million over 27 permits, compared with 34 permits worth $5.2 million last year. On the commercial side, 205 permits worth $47 million have been issued, compared with 198 worth $39 million in 2023.
The value of residential permits, which includes new builds, additions and other renovations is down slightly to $23.4 million from $24.6 million, but the number of permits is up – 736, compared with 595. October appeared to be a hot month for residential building. The 95 permits worth $4.6 million handed out is far ahead of October 2023, when 55 permits worth $1.8 million were issued.
Last month, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation released housing start numbers for Red Deer. The data shows construction on 314 houses in Red Deer began between Jan. 1 and Sept. 30 of this year, compared to 146 through the same time period in 2023. This marks a 115 per cent increase over last year.
Of the 314 (housing starts), apartment builds accounted for 131 doors, compared with 83 single-family and row housing starts.
October permit numbers were also up sharply in the commercial, industrial and public service sectors. Overall, there were 133 permits of all kinds worth $12.4 million issued in October, compared with 71 worth $2.8 million in October 2023.
Among the big permits handed out was $2.2 million to expand a warehouse along with other work at Q2 Artificial Lift Services, an oilfield services company specializing in down hole pumps, in Edgar Industrial Park.
A $1.2 million permit was issued for various upgrades at a building on 54th Avenue and 45th Street and $945,000 to rebuild a Queens Business Park business hit by fire.
