The value of construction permits handed out by the City of Red Deer is up nearly 18 per cent, to $121 million this year.
To the end of October, 761 permits worth $121.4 million have been issued, compared with 941 permits worth $103.1 million in 2019.
The increase has been led by a big jump in public service construction.
In the first 10 months of the year, 36 permits worth $30.6 million have been issued in that category. Thirty-nine permits worth $5.7 million were issued over the same period last year.
Industrial spending is also up, with 28 permits worth $22 million. In 2019, 49 permits worth $11.6 million were given to builders.
Residential building remains behind last year’s pace, but has been catching up as the year goes on.
By the end of October, 508 residential permits worth $19 million have been issued, compared with 552 worth $22.5 million a year ago.
For October, 70 permits worth $2.7 million were issued, compared with 67 permits worth $3 million in October 2019.
Commercial permits are also down, with 189 permits worth $49.7 million, compared with 301 worth $63.2 million last year.
The biggest-value permit handed out last month was $500,000, for a new rail shed for GATX Rail Canada in Riverside Industrial Park.