Submitted. Building permit values in Abbotsford jumped 126 per cent in December 2012 from November 2012, led by significant gains in commercial and residential permits, according to Vancouver Regional Construction Association’s analysis of Statistics Canada Building Permit Report.
Seasonally adjusted total building permit values in Abbotsford rose in December to $18.9 million from $8.4 million in November 2012. Total permit values ended the 2012 year down 29 per cent to $186.4 million compared to $262.1 million in 2011.
“Permits in Abbotsford saw gains in December, thanks to the residential sector, and the commercial to a lesser extent,” says Jan Robinson, interim president of the Vancouver Regional Construction Association. “Fewer total permits were issued in 2012 as expected, as one large commercial project boosted the 2011 figure in Abbotsford. Further economic growth will be needed in Abbotsford in the coming year for 2013 permit values to rise above the past ten-year average.”
Non-residential permit values shot up 154 per cent to $6.8 million in December 2012 from $2.7 million in November. Commercial permits totaled $4.6 million in December compared to near zero in November, industrial permits rose 12 per cent to $2.0 million from $1.8 million, while institutional-government permits slipped to $0.2 million from $0.8 million. The seasonally adjusted value of residential permits jumped 112 per cent to $12.1 million in December 2012 from November’s $5.7 million.
Regional Building Permit Highlights
Seasonally adjusted total building permit values in the Abbotsford CMA jumped 126 per cent to $18.9 million in December 2012 compared to $8.4 million in November.
- Non-residential permits shot up 154 per cent in December to $6.8 million from $2.7 million.
- Residential permits rose 112 per cent in December to $12.1 million from $5.7 million.
- Total building permit values in Abbotsford were down 29 per cent to $186.4 million in 2012 compared to $262.1 million in 2011.
- Non-residential permits were down 44 per cent to $95.8 million.
- Residential permits were down 4 per cent to $79.7 million.
Total building permit values dropped 28 per cent in the Lower Mainland-Southwest region to $411.8 million in December 2012, but finished the 2012 year up 18 per cent over 2011.
With more than 700 members, VRCA is British Columbia’s largest and most inclusive regional construction association, representing union and non-union, general and trade contracting companies, manufacturers, suppliers and other professionals throughout the Lower Mainland from Hope to Whistler.