Submitted. Total building permit values in Abbotsford fell 29 per cent in June 2013 from May 2013, with a 51 per cent rise in non-residential permits not enough to mitigate a 74 per cent drop in residential permits, according to Vancouver Regional Construction Association’s analysis of Statistics Canada Building Permit Report.
“While strong numbers for public and commercial permits helped push non-residential permits to their highest point this year in Abbotsford, June’s overall decline was centered in residential permits,” says Jan Robinson, interim president of the Vancouver Regional Construction Association (VRCA). “Despite this month’s non-residential gains, underlying trends in Abbotsford remain low.”
Seasonally adjusted total building permit values in Abbotsford fell in June 2013 to $13.8 million from $19.5 million in May 2013. Non-residential permit values increased to $10.5 million in June from $7million in May. Commercial permits rebounded 552 per cent to $2.2 million in June from $0.3 million, industrial permits fell 38 per cent to $1.0 million, while institutional-government permits climbed 47 per cent to $7.4 million. The value of residential permits declined to $3.2 million in June 2013 from May’s $12.5 million.
VRCA’s outlook for 2013 for Abbotsford is neutral, with total permits likely to equal last year, while the 2014 outlook for higher investment spending on buildings is brighter.
Regional Building Permit Highlights
- Seasonally adjusted total building permit values in the Abbotsford CMA fell 29 per cent to $13.8 million in June 2013 compared to $19.5 million in May.
- Non-residential permits increased 51 per cent to $10.5 million from $7.0 million.
- Residential permits declined 74 per cent to $3.2 million from $12.5 million.Total building permit values in Abbotsford kept pace with 2012 in the first six months of 2013, at $90.6 million compared to $90.8 million during the same period last year.
- Non-residential permits were down 19 per cent.
- Residential permits were up five per cent.
- Total building permit values were up six per cent in the Lower Mainland-Southwest region to $675.7 million in June 2013 from $639.8 million in May 2013.
With close to 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.