This is where most new housing is being built in Thompson-Okanagan

More than half of the new housing built in the Thompson-Okanagan’s five largest cities in recent years has gone up in Kelowna.

The region’s largest and most expensive city continues to surpass its neighbours when it comes to new housing and other construction.

From 2018 to 2021 there were 9,216 housing units created in Kelowna, or 53.7% of the 17,160 total for the five largest cities.

Kamloops, the region’s second largest city, was second with 3,280 (19,1%), Penticton had 1,680 (9.8%) Vernon had 1,508 (8.8%) and West Kelowna came in at 1,476 (8.6%).

READ MORE: BOOM TOWNS: All the new housing on the horizon in Okanagan, Kamloops

These numbers are based on figures published by each city and refer to how many units were created. It is not based on the number of building permits issued or the value of those permits.

Comparable data for the first half of 2021 is not available for Kelowna but the other four cities show 579 new housing units being created so far this year. That’s well behind the average of almost 2,000 for each of the previous four full years.

The City of Kelowna, in a report that went to council this year, shows a 19% drop in building permit value this year compared to the first half of 2021, which was a record-breaking year with $1.15 billion worth of building permits issued.

READ MORE: Construction taking a hit in Kelowna but still booming

To contact a reporter for this story, email Rob Munro or call 250-808-0143 or email the editor. You can also submitphotos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.