Kamloops construction activity down in September

KAMLOOPS – The number of building permits, construction starts and the value of construction last month in Kamloops are all down when compared to the same month last year.

After a strong start to the year, September is the first month to see declines across the board with the exception of year to date totals which are still higher in 2015 than 2014.

There were 18 single family housing permits issued in September, almost half of the 32 issued in 2014. Permits for multi-family housing also dropped with 11 issued last month compared to 18 in September of 2014.

The city issued 29 residential permits for new units, additions and alterations in September compared with 50 issued during the same month in 2014.

Kamloops is still ahead of last year’s residential permit totals, but the gap has closed considerably. The city has issued 384 residential permits this year, 58 more than in the first nine months of 2014.

In total, there were 135 permits issued last month with a value of just over $11 million. In September 2014 there were 199 permits issued at a value of roughly $18 million.

Year to date 1,315 permits valued at roughly $148 million have been issued. By comparison, 1,184 permits were issued during the same time period in 2014, but for a greater value at just over $154 million.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Dana Reynolds at dreynolds@infonews.ca or call   250-819-6089. To contact an editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call   250-718-2724.