The construction industry appears to be rebounding after taking a big hit during the first year of the pandemic.
The RM of Corman Park and the cities of Warman and Martensville all recorded significant increases in the value of construction projects during the 12 months of 2021 compared to the previous year.
Reports from the municipalities’ planning departments to Corman Park, Martensville and Warman council meetings earlier this week showed that despite increases in lumber costs and shortages caused by supply-chain issues, more homes and commercial buildings are going up.
The RM of Corman Park saw a total of 288 construction projects worth a combined value of $91,975,308 get underway in 2021. That’s an increase of 67% from the $55,094,258 generated by 226 projects in 2020.
Last year’s construction value in Corman Park is also the second highest for the municipality over the past five years. The peak was in 2018, when the RM’s total value of construction reached $112,928,553.
The highest-valued residential construction project in Corman Park in 2021 was a $2 million addition to an existing home just outside Saskatoon’s southeast boundary. The biggest agricultural project was a $2 million horticultural greenhouse in Division 4 west of Saskatoon.
Other large projects included a $1.7 million fertilizer processing building east of Saskatoon and a $1 million addition and renovation to the historic Salvation Army camp dining hall at Beaver Creek.
The City of Warman also saw much healthier numbers for residential and commercial construction projects last year.
A total of 299 building permits, worth a combined total of $40,171,169 were issued in Warman between January 1,2021 and December 31, 2021.
The year before, there were 281 building permits issued overall, but the combined value of those projects was substantially lower at $26,193,709.
Warman saw 54 new single family homes and 14 multi-family dwellings built in 2021, worth a combined $26,916,900. In 2020, there were 48 new single family homes and six multi-family units built, with a combined value of $17,477,761.
The total value of the City of Martensville’s construction activity rose as well in 2021.
There were 220 development permits, worth a combined total of $20.1 million, issued in Martensville between January 1 and December 31, 2021. This compares to 244 development permits, worth $12.2 million, during the 12 months of 2020.
Martensville saw 13 new single family homes and 37 new multi-family dwellings built last year.