Winnipeg building boom may echo into 2022: industry

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This article was published 14/05/2021 (1075 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Home builds and renovations are enjoying a pandemic boom in Winnipeg, with industry members predicting the trend will continue well into next year.

“We expect that these high levels of residential permits, both on new construction and home renovation, will continue throughout 2021 and well into 2022,” Lanny McInnes, president of the Manitoba Home Builders’ Association, told city council’s finance committee Friday.

McInnes said he expects the demand for residential construction, which continues despite pandemic-caused delays and a sudden surge in lumber prices, should be “a key driver of Winnipeg’s economic recovery” from COVID-19.

Darryl Harrison, a director with the Winnipeg Construction Association, told the committee his members saw a 40 per cent increase in residential permits this year to date, compared to the same period last year.

“We see a huge demand for permits and inspections right now… and there’s a definite need for improved service on permit processing and inspections,” he said.

The comments came as the finance committee considered a request to approve $900,000 of extra funding for the planning department. The department says it would allow it to hire about 22 more temporary staff to handle the surge.

A planning report says the number of applications has risen 30 per cent higher this year than by this point of 2020, while call volumes doubled during the same period.

The finance committee unanimously voted to give final approval to the request.

Coun. Scott Gillingham (St. James) said the department is about two weeks behind in permit processing, a backlog the new employees could help reduce.

Gillingham said the residential construction boost offers a glimmer of hope for economic recovery from COVID-19, amid major losses in other sectors.

“If this renovation, construction (and) new building permit activity continues into 2022, it’s very good news for the City of Winnipeg. It means people have jobs… (and) there’s spinoffs to other sectors of the economy,” he said.

The department said the new staffing cost will be covered through a boost in 2021 permit revenues, which are now expected to rise $4 million above what the city budget had predicted.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga