The Municipality of Summerland has seen an increase in construction activity, according to the latest building permit statistics.

In January, 19 building permits were issued, with a total construction value of $6,763,650.

This is the highest January building permit value in at least the past five years and is noticeably up from January 2024 and January 2023.

In January 2024, Summerland issued 10 building permits with a total construction value of $1.92 million, while in January 2023, Summerland issued 11 building permits with a total construction value of $1,208,058.

鈥淲e鈥檙e definitely off to a good start in January,鈥� said Brad Dollevoet, director of development services for Summerland.

The largest building permit issued in January was for $4.5 million, for the renovation of the Summerland Middle School building. This building will be modified to serve as an elementary school.

Two permits, with a combined value of $1.5 million, were issued for the construction of single family homes.

A permit was also issued in January for the demolition of the Summerland United Church building. The building has been demolished to allow for the construction of a five-storey subsidized housing project at the same location.

The housing project, by Turning Point Collaborative, will include 60 residential units, with 30 per cent of the units at market rental and the remaining 70 per cent of the units as income-based supportive housing.

As a condition of Summerland council鈥檚 approval, a Section 219 covenant will be registered on title to ensure the building does not become an emergency shelter in the future.

The building permit for the housing project is expected to be issued in February.

Dollevoet said February鈥檚 statistics are expected to show significant building permit activity.

In addition to the building permits issued in January, Summerland鈥檚 development services department has received several planning applications.

One is for a non-farm use application from the Agricultural Land Commission for the Okanagan Food and Innovation Hub and LocalMotive Farmers Cooperative, to be located at 15815 Hwy. 97.  A rezoning request for this property will go to a public hearing on March 4. 

A rezoning application for 17013 Sanborn Ave. has also come to the development services department.

Building permit and development application statistics are compiled each month.

In 2024, Summerland issued a total of 194 building permits, with a total construction value of $35,189,132.