Considerable growth is occurring in the North Okanagan’s five electoral areas.
Until July 30, the Regional District of North Okanagan has issued 130 building permits worth $22 million so far this year. That compares to 87 permits worth $14.6 million during the first seven months of 2014.
“The recovery continues,” said Bob Fleming, Electoral Area Advisory Committee chairperson.
The largest jump is in BX-Silver Star, where 29 permits worth $9.2 million have been issued. That is up from 26 permits at $4.3 million during the same period in 2014.
Much of that activity can be attributed to expansion of a church and the BX-Swan Lake fire hall.
Year to date, building permit values in the BX-Swan Lake electoral area have gone from $1.9 to $2.8 million, while they have climbed from $4.6 to $6.5 million in rural Enderby.
In Cherryville, 10 permits worth $1.2 million were handed out until July 30 compared to five worth $863,800 during the first seven months of 2014.
Rural Lumby has remained fairly stable, with 20 permits at $2.07 million compared to 17 units at $2.9 million last year.
The permits are mostly residential but there are also commercial activities.
Fleming says the construction not only bolsters the economy but provides new residents and amenities that add to the sustainability of the rural areas.
“Everything is trending in the right direction.”
