Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Brantford is projecting that 2020 will be its best-ever year for construction.

On June 15, the city released its report on construction activity for May 2020. The report shows a substantial increase in not only the value of permits issued compared to the same month in 2019, but also permit volumes for the year to date of more than double that of the first five months of 2019.

“While the 2020 construction year has been challenging for the construction and development community in general due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Brantford has continued to see significant record setting growth, not only for the month of May, but for the year to date,” said Andy McMahon, the city’s acting chief building official and director of building services.

The city’s report for May 2020 shows a construction value of more than $41.6 million across 94 issued permits. That figure was more than three times the $13.3 million worth of permits issued in May 2019, and far exceeds the five-year average for construction value in the month of May.

The greatest activity in the city occurred in the industrial sector with a total construction value of $26 million, compared to $2.3 million in May 2019. The single-detached dwellings sector recorded a total construction value of $13.6 million in May 2020, compared with $7.7 million in May 2019. Demand for commercial permits was lower—with just two permits issued for a combined $120,000, while no permits were issued for institutional and government work.

The single largest permit issued in the city was for $15.4 million for construction of a new warehouse at 15 Kraemer’s Way. Other noteworthy permits include a partial permit for the construction of the site servicing, foundation and structural steel for a new truck storage garage for Brantford Power at 150 Savannah Oaks Drive. That permit was valued at $6 million. Another permit for a warehouse building at 131 Savannah Oaks Drive was valued at $2.1, and a third permit—for $1.6 million—was issued for an addition to Grissin Bon Limited’s manufacturing building at 43 Roy Boulevard.

The nearly $143.6 million worth of permits issued through May 2020 is more than double the $65.7 million issued over the same period in 2019. For the year, the city has issued a total of 430 building permits.