Clarington has accounted for a fifth of all new residential construction in Durham between 2015 and 2019, according to the newly released 2019 Annual Growth Trends Review Report.
However, there was a significant decrease in total building permit values in 2019.
The report identifies emerging development-related issues and trends within Clarington. Building permit activity and other related data are used as indicators of housing and employment activity within Clarington, the level of local investment, and economic performance, said a council statement.
Highlights:
- Clarington made up 8.4 per cent of Durham Region’s residential building permit value and 4.4 per cent of Durham Region’s non-residential building permit value.
- Six residential building permits valued at over $1 million.
- 75 per cent of Clarington’s residential growth was within the built boundary.
- Between 2015 and 2019, 20 per cent of new residential construction in Durham Region was in Clarington.
- 14 non-residential building permits valued at over $1 million.
Clarington experienced a significant decrease in total building permit values in 2019, resulting in declines in the number of residential and non-residential building permits. These declines are consistent with trends observed across all lakeshore municipalities in Durham Region for 2019, apart from Whitby, said the statement.
Canadian market trends also suggest building construction peaked in 2017 with declining trends through 2019. New requirements in the Ontario Building Code also caused many builders to pull permits at the end of 2018, it added.
Stabilizing trends were originally forecast through 2020 and 2021. However, the economic impact of the unanticipated Covid-19 pandemic will require new assessment in next year’s report.
Overall, Clarington continues to see steady growth in jobs, households and population, leading to a healthy building economy. Various long-term projects, including the GO Train Extension, relocation of the Ontario Power Generation headquarters, and numerous Secondary Plans continue to support this growth.
The 2019 Growth Trends Review can be found on the Clarington’s website.
ALSO READ: