2023 Building Permit Values: Brantford Breaks Records Once More

by Jeff Meiusi

In 2023, annual building permit values in Brantford set another new record and exceeded $550 million for the first time. For the past few years the City experienced a steady climb in values. Going back nearly 20 years, Brantford building permit reached $211.8 million in 2005. Since that time, however, annual construction values remained below $200 million until 2020 when they hit $255.2 million. From that point, such permit values continued to increase to $472.3 million in 2021, to $538.1 million in 2022, and to $550.9 million last year.

Industrial, commercial and institutional numbers remained strong as housing permits declined in 2023. There were 1,481 houses, apartments, and multi-unit homes built in 2022 compared to 611 in 2023. Single-detached home numbers dropped from 452 new builds in 2022 to 183 in 2023. Brantford is one of several Ontario communities for which the province has set a housing target. The set goal locally is the creation of 10,000 new units in 10 years. Combined in 2022 and 2023, around 2,100 permits were issued in a pace that set the community on track for this goal.

Industrial builds were a standout in 2023 with construction values estimated at $196 million for 43 projects. This represented a three-fold increase in the value of work over 2022. Along those lines, institutional and government permits also significantly eclipsed the previous year with 36 permits issued for construction estimated at $101.8 million and a sharp increase over last year’s $12.9 million.

Following are some project highlights from 2023:

Industrial: Barry Callebaut, Bowery Road, $93 million.
Institutional: a six-storey retirement home and three-storey long-term care home, Lynden Road, $70 million.
Commercial: Costco, Lynden Park Mall, $33.5 million.
Industrial: Mitsui High-Tec, Fen Ridge, $25 million.
Industrial: warehouse, 151 Garden Ave., $32.4 million.
Industrial: Metrus Construction, Fen Ridge, $16 million.
Residential: LIV, several permits including townhomes on Colborne St. West, $21 million.

- Brantford Advantage