2020: A RECORD YEAR FOR CONSTRUCTION IN KENT

Bouctouche, February 24, 2021—Though it was not predictable—especially during a global pandemic and all the challenges that accompany such an outbreak—Kent region has experienced a record year for building permits. The value of building permits for 2020 came in at $38,542,060, an increase of $12,845,760 from 2019.

The building permits for 2020 can be dispersed in categories as follows: Accessory buildings being dominant with 207 permits, followed closely by 202 renovations permits. We then add 108 dwelling permits, 4 demolition permits, 4 commercial permits and finally 2 agriculture-related permits. There were a total of 527 permits emitted in 2020.

Unchanged by the pandemic was the tendency to have more building permits emitted in the local services districts (LSDs) of Kent than the municipalities; there were 333 permits emitted in the LSDs with a value of $25,724,360, and there were 194 permits emitted in the municipalities with a value of $12,817,700.

The Rural Community of Cocagne was the municipality with the most construction activity among the municipalities of Kent with 52 permits worth $4,216,000. Within the Local Service Districts of the Kent Region, the LSDs of Wellington and Grande-Digue were the most active with $5,546,800 in building permit values with 40 permits and 62 permits worth $3,148,500.

“We are certainly surprised to see those numbers considering the reality that we have all experienced in 2020. Surprised, but also very happy to see our region continuing its growth in terms of development,” observes KRSC’s Chairwoman, Pierrette Robichaud. “The KRSC has done an exceptional job in ensuring the continuity of service delivery during all alert levels associated with COVID-19. The employees of the Planning Department have much to be proud of in this record year,” she concluded.

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