Value of building permits up in Calgary

The estimated construction value of building permit applications so far this year is up 70 per cent over last year, with non-residential projects leading the way, city officials say.

By the end of March, the city had already approved $1.3 billion in projects. The total was $761 million at the same time in 2010.

Big-ticket, non-residential construction projects are pushingthe numbers higher, officials said.

Non-residential values are way up this yearlargely because of an airport terminal improvement project that is worth over $600 million, the city said.

Twice as many projects worth over $1 million were given the green light inMarch compared tooneyear ago.

"This March was busy with 46 new projects valued over $1 million ranging in everything from office improvements to new fire halls, manufacturing, warehousing, apartments and townhouse projects," said David Watson, the city's general manager for planning, development and assessment.

In March last year there were only 23 projects valued over $1 million, he said.

Despite the overall upward trend, March 2011 was slower than the month is typically.

The city approved $307 million worth of permits in March 2011, down 11 per cent from the same month in 2010.

The March 2011 total is also down seven per cent compared to the five- and ten-year averages, which are both about $331 million.