The construction of new homes is showing no signs of slowing down in the Rural Municipality of Hanover. 

Planning Manager Jeremy Neufeld reminds us that 2021 was a record year for construction in their municipality. Through the first six months last year, Hanover issued 72 permits for residential construction, totalling nearly $22 million. Through the same period in 2022, the municipality has issued 78 permits worth more than $29 million.

Neufeld says there is a new hot spot when it comes to the community with the most new housing starts. At this point last year it was Blumenort, but in 2022, Mitchell is the leader once again. 

Neufeld says there is a lot of activity right now on the east end of Mitchell, north of the new Co-op. He notes that development is sold out and they are just awaiting construction on some of those lots. There is also development happening on the north end of Mitchell in the Parkside Crescent subdivision. And, Neufeld says anyone who has driven north of Mitchell recently, should have seen the clubhouse built in the Prairie Oaks modular home village. 

Modular home development in Mitchell

"We're expecting to see the first units rolling in at some point this year," says Neufeld, referring to Prairie Oaks. "It's a multi-phased development that will represent approximately 200 housing units when that is completed."

From January 1st to June 30th of this year, there were permits pulled for 28 new housing starts in Mitchell, 23 in Kleefeld, 12 in the rural area, 11 in New Bothwell and four in Blumenort. 

In terms of overall construction, those numbers are down from 2021. Through the first six months of 2022, there were 219 permits taken out, totalling $39.4 million dollars, compared to 267 permits for the same period last year, for $40.3 million.

"We are following on the heels of an absolute record year," says Neufeld. "So this is still a very good year by all accounts."