The past year was one of continued recovery in terms of new development across the RPGA (Rhineland, Plum Coulee, Gretna and Altona) Planning District.
Building activity was continuing to rebound across the district post pandemic, suggested planning manager Lucie Maynard.
“It was a year very similar to 2024. The numbers are rebounding,” she said. “Because of the economic worries of the last couple of years and the high building costs, there seemed to be a bit of a lull in building, but that’s been rebounding quite well … everything’s doing well.”
Highlights from the RPGA building permit statistics show Rhineland experienced a rise in permit applications, whereas Altona continued on a similar path as in 2024.
Notably, despite the increase in Rhineland’s permit applications in 2025, the total permit value declined. Conversely, although Altona issued slightly fewer permits than the previous year, their total value was higher.
Total combined building permits in Rhineland increased from 87 to 109, while Altona declined from 49 to 46. However, the development of the development saw Rhineland decrease from $35.6 million to $31.6 million, while Altona increased from $12 to $13 million.
This discrepancy is attributed to the implementation of the MSTW fee calculation, which establishes a square foot value for projects instead of permitting applicants to estimate the project’s value themselves.
A couple other highlights include the fact that the Altona numbers include 42 new residential units. There were 85 new residential units in the overall region and seven new businesses, including 43 new residential and six businesses in the RM of Rhineland.
“It’s continuing very well,” said Maynard. “I know a lot of the lots in Plum Coulee and Rosenfeld for the Rhineland side of things, I believe those have sold off. There’s only a couple empty lots left to be built on.”
Maynard added a number of development areas in Altona have also been starting to fill up nicely.
“And I guess now that the town is working on the Millennium Drive area, we should see a lot more of those permits coming in for this year for that area.”
She suggested it is encouraging to at least see residential growth seems to be holding steady.
“The demand is there for sure,” Maynard said. “Everybody in all the regions, probably even MSTW, is seeing the need for more housing, which in turn creates the need for jobs and such. They kind of play off each other for sure.”
She has also been encouraged by seeing several new businesses in the region.
“We’ve seen the more significant commercial growth there,” she said. “Hopefully, as the town puts in more of the infrastructure and the roads, I’m hoping to see a lot more development come from that way.”
Looking ahead, Maynard noted they have collaborated with Landmark Planning and Design to conduct a review of the development plan.
While there are no significant changes in the policy section of the document, some adjustments have been proposed in the mapping designations. The document is currently undergoing an information review by provincial departments prior to the scheduling of public hearings.
In addition, the RPGA has revised its building by-law and developed a new fee and charges by-law along with a comprehensive permit guide.
