B.C. targets 6 Lower Mainland municipalities to deliver more homes, faster

The province is releasing the names of the municipalities it has selected to build more homes, faster, by setting housing targets.

In an announcement Wednesday, B.C.’s Ministry of Housing says the Housing Supply Act will pave the way for “building more good homes in areas with the greatest need throughout British Columbia.”

In the Lower Mainland, six municipalities have been included; the City of Abbotsford, the City of Delta, the District of North Vancouver, the City of Port Moody, the City of Vancouver, and the District of West Vancouver.

Regionally, the list also includes Kamloops, Oak Bay, Saanich, and Victoria.

“The housing crisis is hurting people and holding back our economy, and we’re taking action with our partners to cut red tape and get homes built faster for people. Municipalities are our critical partners in addressing the housing crisis and building healthy, economically viable communities,” said Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon. “Our government is eager to work with this first cohort of municipalities to get shovels in the ground faster and ensure the homes people need get built.”

 

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The province notes that the set housing targets will “encourage” municipalities to address construction barriers, including zoning bylaws, and amending local development approval processes.

The communities outlined by the province were chosen using “an objective and data-based process,” the province says, using an index that prioritizes the urgency of housing needs, the availability of the housing supply, and the “unrealized” potential for more homes, along with housing affordability in the municipality.

The province is set to consult with the selected 10 municipalities to set the housing targets.

“Once targets are set, the Province will monitor progress and work with municipalities to help address any barriers. To support implementation, the Province will continue to help local governments speed up local approval processes through the continued implementation of the development approvals process review, as well as the Province’s work accelerating and streamlining provincial permitting across multiple ministries and developing a new digital permitting process,” the province said in a release.

“The housing challenges we see today aren’t just limited to one municipality, they impact our region and province as a whole. It’s great to see the provincial government taking an increased leadership role in ensuring the delivery of more housing across the province,” said Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim.

“In the last six months, Vancouver has made significant headway in breaking down long-standing barriers to housing approval and construction. We hope our progress can inspire other communities across British Columbia to take bold action on housing.”

The province says another group of eight to 10 municipalities will be chosen under the same program later this year.