The Province of B.C. has provided a six-month update on the first 10 priority communities selected for housing targets, indicating that more than 4,000 net new homes have been built since the targets were established in September 2023.
“People in B.C. are seeing more homes being built in their communities as municipalities progress toward achieving their housing targets,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Housing. “We are, as a province, starting to see progress with record levels of housing starts in 2023 and we are on pace to meet or exceed that level in 2024. We will continue to collaborate meaningfully with municipalities to encourage faster creation of homes so people can stay in the communities they love.”
Housing targets for the 10 priority communities were set in last September based on 75 per cent of each municipality’s estimated housing need. According to the Province, meeting these targets within five years will work toward addressing each community’s projected growth. The evaluation of progress included the assessment of net new units, policy actions, initiatives, innovative approaches and partnerships that municipalities put in place to create the conditions needed to increase housing supply. Communities such as Victoria and Port Moody have shown significant progress, delivering more townhouses, duplexes, triplexes and single family homes near public transit.
“We are gratified the City of Victoria is being recognized for its progress in meeting the Province’s housing target of 4,902 new homes over the next five years,” said Marianne Alto, mayor of Victoria. “Housing is a priority in city council’s 2023-26 strategic plan, reflecting our commitment to meeting the needs of our residents by offering a diverse range of housing options to ensure everyone has access to a place they can call home.”
Other communities are making good progress to meet their targets, while a few municipalities, such as Delta, the District of Oak Bay and the District of West Vancouver, were called out for falling behind. The government is encouraging these municipalities to expedite their processes and comply with the new requirements to ensure that housing is being built where it’s needed. Compliance measures may be taken if satisfactory progress is not made by the time annual progress reports are delivered. Municipalities are also encouraged to “explore and strengthen partnerships” with First Nations communities to support and deliver housing projects on First Nations lands. All actions taken to support the delivery of more housing will contribute to the evaluation of progress toward meeting targets.
In addition, housing targets for the second set of priority communities announced in April 2024 have been determined, driving tens of thousands more homes to be built in areas with the greatest needs. The following are the five-year targets:
- Central Saanich – 588 units
- Chilliwack – 4,594 units
- City of North Vancouver – 3,320 units
- Esquimalt – 754 units
- Kelowna – 8,774 units
- Maple Ridge – 3,954 units
- Nanaimo – 4,703 units
- Sidney – 468 units
- Surrey – 27,256 units
- White Rock – 1,067 units
The government says a total of 55,478 homes are expected to be delivered by the second set of communities, representing a 41 per cent increase in overall housing to be built over what was projected based on historical trends.
To learn more about the municipal housing targets, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/local-governments-and-housing/housing-targets
