New Westminster's Bold Step Toward Affordable Housing

On January 27, 2025, the New Westminster City Council held a workshop to review city staff’s presentation on Phase One of the Accelerated Affordable Housing Plan. This initiative is designed to fast-track the development of affordable housing in response to British Columbia’s ongoing housing crisis.

The province has been facing a severe housing shortage, with estimates indicating a need for at least 114,000 new housing units annually to meet demand. In response, the provincial government has enacted legislation to facilitate the construction of small-scale multi-unit housing across communities. In November 2023, legislation was introduced to encourage the development of such housing types throughout the province.

In alignment with these efforts, New Westminster has committed to enabling 2,300 new housing units by January 2027. This goal is supported by the Housing Accelerator Fund, which seeks to boost the housing supply by streamlining key initiatives and improving planning and development processes.

The city’s Affordable Housing Acceleration Initiative aims to remove regulatory barriers through amendments to the city-wide Zoning Bylaw and Official Community Plan. These changes are intended to speed up the approval and construction of non-profit housing projects, increasing the availability of affordable rental units.

Local residents have voiced their support for these initiatives. Pamela Sesk of the New Westminster Homelessness Coalition remarked, "It's crucial for cities like ours to develop effective strategies to create more housing. The combination of provincial support and municipal action is a positive step toward addressing the housing shortage."

As New Westminster advances Phase One of its Accelerated Affordable Housing Plan, the collaboration between provincial policies and municipal initiatives highlights a comprehensive approach to tackling British Columbia’s housing crisis.