City of New Westminster beats legislated housing target by nearly two times
The City of New Westminster has exceeded its provincial housing target for the first year, completing nearly double the number of new homes required under the Government of British Columbia’s legislated Housing Supply Act.
Between August 1, 2024 and July 31, 2025, a total of 1,175 housing units were completed within the jurisdiction — far surpassing the Year 1 provincial mandate of recording 656 net new units reaching a state of completion. Of the new homes delivered, 59 per cent were ownership units while 41 per cent were secured purpose-built rentals.
The completions included 552 two-bedroom units and 146 three- and four-bedroom units, reflecting a strong push to increase family-sized housing.
- You might also like:
- BC government orders New Westminster, Port Coquitlam, and Langley City to add 8,600 homes over the next five years through 2029
- City of New Westminster receives over $11 million from federal Housing Accelerator Fund
- Nearly 6,500 homes reach completion in Surrey, exceeding first-year legislated housing targets by 53%
- Three Metro Vancouver cities rewarded with extra federal housing funding for 'top performance'
- Burnaby, Coquitlam, Langley Township, and Richmond ordered to catalyze 30,000 new homes by B.C. government
- New plan to add 30,000 residents at SkyTrain station in New Westminster
“Increasing the housing supply and housing options has been a focus for City Council for many years, and the City of New Westminster has a strong track record of supporting new homes,” said New Westminster Mayor Patrick Johnstone in a statement today.
“Exceeding the Province’s year one housing target shows our commitment to tackling the housing crisis and advancing Council’s strategic plan.”
Much of the housing delivered in the past year came from the completion of two large-scale developments: the One Fifty Braid tower with 423 rental homes, approved in 2022, and the landmark Pier West towers with 665 condominium homes, first approved in 2014.
Now impossible to miss on the downtown New Westminster waterfront, the 584-ft-tall and 472-ft-tall Pier West towers are now the tallest buildings in the city.
In addition to the completed units, the City approved a further 1,088 homes during the same period, including 141 below-market rental units. Building permits were also issued for 52 supportive housing units.
City officials emphasized that while approvals are essential to meeting long-term goals, the pace of actual completions ultimately depends on developers and prevailing market conditions.
“City staff have been working hard on housing for many years, and many of the projects completed this year were already well underway before housing targets were set by the Province,” said Serena Trachta, Deputy Director of Building, for the City.
“We remain committed to finding every opportunity to speed up approvals and support the delivery of a wide range of housing options across New Westminster.”
Beyond the completed and approved units, the City also highlighted several initiatives aimed at accelerating housing delivery and diversifying options. Recent efforts include adding 30,000 residents to the city within the 22nd Street Station Area Long Range Vision, the Affordable Housing Accelerator program, and an overhaul of the development application process to streamline approvals.
Over 1,000 additional homes are currently in various stages of the construction pipeline within the jurisdiction.
New Westminster was among the third list of 10 cities with legislated new housing supply targets, announced in Summer 2024.
Over five years through 2029, it has been given a quota of 4,432 new net homes to meet, including 2,133 ownership units and 2,298 secured purpose-built rental units, with 1,109 market rental units and 1,189 below-market units. As well, the municipal government should catalyze 67 supportive housing units.
The overall unit size mix of the target order is 2,423 studio and one-bedroom units, 832 two-bedroom units, and 1,176 three-bedroom units.
Last week, the provincial government announced the legislated new housing supply targets for the fourth list of 10 cities, including the major jurisdictions of Burnaby, Coquitlam, Langley Township, and Richmond.
Concept for transit-oriented development at SkyTrain 22nd Street Station. (City of New Westminster)
- You might also like:
- BC government orders New Westminster, Port Coquitlam, and Langley City to add 8,600 homes over the next five years through 2029
- City of New Westminster receives over $11 million from federal Housing Accelerator Fund
- Nearly 6,500 homes reach completion in Surrey, exceeding first-year legislated housing targets by 53%
- Three Metro Vancouver cities rewarded with extra federal housing funding for 'top performance'
- Burnaby, Coquitlam, Langley Township, and Richmond ordered to catalyze 30,000 new homes by B.C. government
- New plan to add 30,000 residents at SkyTrain station in New Westminster