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Infill Housing and Townhouse Accelerator Initiatives

Council’s 2023-2026 Strategic Priorities Plan identified Homes and Housing Options as a focus area. One of the outcomes identified in the Plan is Infill Housing: Allow for diverse housing options in all neighbourhoods of New Westminster. To deliver this outcome the City has initiated two programs: the Infill Housing Accelerator and the Townhouse Accelerator.

The Infill Housing Accelerator initiative will explore pre-zoning to permit up to six units of infill housing on single detached dwelling properties across most of the City. This work will support the intent of the Province’s small scale multi-unit housing legislation. However, this City initiative proposes going beyond what is mandating by the Province by considering allowing six units throughout most of the city, rather than only on sites in proximity to frequent transit, and by including sites already zoned to allow three units. Phase One of the Infill Housing Program was launched in 2017 after considerable community engagement, and includes policies that encourage laneway and carriage houses, and townhouses (strata) and rowhouses (fee-simple). These types of housing help increase housing choice in New Westminster, while laneway and carriage houses also contribute to the amount and diversity of available rental housing.

A Townhouse Accelerator initiative is also proposed. While the infill program would focus on facilitating redevelopment of individual lots, the goal of the townhouse program would be to facilitate the consolidation and redevelopment of more than one single detached dwelling property. In order to increase the number of new units constructed, this initiative would explore: allowing townhouses outright; increasing the density permitted; allowing lock-off units (e.g. secondary suites); and making regulatory and policy improvements based on lessons learned from past projects.

Click here to read the May 27, 2024 Council Report: Infill Housing and Townhouse Acceleration Work Plans.

For more information please contact the Planning Division by phone at 604-527-4532, or by email at . 

  • PAST WORK: PHASE ONE INFILL HOUSING

    Phase One of the Infill Housing Program was launched in 2017 after considerable community engagement, and includes policies that encourage laneway and carriage houses, and townhouses (strata) and rowhouses (fee-simple). These types of housing help increase housing choice in New Westminster, while laneway and carriage houses also contribute to the amount and diversity of available rental housing.

    A one year interim report was presented to Council in February 2019, which included a summary of the first year of the Infill Housing Program. At that time, some zoning changes were made to make the design of laneway and carriage houses, and infill townhouses and rowhouses easier. Read the Council report and Zoning Bylaw amendments to learn more. 

    In 2022, the City conducted a comprehensive review of Phase One of the Infill Housing Program in order to assess its successes and challenges. As part of this process, we surveyed the community. Thank you for providing your feedback.  Feedback gathered will also be considered in the Infill Housing and Townhouse Accelerator Initiatives. As an interim measure, to ensure that the feedback from community members and past applicants is acted upon, the City implemented the pilot Streamlined Guidelines for laneway and carriage houses. Visit the archived Be Heard New West page for past project Information.

    Interested in building a laneway or carriage house?

     

    Interested in building infill townhouses or rowhouses?

     

  • Interim Development Review Policy

    Applicants interested in building duplexes, triplexes and quadraplexes have two options:

    1. Wait until the full Program is developed. At which point we will be able to provide more clarity and guidance to applicants and likely a shorter application process.
       
    2. Apply as a pilot project. Pilot projects will help us understand which regulations, guidelines, and approval process to include in the program. Pilot projects would be subject to thoughtful design, site planning and landscaping review, and likely a longer application process. Applications that don’t meet the requirements outlined in the Interim Policy will have to wait for the full Program to be developed.
       

    It is recommended that applicants who wish to proceed as a pilot project contact the City to set up a pre-application meeting at which time a Planner will evaluate and advise whether the application is consistent with the Interim Policy. At this meeting the Planner can also discuss with you the application requirements and approval process, and answer any questions you may have.

    Click here to see the Interim Development Review Policy: Duplexes, Triplexes and Quadraplexes.

    Regulations and guidelines for small or compact lot subdivision were not included in the first phase of the Infill Housing Program, as single detached dwellings are already well-represented in the city’s current housing stock. Although this form of infill could be examined at a future date, at this time staff is not recommending small or compact lot applications to Council.