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2025 OCP Housing Update

Work on this project is ongoing. Check this page and the City's Be Heard page City's Be Heard page for updates, and information on what we heard through engagement and how it will shape housing initiatives moving forward.

The City is making updates to our Official Community Plan (OCP) to align with several new housing initiatives and Provincial legislative changes. The updates aim to enable well-located homes that meet the diverse housing needs of our growing community.

The Official Community Plan provides a vision, goals and policies for New Westminster that guide decisions on planning and land use management. It includes land use designations, development permit area guidelines, and policy initiatives and strategies. Click here to view the current Plan and learn more about how it works.

Project Details 

The updates being made to our Official Community Plan are focused on housing. They will align City land use policy with legislated changes from the Province, and integrate a number of housing initiatives led by the City and funded by the Canada Housing and Mortgage Corporation (CMHC) through the Housing Accelerator Fund. The key changes to the Plan can be grouped into five areas of work:

  1. Updating land use designations and Development Permit Area boundaries for properties within the Province’s Transit Oriented Development Areas (TOD Areas) and properties impacted by the Small Scale Multi Unit Housing legislation;
  2. Integrating the 20 year housing need identified in the 2024 Interim Housing Needs Report, as required by the Province. This includes ensuring the land use plan allows for the total amount of new housing units our community needs over 20 years;
  3. Drafting a new Regional Context Statement to align with the latest Regional Growth Strategy from the regional government, Metro Vancouver;
  4. Aligning with the City’s Community Energy and Emissions Plan 2050 (CEEP) and 2050 greenhouse gas reduction targets, as required by the Local Government Act; and
  5. Integrating the OCP related changes from the CMHC funded Infill Housing Accelerator, Townhouse Accelerator and Affordable Housing Accelerator programs.

Timeline

  • WINTER 2024 | Discovery
    • Project scoping
    • Background research and analysis
  • SPRING 2025 | Listening
    • Engagement with the community
  • SUMMER 2025 | Developing
    • Drafting the policies and bylaws
    • Beginning the legislation process
  • FALL 2025 | Completing
    • Finalizing the document and Council consideration

In the Province’s new legislation, municipalities are required to update their Official Community Plans by December 31, 2025. In New Westminster, the work is planned to be completed for fall 2025. 

How Do I Participate?

Community consultation on this project is now complete. Visit the Our City, Our Homes Be Heard page to lean more about past community consultation, or ask a question. 

You can also sign up for CityPage Online, follow the City on X or ‘like’ the City on Facebook. These are great ways to stay connected to hear about what's happening at the City!

  • Our City, our homes Engagement (2025)

    In Spring 2025, the City carried out community engagement through Our City, Our Homes – an initiative focused on how different housing types can fit into New Westminster’s neighbourhoods. The goal of engagement was to help residents learn more about proposed changes to the City’s housing programs, while also inviting them to share feedback on proposed housing types, including in Transit Oriented Development transition areas. Residents had the opportunity to ask questions, and share concerns and hopes about the future of housing through these programs.

    Key Findings

    Participants indicated general support for:

    • Allowing infill housing, townhouses and apartments in Tiers 2 and 3 of TOD Areas (73% support)
    • Allowing townhouses and apartments in Tiers 2 and 3 of the TOD Areas (71%)
    • Extending the TOD Area boundaries when certain principles apply (70% support)

    Participants indicated there is not much support for allowing only apartments in Tier 2 and 3 of the TOD Area (54% did not support).

    Overall, those that participated in the engagement activities shared they want to see more variety of housing types other than apartments in TOD transition areas.

    To view all engagement materials and the full engagement summary report, visit the Our City, Our Homes Be Heard page.

  • Resources

  • Contact

    Housing and Land Use Planning
    604-527-4532
    plnpost@newwestcityca