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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?

In late February and early March, we gathered input from the public about this and several other housing initiatives which aim to enable more homes and housing types in our city, to meet the diverse needs of people living in New Westminster today and into the future.

Visit the Our City, Our Homes Be Heard page stay up to date on the process, lean more about past community consultation, and 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!