The City of Delta has reached a deal with the federal government to fast-track construction of 424 new homes over the next three years.
On Monday (Jan. 20), Delta MP Carla Qualtrough and acting mayor Dylan Kruger announced the city is receiving $14.2 million through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation-administered Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF). Delta is the first recipient announced as part of the second round of HAF funding.
"The City of Delta is one of many communities across the country grappling with the pressures of the housing crisis, and this funding will provide much-needed support as we work to build housing and grow sustainably,” Kruger said in a press release.
“On behalf of Delta council, I want to extend our sincere thanks to the Government of Canada, through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, for their critical investment as we work to address the housing needs of our community."
The government’s investment will support seven new initiatives included in the city’s action plan that together are designed to make it easier to build more homes faster, according to a press release.
Included in these initiatives is the establishment of a building permit fee incentive program which, once implemented, the city says will help to “encourage efficient construction” — particularly of purpose-built rentals, affordable housing, missing middle and other in-demand housing types.
Other actions in the plan include creating an accessory dwelling program to increase infill housing; reducing parking requirements; modernizing zoning to streamline development approvals; enabling development of affordable non-market housing on civic and institutional lands through land inventories, financial incentives, capacity building and strategic partnerships; and using artificial intelligence and other technological improvements to streamline developmental approvals.
These initiatives, supported by HAC funding, are expected to spur the construction of 4,100 new homes over the next decade.
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"Building more homes for people in Delta, faster — that's how your federal government is solving the housing crisis. Working with Delta, we are going to make sure families have a safe, affordable place to live," Qualtrough said in a press release.
The city says the new initiatives will build upon ongoing work to support housing development in Delta, as part of its goal to “build housing and grow sustainably,” one of five goals and priorities adopted by council at the end of 2023.
In December council received a report from city staff outlining tangible steps taken in 2024 to encourage the construction of housing, including adopting a new housing-focused Official Community Plan, updating Delta’s Zoning Bylaw to enable small-scale multi-unit housing, revising the Agricultural 1 Zone, and submitting a significantly-revised HAF application after being denied the grant in 2023.
Looking ahead to 2025, the city plans to further update its zoning bylaws, review development fees, review policies around rental stock protection and amenity contributions, and report on its Housing Action Plan progress.
Meanwhile, the city must add 537 net new homes by Sept. 30, 2025 in order to meet its next provincially-mandated housing target of 1,098 net new units.
Under a ministerial order that came into effect Oct. 1, 2023, the city is obliged to add 3,607 net new housing units (completed homes, as measured by occupancy permits issued minus any units demolished) by Sept. 30, 2028. The target represents 75 per cent of the identified housing need in Delta.
The order also sets annual cumulative benchmarks the city must meet along the way and requires the city report on its progress, both in terms of completed units and steps taken to ensure it meets the housing targets.
On Oct. 21, council received a progress report covering the first reporting period (Oct. 1, 2023 to Sept. 30, 2024) that showed the city added 561 net new units, exceeding its year-one target of 514.
Furthermore, the report highlighted “strong efforts” made towards approving projects at all stages of development over that span, with council giving third reading to 1,847 applications, final approval to 572, and the city issuing two development permits and 1,166 building permits.
The report also said no projects had been denied approval during those 12 months.
READ MORE: Delta made some big changes in 2024 to encourage development
