Surrey’s Housing Action Plan ahead of schedule
Moving forward with next round of funding from Housing Accelerator Fund
Surrey, BC – At tonight’s Regular Council meeting, a progress report on the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) Action Plan will be presented to Surrey City Council. Since the launch of the Action Plan in Feb. 2024, the City has implemented more than 25 major process improvements to accelerate housing approvals and development. The improvements focus on reducing timelines, increasing efficiency, and supporting the community. On Jan. 27, 2025, the City received the full second progress installment of $23.9 million from the HAF, and has now received 50% of the $95.6 million, with two more payments remaining.
“I am pleased that all eight of our year one initiatives are completed, with the remaining items either ahead of or on schedule,” said Mayor Brenda Locke. “In year two, the Housing Action Plan will focus on the continued streamlining of the approval process. Council recognizes the urgent need for affordable and a diverse range of housing. The progress we are making on the HAF Action Plan ensures we are on target for increasing the housing supply in Surrey both in the short and long term.”
Year two of the City Action Plan will focus on the modernization of the approval process, including policy enhancements, expanded professional reliance, more online permitting enhancements, and increased data-driven decisions to guide proactive actions. Four of the eight initiatives are ahead of schedule, with the remaining four initiatives progressing are on schedule. The full list of year two priorities can be found on the City’s website.
“Since the implementation of the Housing Action Plan, City staff have been working towards the common goal of streamlining development, improving our processes and delivering service excellence,” said Ron Gill, General Manager of Planning & Development. “I’m extremely proud of the initiatives our team has completed to date, and look forward to progressing our year two priorities, which will include a diverse range of enhancements, from further modernization of our permit approval process to updated multifamily zones and more flexible zoning parameters. These enhancements are intended to further streamline the development and permitting process.”
On December 4, 2023, the City received approval for 95.6 million from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation for the Housing Accelerator Fund. Surrey’s HAF Action Plan outlined eight initiatives aimed at increasing the housing supply and supporting affordable housing projects.
Visit our website for ongoing development and permitting improvements in Surrey.