8 new housing developments breaking ground in BC

Published October 24, 2025

British Columbia’s housing demand isn’t letting up, and the construction industry is right in the thick of it. With supply still lagging behind population growth, especially in cities such as Vancouver, Victoria, and Kelowna, the province is doubling down on multifamily and affordable housing developments. These new housing developments in BC are a window into where funding is flowing, what materials are in demand, and how local governments are accelerating timelines.

In this article, we’re taking a closer look at eight new housing developments in BC starting construction in 2025, including North Vancouver’s Lonsdale project and a $50 million complex in Saanich. Whether you’re on the tools or managing budgets, these are the builds to watch.

New housing developments in BC currently under construction

Project 1 – Lonsdale BC Builds Housing (North Vancouver)

Lonsdale BC Builds Housing project on 225 East 2nd Street, North Vancouver rendering.

Photo courtesy of https://news.bchousing.org/

Location: 225 East 2nd Street, North Vancouver
Units: 180 rental homes
Expected timeline: Construction began in spring 2025; completion expected in 2027

This mid-rise project is led by the City of North Vancouver and the Province through the BC Builds initiative, in partnership with Catalyst Community Developments Society. The goal is to provide rental housing targeted at middle-income earners—especially those working in health care, trades, and emergency services. One of the impressive features is the fast-tracked development process; the City offered up the land and slashed permitting times, reducing what would typically be a years-long approval process to just months.

Construction crews are working on a concrete structure with a mix of studio to three-bedroom units. While the exterior maintains a modest footprint to match the surrounding low-rise neighborhood, the building will feature bike storage, shared green space, and energy-efficient envelope systems. With high demand for labor on-site, this project has already pulled contractors from other Lower Mainland builds.

Project 2 – Michigan Square Redevelopment (Victoria)

Michigan Square Redevelopment in Victoria rendering

Photo courtesy of https://news.bchousing.org/

Location: 330-336 Michigan Street, Victoria
Units: 97
Expected timeline: Broke ground in June 2025; anticipated completion in late 2026

The Capital Region Housing Corporation’s (CRHC) $64 million redevelopment of Michigan Square in James Bay is replacing aging public housing with a two-building, six-story rental complex. These concrete-framed structures are designed to offer a mix of income-based and near-market rentals for families, seniors, and people with disabilities. What makes this project different is the site reuse strategy—it maximizes a tight urban footprint while doubling the original housing count.

The project incorporates passive solar orientation and upgraded insulation systems to limit long-term energy costs. Triple-glazed windows, rooftop solar panels, and deep overhangs demonstrate an emphasis on longevity over trendiness. The units are constructed with modular interior elements that enable flexible partitioning tailored to tenant needs. CRHC is handling project management in-house, with Farmer Construction Group leading the site work.

Project 3 – Saanich Affordable Housing (Nigel Valley)

Saanich Affordable Housing (Nigel Valley) rendering

Photo courtesy of https://news.bchousing.org/

Location: 856 Nigel Avenue, Saanich
Units: 95
Expected timeline: Started spring 2025; full occupancy by early 2027

This $50 million building is one of the cornerstones of the Nigel Valley redevelopment in Saanich, funded by BC Housing and operated by Garth Homer Foundation. Aimed at adults with developmental disabilities and other support needs, the project brings supported housing into a dense, mixed-use neighborhood near Uptown Mall.

The six-story build uses wood-frame construction above a concrete podium. The site incorporates universal design principles, including wider doorways, low-threshold showers, and fully wheelchair-accessible shared spaces. From a construction angle, the logistics of working within the multi-phase Nigel Valley redevelopment add complexity. Crews are coordinating with other overlapping builds in the same area, including 24/7 site access for essential support workers during the construction period. The build reflects a push toward purpose-built housing that can support long-term care models.

Project 4 – Station Street Housing Project (Kamloops)

Location: 48 Station Street, Kamloops
Units: 50
Expected timeline: Construction began in July 2025; move-in expected late 2026

This four-story housing project on Station Street adds low-barrier, supportive units to Kamloops’ downtown core. It’s being developed through BC Housing, ASK Wellness Society, and the City of Kamloops. The lot was previously vacant, and the project represents a shift in how smaller BC cities are addressing housing shortages—focusing on accessible builds in central areas.

Wood framing and pre-fabricated wall panels are helping reduce build time. The design features 24-hour staffing space, integrated health support rooms, and a commercial kitchen, offering on-site meals. From a construction perspective, the site required significant soil stabilization due to its past industrial use, including the installation of new underground utility systems and stormwater drainage upgrades. The location puts pressure on crews to reduce noise and debris spillover, since it borders an active business corridor.

Project 5 – The Confluence (Kamloops)

Photo courtesy of https://news.bchousing.org/

Location: 346 Campbell Avenue, Kamloops
Units: 80
Expected timeline: Broke ground mid‑2025; scheduled for completion in early 2026

The Confluence is a six‑storey, mixed‑use development in downtown Kamloops built in partnership with BC Housing, the City of Kamloops, and ASK Wellness Society. Designed for seniors and families with low to moderate incomes, the building offers one-, two-, and three-bedroom rentals—20 percent of which feature accessible layouts—helping to bridge Kamloops’ housing gap. Construction uses the traditional wood‑frame over concrete podium method. The project site is situated at the convergence of two river valleys, which informed both the naming and design intent: amenity spaces are oriented toward natural views and public pathways. ASK Wellness Society will manage the facility, providing supportive programming for residents.

From a builder’s perspective, the six‑storey height required engineered wood panels for lateral load resistance; crews coordinated trades for post‑tensioned concrete podium systems and mechanical bottom-up assemblies. Community stakeholders reported minimal disruption during site prep thanks to early utility relocation and landscaping staging.

Project 6 – Glenmore Highlands Community Housing (Kelowna)

Location: Glenmore Road North, Kelowna
Units: 160
Expected timeline: Started July 2025; full occupancy by summer 2027

With the rental market straining in the Central Okanagan, this project brings 160 new homes to Kelowna’s growing north end. Highstreet Ventures is developing the site in partnership with the City of Kelowna and BC Housing. The multi-building complex will include a mix of low-rise apartments and stacked townhomes.

Crews are working on sloped terrain, which has required custom grading, multi-tiered retaining walls, and drainage redirection systems. The buildings are being framed using factory-cut components trucked in from Alberta to speed up the schedule. Each unit will be equipped with heat pumps and induction ranges, aligning with the region’s push for energy-conscious building codes. The scope also includes new road access and walking paths to connect with nearby parks and schools.

Project 7 – Affordable rental housing at Cross & Glenmore (Kelowna)

Affordable rental housing at Cross & Glenmore in Kelowna rendering

Photo courtesy of

Location: Corner of Cross Road & Glenmore Road, Kelowna
Units: 68
Expected timeline: Rezoning approved November 2024; construction anticipated shortly, with occupancy likely in 2026

The City of Kelowna and BC Housing are collaborating with Turning Points Collaborative Society and M’akola Development Services to build a six-storey rental-only venue specifically tailored for low-income families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities. Fourteen percent of units will be adaptable, and 7 percent will be fully accessible. Affordable rents will remain below market for all units, and car-share programming is being planned to support fewer on-site parking spaces.

From a construction standpoint, this site required navigating rezoning for MF3r apartment zoning and possibly a variance on parking. It’s expected to feature rooftop outdoor space, a dog run, and a community garden. Trades will schedule staging during rezoning-required site prep; the project’s timing aligns with provincial affordable housing targets and council white-glove review processes for minimal delays.

Project 8 – The Hive at UBC Okanagan Downtown (Kelowna)

Photo courtesy of https://ubcproperties.com/

Location: Doyle Avenue & St. Paul Street, Kelowna
Units: 200+ student and faculty housing units (plus academic + commercial space)
Expected timeline: Broke ground March 2025; completion slated for late 2027

The Hive is a landmark project—not just housing, but an entire downtown university hub for UBC Okanagan. The 43,000-square-meter facility includes housing, lecture halls, labs, and public amenities. UBC Properties Trust is overseeing the project with EllisDon managing construction.

It’s a multi-use concrete structure with two towers atop a shared podium. The housing component includes dorm-style suites for students and separate rentals for staff. The construction team is dealing with a tight urban site and coordinating trades to work in vertical phases. Interior spaces will be finished with low-VOC materials and recycled-content flooring, and the crews are aiming for LEED Gold certification. From scaffolding to staging areas, space is tight—requiring daily material drop coordination and complex crane logistics.

Is housing development construction growing or declining in BC in 2025?

Housing construction in BC has picked up again in 2025 after a slower 2023–2024 stretch. According to the BC Ministry of Housing, over 12,000 new affordable and middle-income units are now in the pipeline through the BC Builds initiative, with funding mechanisms streamlined to speed up delivery times. Additionally, a June 2025 report from CMHC revealed a 9 percent increase in multifamily housing starts compared to the same period in 2024.

Several factors are driving the uptick, including rising demand from interprovincial and international migration, new provincial zoning rules that support density near transit, and record government investment—over $3 billion earmarked for housing construction in the 2025–2026 fiscal year. Projects are also benefiting from city-level permitting changes that cut red tape for developers working on below-market and workforce housing.

Skilled labor shortages continue to be a challenge, but demand remains high for trades experienced in mass timber, envelope detailing, and modular installation. For contractors, suppliers, and engineers, now is the time to become familiar with the public-private builds that are shaping BC’s future housing stock.

Looking for more detailed project breakdowns or want to track housing construction across the country?

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