Nova Scotia is taking steps to get more housing built, faster, in Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM).
Amendments to the Halifax Regional Municipality Charter and the Housing in the Halifax Regional Municipality Act recently introduced provide legislative authority to speed up development approvals, increase density and reduce barriers to housing builds in HRM.
“The need for more housing is urgent, especially in the HRM. All levels of government need to be bold, diligent and willing to do things differently to ensure we put forward solutions that give as many people and families as possible a place to call home, as quickly as possible,” said John Lohr, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “In order to truly address this housing crisis, we need more stock. We have an unprecedented housing problem, and the solutions need to be bold. This legislation gives the minister the authority to intervene on behalf of Nova Scotians when outdated policies and practices are slowing down construction and keeping them from accessing a safe and affordable home, faster.”
Amendments to the HRM Charter and the Housing in the Halifax Regional Municipality Act include:
As part of this bill, regulations will be developed that will allow for more density and the use of more sustainable building materials.
The proposed changes support recommendations put forward in the HRM Housing Barrier Review (Deloitte Report), which identified barriers to the safe and rapid increase in housing supply.