Municipal Leaders Say Faster Rentals Are Needed Now
Local leaders in Delta and across Metro Vancouver are raising the alarm: rental housing needs to be built faster to keep pace with demand. At recent regional planning discussions, elected officials and housing advocates stressed that current approval processes slow down new construction, making it hard to get rental units completed quickly.
Delta’s mayor and council have joined their counterparts across the region in calling for streamlined policies that make rental projects easier to approve — especially mid-rise buildings with six storeys. These types of buildings can provide dozens of new homes, yet long planning reviews and regulatory hurdles often stretch timelines to years instead of months.
Six-Storey Rental Buildings Take Centre Stage
A central theme in the push is the greater use of six-storey residential buildings. These mid-rise structures can be constructed more quickly and more cost-effectively than taller towers or single-family developments. They also fit well into many neighbourhoods that want gentle density without dramatic changes to community character.
Officials argue that these buildings — especially if manufactured with off-site construction techniques — can be ready for tenants much faster than traditional building approaches. In some cases, modular or prefabricated components could cut months off construction timelines, helping renters move into new homes sooner.
Streamlining Approvals and Reducing Red Tape
The heart of the problem, leaders say, is the current system for reviewing and approving new rentals. Even when developers propose housing that meets community needs, the planning process can drag on due to complex zoning rules, public hearings, and detailed permitting requirements.
Delta council has already signaled its support for new regional planning guides that would simplify rules for purpose-built rental housing. Cutbacks to unnecessary steps and clearer standards are seen as essential to speeding approvals, reducing costs, and encouraging more developers to build rental properties.
Across the Region, Rental Supply Still Lags Demand
While some progress has been made in recent years — including record high rental pipelines in Metro Vancouver overall — rental housing remains in short supply relative to need. Thousands of renters across the region face high costs or limited availability, and municipal leaders are under pressure to find solutions that deliver more homes faster.
Delta officials believe that by working together with neighbouring communities and the region, they can establish a new blueprint for rental construction that prioritizes speed without sacrificing quality or neighbourhood character.
Will Faster Construction Become Reality?
The idea of expediting rental housing touches on broader debates about urban growth, community planning, and housing affordability. Some neighbourhood groups worry that faster development could compromise community values or increase traffic and demand on infrastructure. Others say bold action is necessary to address rental shortages that have persisted for years.
Still, many municipal leaders maintain that streamlined processes do not mean cutting corners — instead, they can make housing delivery more efficient while preserving design standards and public input.
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