Surrey side of Scott Road faces slow change as Delta booms

Surrey side of Scott Road lags behind

Talk to residents and one question comes up fast: what’s up with the Surrey side of Scott Road? On the Delta side, cranes stretch into the sky, yet across the street many Surrey sites still look the same.

One notable exception is a strip mall at 9450 Scott Road, now listed for court‑ordered sale at $3.3 million. The 3,118‑square‑foot property includes three commercial strata units and rare frontage on this busy corridor.

Strip mall sale hints at change

The listing describes the site as a strong bet in a “thriving trade area.” It highlights large surface parking and flexible potential for restaurant, retail or service‑oriented uses.

Marketing materials also point out that the Surrey side of Scott Road appears in the city’s urban growth strategy as a future revitalization area. Infrastructure upgrades, mixed‑use development and higher‑density housing all form part of that long‑range vision.

Delta side of Scott Road transforming quickly

While the Surrey side of Scott Road waits, Delta’s side keeps moving. A proposed 32‑storey mixed‑use tower, Walker House, is planned for 9321 Scott Road and 11958 93A Avenue, with 336 market strata homes and 59 rentals above commercial space.

The project includes 391 underground parking stalls with access from 119B Street. City planners say the tower fits the Scott Road Corridor land‑use designation in Delta’s Official Community Plan, so no public hearing is required.

Next door, crews are already building another high‑rise approved by Delta council. That 29‑storey mixed‑use complex at 9365–9383 Scott Road and 11959, 11969 93A Avenue will deliver 314 residential units, ground‑floor commercial space, a city‑owned daycare and a six‑storey rental building with some below‑market rates.

Further north, the Delta Shoppers Mall site is poised for a complete makeover. Council has endorsed a plan for four buildings between six and 32 storeys, bringing 876 homes, more than 113,000 square feet of office space, over 70,000 square feet of commercial space and a childcare component.

Major redevelopments still to come in Surrey

On the Surrey side of Scott Road, big changes remain mostly on paper. In 2024, Surrey council endorsed the Imagine Scott Road Visioning Study, a framework to guide long‑term growth along the corridor and a segment of 72 Avenue.

The study calls for higher density, stronger community amenities and greener design as RapidBus reshapes travel patterns along this busy route. Mayor Brenda Locke has emphasized that the plan responds directly to the new transit investment and aims to manage future growth rather than react to it.

The framework divides the Surrey side of Scott Road into three future neighbourhood plan areas: Townline in the north, Kennedy in the centre and Strawberry Hill in the south. Until detailed plans are finalized, the city expects new projects to follow the broader Official Community Plan.

Surrey and Delta aim for coordinated growth

City officials stress that the Surrey side of Scott Road is not being ignored, even if Delta appears to be moving faster right now. Locke has said planners are studying options for Surrey that complement Delta’s work, noting the “symbiotic” relationship between the two municipalities.

She also points out that Surrey is racing ahead on several fronts, including the City Centre and Newton, which may help explain why visible change on Scott has lagged. Still, she calls the corridor a priority, especially with RapidBus now in place and raising the area’s profile.

Metro Vancouver’s study shows long‑term potential

Regionally, Scott Road has drawn attention as a key transit corridor with untapped potential. A Metro Vancouver report, the Scott Road Supply and Demand Study, examined future demand for housing and commercial space along the route.

The study concludes that the corridor can support a wider mix of housing types and densities, from six‑storey wood‑frame apartments to concrete towers. That range could boost transit ridership and give builders more options to meet housing demand.

However, the report also notes that development activity is currently much stronger on the Delta side. It suggests that Delta and Surrey have an opportunity to align plans at key nodes but warns that the timing of big redevelopments remains uncertain. Phased projects, shifting market conditions and absorption limits will all influence how quickly both sides of Scott Road actually transform.

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