British Columbia Unveils Standardized Housing Designs

In Northeast Tennessee, home construction is experiencing a significant boom, with new single-family home starts increasing by nearly 40% compared to last year, reaching 556 as of August 2024. State Representative Tim Hicks attributes this growth to the region's appeal and a population surge of over 12,000 in the last two years, countering national trends of declining home starts. Meanwhile, in British Columbia, the government has launched a Standardized Housing Design Project aimed at expediting the construction of small-scale, multi-unit housing. These designs, which can be customized and are available for free, include options for duplexes, triplexes, and laneway homes, and are intended to overcome outdated zoning restrictions. Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon emphasized that these measures are part of a broader strategy to increase housing availability and reduce costs. The initiative is expected to streamline the permitting process and encourage faster building across the province.