B.C. NDP adds fast-tracking pre-fabricated homes to housing plans ahead of election

British Columbia NDP Leader David Eby announced plans to accelerate the use of factory-built homes as part of his government’s efforts to address the province’s housing crisis.

During a campaign stop on Vancouver Island, Eby emphasized that pre-fabricated homes reduce waste, lower emissions, and are now "beautiful and high-quality" due to advances in the industry.

An NDP statement outlined a plan to collaborate with industry, municipalities, and First Nations to establish a provincial framework, ensuring builders understand the requirements in every community. The plan also includes a set of pre-approved construction designs to speed up the permitting process, alongside efforts to develop skills training to support the construction of factory-built homes.

The statement highlighted that Scandinavian countries have successfully adopted factory-built homes as a quicker and more cost-effective alternative to traditional on-site construction methods. The NDP also pointed to legislation passed last year, which they described as a "game changer" for the industry, noting that British Columbia currently has 10 certified manufacturing plants.

"By expanding B.C.'s factory-built home construction industry, everyone from multi-generational families to municipalities will be able to rapidly build single homes, duplexes, and triplexes on land they already own," said Eby.

As the first week of the provincial election campaign wrapped up, Eby’s competitors, B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad and Green Leader Sonia Furstenau, were also rallying for support. Rustad held a rally in Prince George, while Furstenau visited southeastern B.C., where she pledged improved mental health care under a Green government and attended a rally with Kootenay-Central candidate Nicole Charlwood in Creston.