More housing being built in Nova Scotia: report

A contractor carries a ladder into a residential construction site in a suburb of Halifax on Nov. 28, 2023. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese)

The province of Nova Scotia says its five-year housing plan designed to help get more people in housing faster is meeting or exceeding targets.

A progress report released by the Department of Growth and Development on Monday claims housing starts are up 38 per cent. It also notes it’s now prepared for the creation of an additional 51,352 housing units – which is 125 per cent of the 2028 goal.

“Because of our historical investment and strong focus on housing, we’ve surpassed our five-year goal in the first year. Our approach is working, and we have no intention of slowing down,” said Colton LeBlanc, minister of Growth and Development, in a news release.

According to the provincial government, key achievements between April 1, 2023 and Dec. 31, 2024, include:

• improving affordability for 16,200 households. The five-year goal is 17,250 households
• development fees have been frozen in Halifax Regional Municipality, and the provincial portion of the HST has been cut for new rentals
• housing conditions have been improved for 38,844 households. The five-year goal is 47,900 households
• 663 first-time home buyers were supported through the Down Payment Assistance Program
• 335 publicly-owned affordable housing units have been upgraded. The goal is to upgrade 900 units by 2028

Nova Scotia’s housing plan was developed to address the gap in the province’s housing supply, grow and sustain affordable housing, and deliver programs people need.

For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page