News release

Housing Developments Approved in Halifax Regional Municipality

Municipal Affairs and Housing

The Province is taking action to increase housing supply in Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) faster.

Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister John Lohr has approved development agreements for two sites designated as special planning areas under the Housing in the Halifax Regional Municipality Act. These approvals will allow the development of more than 1,000 future homes for people of all income levels.

“Overcoming this housing crisis is going to take a unified approach, creative solutions and a willingness to do things differently,” said Minister Lohr. “Our population is growing, and these special planning areas are an example of how the elimination of red tape and working in partnership with HRM and the development community will help thousands of people access housing faster.”

One of the development agreements approved by the Minister is for a mixed-use community of up to 905 units on the former Penhorn Mall lands in Dartmouth. The proposed development by Clayton Developments Ltd. and Crombie REIT will include 860 apartments and 45 townhouses, as well as new parks, trails and an active transportation network.

HRM will receive 12 per cent of the appraised value of the site from the developer and will invest the majority of those funds in new or existing affordable housing and the rest in community art or cultural spaces. The appraisal process is not yet complete; however, it is expected to generate millions to be invested in affordable housing options at the Penhorn location or another site in HRM.

The other approval is for Armco Capital’s proposal to develop up to 150 lots at the Indigo Shores special planning area in Middle Sackville. To support the development, the Minister also approved an amendment to a by-law that limited development within the subdivision to 25 lots a year.

The projects are still subject to required permitting, fees and regulatory requirements as specified in the Housing in the Halifax Regional Municipality Act.

Descriptions and updates on the nine special planning areas can be found on the HRM website: https://www.halifax.ca/about-halifax/regional-community-planning/regional-plan/special-planning-areas

Quotes:

“We’re continuing to work closely with HRM planning and the development community, and we’re making great strides to get these homes built for Nova Scotians.”

– Geoff MacLellan, Chair, Halifax Regional Municipality Housing Task Force

“Designated for growth through the Centre Plan, the Penhorn site increases vital supply of mixed housing and directs new funds to affordable housing options within the municipality. We will continue to work with all partners, from government, the development industry and the community sector, to build more affordable homes.”

– Mike Savage, Mayor, Halifax Regional Municipality

“We are very pleased this project is moving forward. This approval allows us to begin construction this year versus next. We would like to thank the Province and HRM for accelerating the necessary work to bring quality housing to market sooner.”

– Jason Brunt, President, Clayton Developments Limited

Quick Facts:

  • designating special planning areas where the Minister has authority for development approvals was a recommendation of the HRM Housing Task Force, and these projects support HRM’s growth strategy
  • the former Penhorn Mall lands and Indigo Shores are two of nine locations that were designated as special planning areas by the Province on March 25; the nine areas could see as many as 22,600 new residential units developed in HRM
  • the Province is investing more than $22 million to create more than 370 affordable housing units in the Southdale-Mount Hope special planning area in Dartmouth
  • the Province has invested $3 million in Coady’s Place in New Glasgow, which has 36 safe and affordable units for people on the cusp of homelessness
  • the Province has identified 37 sites from the provincial land inventory that are potentially suitable for thousands of units of housing

Additional Resources:

Housing in the Halifax Regional Municipality Act:
https://nslegislature.ca/sites/default/files/legc/statutes/housing%20in%20the%20hrm.pdf

A Healthy Nova Scotia: Solutions for Housing and Homelessness: https://beta.novascotia.ca/documents/solutions-housing-and-homelessness/

Mandate letter of the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing: https://novascotia.ca/exec_council/letters-2021/ministerial-mandate-letter-2021-MAH-EMO-MR.pdf

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