More Affordable Housing in Dartmouth; Cole Harbour Development Approved

The Province is investing to build more affordable housing in Dartmouth and removing barriers that would have limited the number of units.

The provincial funding will help build 58 affordable units in Richburg LP Management Inc.’s 96-unit project at 22 and 24 Brule St.

“Our government is building more affordable places for Nova Scotians to call home,” said Colton LeBlanc, Minister of Growth and Development. “Through our five-year housing plan, our government is making more housing available and helping our communities and local economy grow.”

Richburg received $8.7 million in forgivable funding through the Province’s Affordable Housing Development Program.

An order by Municipal Affairs Minister John Lohr has enabled the full project to move ahead. Minister Lohr has designated the area as an interim planning area under the Halifax Regional Municipality Charter, and that has removed barriers that would have reduced the number of affordable units. The Minister’s order was necessary because Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) has not implemented changes to the Minimum Planning Requirements Regulations, though Minister LeBlanc had extended the deadline to do so to June 30.

Minister LeBlanc has also approved a recommendation by the executive panel on housing for HRM to enter into a development agreement for 511 residential units, within four multi-unit buildings, and a 144-bed long-term care facility by GEM Health Care, announced in 2023, in the 1226 Cole Harbour Road Special Planning Area.

Quotes:

“We need more affordable housing in Halifax Regional Municipality. This project has been delayed because HRM didn’t implement the Minimum Planning Requirements Regulations by the deadline. I’m using my authority as Minister to allow this important project to move ahead, unlocking much needed affordable housing in north Dartmouth.”
— John Lohr, Minister of Municipal Affairs

“4P Housing Initiative by Homburg Teamworks would like to thank the Province for their support in both the funding and permitting that will enable us to provide real affordable housing to the people of Nova Scotia. We are committed to long term, low cost, safe and secure units that will ensure stable housing for those most in need and look forward to partnering with the Province on many more projects in the future.”
— Richard Homburg, Chair, Richburg LP Management Inc. (4P Housing Initiative by Homburg Teamworks)

Quick Facts:

• currently, HRM’s Centre Plan requires buildings with 40 or more units to include additional requirements such as a mix of unit types; this would have changed with the implementation of the Minimum Planning Requirements Regulations
• implementing these additional requirements would reduce Richburg’s total number of units, increase development costs and could create delays
• the Minister of Municipal Affairs has the power to designate an interim planning area under subsection 229A (2) of the Halifax Regional Municipality Charter
• since 2023, the Province has paved the way to create 51,352 new housing units under the Action for Housing plan
• more than 3,500 affordable and supportive housing units across the province have been enabled through government support

Additional Resources:

Brule Street Interim Planning Area order: https://novascotia.ca/just/regulations/regs/2025-183.pdf

Minister’s statement – Extending Deadline for Minimum Planning Regulations in HRM: https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2025/01/24/ministers-statement-extending-deadline-minimum-planning-regulations-hrm

News release – New Regulations Remove Barriers, Create More Opportunities for Housing in HRM: https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2024/08/21/new-regulations-remove-barriers-create-more-opportunities-housing-hrm

Provincial special planning areas: https://www.halifax.ca/about-halifax/regional-community-planning/regional-plan/special-planning-areas

Department of Growth and Development housing programs: https://beta.novascotia.ca/housing-programs-department-growth-and-development

News release – Housing Plan Progress Exceeds Targets in First Year: https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2025/02/24/housing-plan-progress-exceeds-targets-first-year

The government’s five-year housing plan, Our Homes, Action for Housing: https://novascotia.ca/action-for-housing/