The federal government and the City of Burlington have reached an agreement to fast track the construction of more than 600 housing units over the next three years.

The governments announced the agreement on January 15.

Funded under the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF), the deal will provide the city with more than $21 million.

In exchange, Burlington has committed to seven initiatives that support greater density, such as permitting four units as-of-right to encourage the creation of additional housing units on existing residential lots, and exploring opportunities to incentivize the creation of rental housing that is below market housing.

Burlington also plans to create the Housing Connections Centre, enabling the city to act as a connector and a partner among the various players in the housing system. It will also streamline planning and building approvals processes, explore opportunities for partnerships on public land development, and address municipal infrastructure needs.

"This is a huge investment in building more homes, and especially more affordable homes, for our growing city,” said Mayor Marianne Meed Ward. “Together, we're creating the Burlington of the future – a thriving community where everyone has access to a home they can afford. This is key to making sure we remain one of the most liveable cities in Canada."

The federal HAF aims to fast track at least 100,000 permitted new homes over the first three years, which cities and regions estimate will lead to the creation of almost 450,000 permitted new homes for people in towns, cities, and Indigenous communities across Canada over the next decade.

Under the terms of the fund, local governments are required to develop innovative action plans to reduce barriers to housing construction. In exchange, the HAF provides funding to ensure the timely building of new homes, as well as additional funds upon delivering results.

Launched in March 2023, the HAF is a $4-billion initiative that will run until 2027.