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VANCOUVER, BC (June 6, 2023) — Light House, an organization focused on advancing circular practices in the built environment, today, released a new report – A Blueprint for Change – that outlines home relocation as an environmentally and societally beneficial strategy for creating affordable, high-quality housing in British Columbia. The report prioritizes home relocation over demolition and offers a set of recommendations that could positively impact provincial and municipal government policy initiatives, help ease the demand for housing and reduce the environmental footprint caused by construction, renovation, and demolition waste, currently accounting for 25 per cent of all landfill waste. A Blueprint for Change is funded by Vancity Credit Union and Nickel Bro House Moving Ltd.
“Affordable housing in British Columbia is a serious problem right now,” said Gil Yaron, Managing Director, Strategic Initiatives, Light House, and A Blueprint for Change co-author. “It’s a tragedy that amidst the housing crisis we’re in, hundreds of high-quality homes across Metro Vancouver, and thousands across Canada, are being demolished every year that could provide perfectly good, safe homes for families in this province. Remote coastal communities, including First Nation communities, are also struggling with housing scarcity.”
The cost to relocate a home is approximately $100-$125/sq. ft., while the cost of new construction, particularly in remote coastal communities where labour and materials are more challenging to secure, can exceed $450/sq. ft.
“Homes should not be treated like garbage. We have been relocating homes in B.C. for more than 65 years, and we see our greatest environmental impact through relocation,” said Jeremy Nickel, President of Nickel Bros House Moving Ltd. “Unfortunately, due to the fatigue of fighting government regulations, some companies have abandoned house relocation as a service altogether. We need all levels of government to help create further incentives and standards for the responsible and sustainable re-purposing of homes. We also need developers, realtors, and homeowners, to learn about, and consider relocation instead of defaulting to demolition. A Blueprint for Change is a great guide for enabling policy changes, and we’re happy to provide our support to Light House.”
Over the last 12 months, Nickel Bros has relocated and diverted over 35 homes in Metro Vancouver from landfill. The median price for a Nickel Bros relocated home is well under six figures and can be as low as $25,000. This July, Nickel Bros will save and relocate five homes in Coquitlam, British Columbia, which will preserve up to 360,000 kgs of embodied carbon. One of the five homes being relocated includes this 11-year-old, Executive Two Storey home, which will be taken from 637 Aspen in Coquitlam and relocated to Hwy 101 in Powell River, providing housing to new owners and eliminating construction and demolition emissions.
“Reducing construction and demolition waste is a top priority and I fully support prioritizing house relocation strategies,” said Craig Hodge, Coquitlam City Councillor and Chair of The National Zero Waste Council of Canada. “These five recycled homes will provide new, affordable housing to members of our community, and the developer, Foster Living, did the right thing by exploring the option of relocating these homes with Nickel Bros instead of just demolishing them. The lots these homes are moving from are planned to turn into 49 new townhomes in West Coquitlam. This, to me, is a great example of how all players in the housing industry can come together to create positive change for society, create more housing, and take the environment into account at the same time.”
To learn more about A Blueprint for Change and relocation as an alternative to demolition, visit light-house.org/portfolio/a-blueprint-for-change-preventing-demolition-waste-through-home-relocation-deconstruction/.
About Light House
Light House is dedicated to creating circular and regenerative built environments that restore ecological and human health. Working with building owners and developers, construction professionals and general contractors, Light House creates regenerative communities and buildings that give back to the environment and promote well-being. Light House also provides policy advice, market assessments, stakeholder facilitation and customized education programs to all levels of government and building industry stakeholders. From buildings to regions and across residential, institutional, commercial and industrial sectors, projects cut across all scales of building and development. For more information, visit light-house.org.
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