12,900 new homes possible through $30 million water project funding in Brampton, province says

Nearly $30 million in funding will help the city complete the downtown Brampton Riverwalk, infrastructure projects, and allow for nearly 13,000 new homes.

The money comes from Ontario’s Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund and will see Brampton receive $29.7 million to improve the flow from runoff and floods in the city’s downtown, and will “unlock” parts of downtown for construction, Mayor Patrick Brown said on Tuesday.

Premier Doug Ford said in Brampton on Tuesday that the city “is growing faster than it’s ever grown before,” and that the funding will allow for the construction of some 12,900 new homes in Brampton.

“With billions of dollars in investments in housing-enabling infrastructure, our government is helping get more shovels in the ground to keep the dream of homeownership alive and help families find a home that meets their needs and their budgets,” Ford said.

Downtown Brampton is undergoing a major facelift with years of rolling closures for construction and watermain work, and three years of construction and more than $22.5 million to complete the Downtown Streetscaping Project.

Mayor Brown said the latest funding boost from the province is “a game changer” for the downtown and will help complete the Riverwalk and free up 3.6 million square feet of residential and commercial space and create 23,000 jobs.

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“This crucial support will not only enhance our city’s infrastructure but also unlock the potential for 12,900 new homes, helping us meet the growing needs of our community and achieve our provincial housing targets,” Brown said.

The mayor said the project is expected to be completed by 2028 and is hopeful the city will be able to start accepting building applications while the project is underway.

Last year Brampton received $25.5 million in infrastructure funding as a reward for hitting more than 80 per cent of its provincially set housing targets in 2022, breaking ground on some 7,028 housing units in 2023.

Ontario’s More Homes Built Faster Act wants to see municipalities add 1.5 million homes across the province over the next 10 years, with Brampton’s target set at 113,000 new units.

“We want to be the fastest place – the easiest place – to build housing for the families that need it,” Brown said.

The province says it is also allocating an additional $250 million and accepting a second round of applications through the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund, bringing the province’s total investment in the fund to $1.2 billion. The second intake will have $120 million dedicated to projects in small, rural and northern municipalities without housing targets, the province says.

“Building Ontario means building more homes and homes can’t be built without sustainable water systems in place,” said Kinga Surma, Minister of Infrastructure.